The MLB general managers meetings were assured to spill plenty of buzz on what’s developing as one of the most exciting offseasons in recent memory.
Much of the hot stove has centered on the 139 players that initially filed for free agency and became eligible to sign with new teams last Saturday. But trade talks have also surfaced as personnel planners convene in Boca Raton, Florida.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that, while thin among a free-agent field, there’s an exceptional trade market for some of the game’s top closers, such as the Cincinnati Reds’ Aroldis Chapman, the San Diego Padres’ Craig Kimbrel and, most recently, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Mark Melancon.
“Everyone’s closer is available,” one GM told Heyman. “People, especially the young GMs, have no fear of trading their closer.”
With bullpens stealing the hot stove early this week, here’s what’s buzzing on a few of the game’s top closers.
Craig Kimbrel, San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres were easily last offseason’s most ambitious team with a slew of personnel changes by first-year GM A.J. Preller, capped with a trade for lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel the night before Opening Day.
Kimbrel had a strong 2015 but not to par with his tenure with the Atlanta Braves, in which he led the majors in saves for four straight years. Kimbrel finished with a career-low 39 saves last year, and the Padres never manifested their hopeful run in the competitive NL West.
Kimbrel still remains one of the game’s top closers and could be a valuable asset to a contending team—which he hasn’t been a part of the last two seasons. The Braves’ ongoing offensive struggles limited his save opportunities and made him trade bait in what wound up his final season in Atlanta.
Heyman reported there are “seven or eight” teams interested in Kimbrel, including the Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals.
The Yankees pursued Kimbrel at the trade deadline, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, and Heyman reported they are willing to deal their standout closer, Andrew Miller. Kimbrel would bring velocity Miller can’t match, but the Yankees have Miller locked up through 2018, per Spotrac, and would be wise only to pursue Kimbrel if Miller is dealt.
Tigers GM Al Avila says he’s also in the market for a closer, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, and they make the most sense among interested parties.
Detroit missed the postseason for the first time in five years, and its last October exit rested strictly on the bullpen. The Tigers used a hybrid trio of closers once trading Joakim Soria and have the financial flexibility to assume Kimbrel’s three remaining years at $37.5 million, per Spotrac.
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are reportedly shopping triple-digits closer Aroldis Chapman, according to Robert Murray of Baseball Essential.
Chapman is entering his final year of arbitration and will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, according to Rotoworld. The Reds had the second-worst record in baseball and presented Chapman just 36 save opportunities this year, with which he converted 33.
He simply doesn’t make sense to remain in Cincinnati, though the Reds know Chapman's high value and will charge potential suitors at a premium, per Heyman. They were reportedly seeking three to four top prospects at last year’s trade deadline, per Murray.
Chapman’s interested parties were largely aligned with Kimbrel’s at last year’s deadline, per Heyman, though one team in particular has long stood out, per James Wagner of the Washington Post:
Chapman would make sense in Washington but at the right price. The Nationals have a consistently improving farm system, most recently ranked No. 9 by Baseball America, that could help the Reds in their rebuild.
The Reds are smart to begin the bidding now before Chapman hits free agency in a similar shopping last year of Johnny Cueto, who they eventually dealt to the Kansas City Royals for three pitching prospects. Cueto is now a free agent expected to command a nine-figure deal, and the Reds have bolstered their middle-of-the-pack farm system.
They'd be wise to take a similar course again.
Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Chapman and Kimbrel have long been linked to trade talks, but Melancon, the majors' top closer with 51 saves last year, has made a surprising emergence.
Heyman reported two rival GMs indicated the Trevor Hoffman Award winner is “out there for the taking” but didn’t specify any potential suitors.
As the Reds are with Chapman, the Pirates only have one year of club control left over Melancon, 30, though they have much more use for an esteemed closer having won a second-best 98 games last year.
But, as Tom Singer of MLB.com noted, the nature of the position lends itself to fickle stability in the long run:
The Pirates have played in the NL Wild Card Game each of the last three seasons, losing the past two, giving all the more push to win the NL Central and avoid the one-game shootout. But they’ll have to top the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, both of whom are expected to be as good, if not better, next season.
While it may make long-term sense to capitalize on return value for the worthy closer, if the Pirates are truly committed to winning the pennant, the past three years have proven they’ll need to have every piece in place.
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