Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Trade Deadline Edition

Welcome to this week’s Fantasy Baseball Closer Report — Trade Deadline Edition! This article will take a look at every deadline deal that might have an impact on who racks up saves over the home stretch of the season. 

If you’re wondering about a team that didn’t make any moves in their bullpen, check out last week’s AL and NL Closer Reports. Without further ado, let’s break down these trades:

Fantasy Impact of Tanner Scott Trade: Marlins → Padres

While he has been very impressive this season (a 1.18 ERA and 18 saves), I don’t think Scott is going to steal Robert Suarez’s role as the Padres’ main closer, at least not right away. But he is certainly more of a threat to Suarez than anyone else on the Padres’ roster. Meanwhile, this, combined with trading away A.J. Puk (we’ll get to him later), leaves a big hole at the end of the Marlins’ bullpen.

The top options to record saves for Miami are now Calvin Faucher (2.95 ERA) and Anthony Bender (3.73 ERA) — neither player has a save so far this season having worked behind Scott and Puk, but it’s worth watching to see if one emerges if you are truly desperate for saves.

Fantasy Impact of Luis Garcia Trade: Angels → Red Sox

I was predicting that Garcia would take over as the Angels’ closer following a trade of Carlos Estevez … instead, he got traded himself. Garcia will likely continue serving as a setup man in Boston, helping bridge the gap into Kenley Jansen.

Meanwhile, the Angels will likely turn to Ben Joyce, a fireballer who was named the setup man following the Estevez trade and has a 2.01 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 22.1 innings so far this season. 

Fantasy Impact of Lucas Erceg Trade: A’s → Royals

This is another trade that will have more impact on who records saves for the selling team than the buying team. Erceg had taken over the ninth inning for the A’s with Mason Miller sidelined, and his departure means that spot is up for grabs.

The top competitors for the role will be Tyler Ferguson, Scott Alexander, and Austin Adams, with Ferguson likely in pole position. Erceg, meanwhile, has a chance to push James McArthur for saves in Kansas City, but I think it’s more likely he settles into a late-innings role. 

Fantasy Impact of Mark Leiter Jr. Trade: Cubs → Yankees

This one maybe doesn’t deserve mentioning, but with Clay Holmes struggling (he recorded his eighth blown save of the season on Tuesday), there’s a chance Leiter gets a shot in the ninth inning at some point.

Fantasy Impact of Jalen Beeks Trade: Rockies → Pirates

Beeks is not likely to rack up many saves for the Pirates, but his departure confirms a trend that was already beginning in Colorado: Victor Vodnik is the Rockies’ closer. 

Fantasy Impact of Michael Kopech Trade: White Sox → Dodgers

I sound like a broken record, but this trade is more important for the selling White Sox than the buying Dodgers. Kopech is unlikely to see many save chances in LA, but his departure opens the door for a new closer in Chicago.

The top candidate to step through that door is John Brebbia, but he’s not hugely appealing for fantasy with a 5.71 ERA and more blown saves than converted saves on the season. 

Fantasy Impact of Carlos Estevez Trade: Angels → Phillies

Finally, we have a trade where the player who moved is actually going to close games for their new team. Estevez, who has been stellar this season with 20 saves and an absurd 0.694 WHIP, should appear in the ninth inning often for the Phillies. Of course, as discussed above, his departure, plus that of Luis Garcia, leaves a gap in Anaheim’s ninth inning.

Fantasy Impact of Yimi Garcia Trade: Blue Jays → Mariners

As we reach further back in time with these trades, we’ve already seen these players make a few appearances with their new teams. For Garcia, both of his appearances have been in hold situations, as Andres Munoz is still cemented as the Mariners’ closer.

Meanwhile, Chad Green, who was already in a committee with Garcia, is the obvious choice to lead the Blue Jays in saves the rest of the way.

Fantasy Impact of A.J. Puk Trade: Marlins → Diamondbacks

Puk isn’t going to unseat Paul Sewald, and I already discussed the Marlins’ new-look pen above with Tanner Scott, so there isn’t much to say here with one of the earliest trades of this year’s deadline.