Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game is always followed by a few weird days of no major sporting events. It’s an uncomfortable silence for sports fans across the country, and it also causes plenty of writers to spew opinions rather than game recaps or facts. So, this week’s Closer Report? Opinions, rather than facts. The trade deadline is coming up (August 1 this year instead of July 31) and, as always, we can assume a few closers will switch teams. Today’s Closer Report will look at which closers might move from one team to another, potentially losing their ninth-inning job, as well as which relievers could become closers after the deadline smoke clears.

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Arizona Diamondbacks

The DBacks already traded their closer, Brad Ziegler, to the Boston Red Sox. Ziegler will set up for Craig Kimbrel once Kimbrel returns from the disabled list, and he’ll set up for Koji Uehara in the meantime. Arizona will go with Tyler Clippard as their closer, with Daniel Hudson likely getting a few chances as well. Clippard could also be moved before the deadline, though, creating a full-time closer’s role for Hudson.

Atlanta Braves

Braves closer Aroldys Vizcaino has drawn plenty of trade interest and could be moved before the deadline. Depending on what team he goes to, he may continue closing or he may slide into a setup role. Setup man Jim Johnson could also be traded, leaving Mauricio Cabrera as the likely closer in Atlanta.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds’ bullpen has been legendarily bad, but there are some trade chips there for Cincinnati to sell. Tony Cingrani has become the de facto closer for the Reds, and while he hasn’t been great, he could draw some trade interest as a late-inning lefty reliever. If traded, it’s all but a guarantee that Cingrani will not close for his new team.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have a few trade chips in their bullpen, starting with Jake McGee, who began the season as the team’s closer. He spent a few weeks on the disabled list and lost his ninth-inning job to Carlos Estevez. With Estevez and Adam Ottavino under team control for a few more seasons, McGee could be the odd man out come the deadline. He likely won’t close for his new team, instead settling into a setup/lefty relief role.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are very likely to trade Joe Smith and fairly likely to move Huston Street as well. Smith won’t close regardless of where he goes, and it’s unlikely Street will either. Cam Bedrosian has been hailed as the Angels’ closer of the future for a while now, so he might be the arm to own in the Angels bullpen for the second half.

Milwaukee Brewers

Before acquiring Fernando Rodney from the Padres, the Marlins tried to grab Jeremy Jeffress from the Brewers. Reportedly, Milwaukee asked for far more than the Marlins gave up for Rodney. Still, the fact remains the Brewers are open for business, and Jeffress, along with Will Smith, is unlikely to end the season in Milwaukee.

Minnesota Twins

With closer Glen Perkins out for the year and Kevin Jepsen released, the Twins have relied on Brandon Kintzler as their closer. While he isn’t a high-impact arm, Kintzler has shown the ability to handle the pressure of the ninth inning in a very small sample, and he could draw some trade interest. Fernando Abad could also switch teams before August, but neither current Twin reliever would end up closing anywhere else.

New York Yankees

The Yankees feature a three-headed monster of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman. Despite the elite bullpen, the Yankees are heading toward being sellers at the deadline, with Chapman the most likely to go. He will almost certainly close regardless of where he goes, so he is one of the relievers that can be held onto regardless of trade rumors. Miller could regain his early-season role as Yankees’ closer, assuming he himself isn’t moved to another club.

Oakland Athletics

The A’s, always active at the deadline, will likely be active again this season. While they have had several of their starting pitchers scouted heavily lately, they have a few bullpen arms who will draw trade interest as well. Lefty Sean Doolittle, who has closing experience, could be a huge piece down the stretch for plenty of teams, although he will likely remain in the 7th/8th inning role that he is currently in. Veteran righties Ryan Madson and John Axford are also drawing trade interest, but like Doolittle, probably won’t close if they take off their Athletics’ jerseys.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies, somewhat unexpectedly, have quite a few trade chips in their bullpen. Hector Neris, David Hernandez, Andrew Bailey, and current closer Jeanmar Gomez could all attract trade interest. None of them are likely to pick up any saves if they are traded, however.

San Diego Padres

The Padres already moved their closer, Fernando Rodney, and their ace, Drew Pomeranz, but they still have a few more pieces in their bullpen that could be on the move. Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer have drawn some trade interest, but if moved they will be minor trades and won’t end up in ninth innings anywhere.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have a few starters that have been scouted heavily of late, but they have a couple of bullpen pieces that could draw plenty of interest if made available. Closer Alex Colome has been great, but since he is under team control for a while, the Rays will need to be blown away in order to move him. Erasmo Ramirez has also drawn interest from other teams, some seeing him as a starter, but he certainly won’t be a ninth-inning option if he is traded.



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David A. Marcillo is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from David, check out his archive and follow him @DavidMarcillo77.

