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Watching Frasor strike out the side reminded me of the threads we had on further trades around the time Doc was being dealt.

Frasor and Downs continue to pitch well. Both are of an age and salary where a rebuilding team doesn't need to hang on to them if can get a decent piece back. We have plenty of starting pitching, and somebody can rejoin the roster in the pen when they get back from injury rehabbing.

Olney has an Insider piece on how some teams are working their bullpens to the max. (We're third best in getting innings from our starters, so we're not taxing our pen like some of those teams.) But some teams need either an infusion of better relief talent, or they need another good reliever because they are working a good guy into an early grave.

Here's the teams that have burned the most pen innings

1. Mets: 139 2/3
2. Pirates: 138 2/3
3. Tigers: 132
4. Nationals: 129 1/3
5. Dodgers: 126 1/3
6. Brewers: 123 2/3
7. Rangers: 123 2/3
8. Athletics: 121
9. Rockies: 119
10. Padres: 118 2/3

Of course, the answer for some of these teams might be more and better starter innings.

So, the question is, now that we're nearing June, what could we expect to get for Downs or Frasor? Is it worth sending one out for a prospect - let's say a decent one, though not expecting a top 50 guy - or should we just hang on to them and enjoy the ride, given the likely modest return?

Gregg is still the most likely trade option given how well he has pitched. Closers almost always bring a premium return at the trade deadline.

The Phillies bullpen is a mess. They now have Jose Contreas closing because Lidge cant stay healthy for more then a week. They were apparently interested in Downs earlier in the year. I think they will forsure add some bullpen help before the deadline.

-MetA4- wrote:Gregg is still the most likely trade option given how well he has pitched. Closers almost always bring a premium return at the trade deadline.

Yeah, and their comp status also needs to be taken into consideration. Bajek put out his first attempt at the Elias rankings, and Downs holds the final Type-A spot despite missing time last year, with Frasor not too far behind as a Type-B (it would take a massive implosion for him to lose that status, and if he gets back to a low-3 ERA, he might move up).

And unlike Gregg, they're likely to keep it up...I'm with you, if someone looks at Gregg and says ohmygodcloser, ship him without a second thought.

Gregg is likely the second closer traded after Heath Bell. There are always teams looking for back-end relievers at the deadline, and after Bell gets shipped I'd expect a decent market for Gregg.

-MetA4- wrote:Gregg is likely the second closer traded after Heath Bell. There are always teams looking for back-end relievers at the deadline, and after Bell gets shipped I'd expect a decent market for Gregg.

Any idea who might want him? The D-Backs/Brewers would be candidates, but I get the sense that they are well aware that they suck. The White Sox might also make sense if Williams is too committed to role definition to give Santos/Thornton a shot.

Gotta be the Phillies and Brewers who need a closer the most. Contending teams love to trade for closers at the deadline.

The Phils might if the deal is cheap, but they seem unwilling to unload real talent after the Lee/Halladay deals. Not that Gregg is worth a top prospect, but Philly might be willing to stick to what they have so long as they're dominating the East.

Schadenfreude wrote:

-MetA4- wrote:Gregg is likely the second closer traded after Heath Bell. There are always teams looking for back-end relievers at the deadline, and after Bell gets shipped I'd expect a decent market for Gregg.

Any idea who might want him? The D-Backs/Brewers would be candidates, but I get the sense that they are well aware that they suck. The White Sox might also make sense if Williams is too committed to role definition to give Santos/Thornton a shot.

Who knows, we'll have to wait and see the standings at the time.