Just two days before the MLB trade deadline we see three playoff contenders making deals to bulk up their bullpens. The Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Tampa Bay Rays have all made moves to improve their bullpens, trading minor league players in return.
Atlanta, had been said to be looking for left-handed reliever help, and got that picking up Scott Downs from the Anaheim Angels in return for minor league pitcher Cory Rasmus.
Downs has long been one of the best lefty relievers in baseball this season, posting a 1.84 ERA in 29 innings for the Angels this year. The 37 year old has been extremely good, and extremely consistent in recent years as he has put up a 2.27 ERA in 422 appearances since 2007. The 37-year old is in the final year of his contract.
Cory Rasmus was a first-round pick in 2006, but has thrown just seven career innings in the majors. The 25-year-old is the brother of Blue Jays centerfielder Colby Rasmus. He has a 1.72 ERA and 48 strikeouts in Triple-A this year, but has had control issues which he will need to solve to be a Major League starter.
The Tigers have been looking for a closer all season long after the Jose Valverde experiment went horribly wrong and have now turned to the Houston Astros and acquired theirs in Jose Veras. Joaquin Benoit has been closing games for Detroit lately, but if he slips up Veras will likely be given an opportunity to try his hand in the 9th inning. Veras has 19 saves with a 2.93 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 43 innings for the Astros.
The 32 year old Veras signed a one year contract to close for the Astros, but now moves on to the Tigers who will give him a chance to win, whether he is used in the 8th or the 9th inning.
Vasquez is a 19-year-old left fielder hitting .281 with five home runs and a .723 OPS in 96 games at low Single-A. He was a prospect the Tigers signed out of Venezuala and was ranked 6th on their prospect list by Baseball America.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays have made the riskiest move of the three teams acquiring veteran setup man Jesse Crain from the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later. Crain has been brilliant this season with a 0.74 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 36.2 innings for the White Sox. However an injury to his shoulder currently has him on the DL and it is unknown how much, if at all, Crain will be available for Tampa, and how effective he’ll be.
The player to be made later is expected to be conditional on how many games and innings Crain is able to pitch this season.
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Main Photo Credit: Teamleaks.com, CC
