This week’s mailbag gets into relief options for the Tigers, whether the Nationals should trade MacKenzie Gore, and the trade value of Athletics JJ Bleday and Luis Severino, as well as questions involving the Astros, Reds, Rangers, Cubs, and Red Sox.
Colin asks:
A few days ago, the Dodgers traded Noah Davis to the Twins for cash. Davis was not at all successful with the Dodgers. Can you tell me how much cash a team typically gets in a situation like that?
I ran this question by a front office friend. He replied, “The dollar amount received by clubs trading away a DFA’d player for cash considerations almost always falls between $55,000 and $100,000. There’s little incentive for clubs to trade the player for anything less than $50,000 because the club will receive that amount if the player is claimed off waivers. MLB caps cash transactions in this situation to a maximum of $100,000. Thus, most cash transactions of this nature end up in the $55,000 to $100,000 range.”
Barry asks:
I really feel that Detroit needs two bullpen arms, one of which could close out games or be in the closing mix and match what AJ does. Any insight as to who the Tigers are looking at? I am thinking that David Bednar is the type of pitcher Detroit likes, controlling the strike zone, low walks.
Michael asks:
Coming out of the break, the Tigers have the best record in baseball and the biggest division lead. Nobody had that on their bingo card. In light of that, what should be Detroit’s plan for the next two weeks? Should they swing for the fences and if so, how? Or look to add a piece here and there but not mortgage the future (or empty the farm) in favor of adding big names now?
The Tigers definitely need to add late inning relievers who can miss bats. There’s a good case to be made for signing David Robertson, who is reportedly throwing for interested teams.
The average MLB reliever punches out 22.4% of batters faced and has an 11.3% swinging strike rate. We saw trade rumors on Mason Miller of the Athletics last summer; his K% is over 40%. He’s under team control through 2029, though, so the A’s have no reason to trade him now unless they feel they’re selling high or received an offer they can’t refuse.
The Orioles’ Felix Bautista is under team control through 2027. He has a huge strikeout rate as well, but walks even more batters than Miller. Bautista’s teammate Seranthony Dominguez is in that same class. A free agent after the season, Dominguez seems a lock to be dealt. Same goes for Gregory Soto, so it makes sense for Scott Harris to be blowing up Mike Elias’ phone.
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