The Pittsburgh Pirates desperately need a closer after All-Star Jason Grilli hit the disabled list with an arm injury and now one of the top options is off the market, as the Milwaukee Brewers dealt reliever and former Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles to help shore up their bullpen.
The Brewers are having a tough week with the Ryan Braun suspension and since the team is in the tank this year, they felt it was time to start making moves and this could become a daily occurrence as the deadline gets closer. Matt Garza was dealt to the Texas Rangers from the Chicago Cubs and the Pirates now likely will try and find a deal for a closer, with some names coming up like Kevin Gregg from the Cubs, Huston Street or Luke Gregerson from the Padres, Jesse Crain from the White Sox as well as Glen Perkins from the Twins.
Perkins is a sleeper option after the season he is having with the Twins and another under the radar name is Greg Holland from the Royals. Perkins is a left hander and he is on a cheap contract and this season he has 24 saves with a sub-2.00 ERA for a Twins team that is going nowhere. Huston Street could be an option for the Pirates since he is an experienced closer and has has reached 30 saves twice, but he isn't having as good a season as Holland or Perkins, but the Pirates could overlook that just to get someone to help replace Grilli for now. Street has a sub-2.00 ERA last season and while he is making $7 million, he could be a rental option for the team.
The Orioles made the move for Rodriguez out of desperation and gave up minor league infielder Nick Delmonico and now the team will bring one of the top bullpen arms into their arsenal. The team is just two games out of first place in the division behind the Red Sox and with the Tampa Bay Rays playing out of their minds right now and the Yankees hanging around, the AL East is going to be tight and they will need every quality arm they can get. Jim Johnson is solidified at closer with 35 saves (best in the MLB) and now Rodriguez can help in the eighth inning as a setup man and also can give Buck Showalter someone that can come in if he needs rest or doesn't have it that night.
Rodriguez is far removed from the days when he was a record-breaking closer with the Angels and making 62 saves in 2008, but after playing with the Brewers, he has found his touch again in the pen, coming in with 1-1 with 10 saves and a 1.09 ERA in 25 appearances this season for the team. ESPN.com writer Keith Law said that while Rodriguez is a solid addition, Delmonico is a prospect that they may regret giving up, but since the team already has Manny Machado at third for now, perhaps they felt he was expendable. Chris Davis and Adam Jones have been mashing for the team and Baltimore feels that is has a good chance to win the division and to make the playoffs for a second straight season.
