3 potential trade suitors for Koji Uehara
The Boston Red Sox are 37-44 heading into a Sunday night clash with the New York Yankees and the team's performance in the next couple weeks will identify them as potential buyers or sellers as the July 31 trade deadline inches closer.
General manager Ben Cherington will have some important decisions regarding the future of the club either way, but if the team continues to struggle, blowing up the World Series-winning roster may be a good long-term decision.
One player Cherington will receive calls on if things continue to go sour is closer Koji Uehara. The 39-year-old righty is an elite-level closer and a bargain with his one-year, $4.25 million contract. Uehara was untouchable during the team's championship run a year ago, yielding one run in 13 appearances while racking up seven saves.
Here are three teams that could seek Uehara's services in the next month:
San Francisco Giants
Manager Bruce Bochy demoted Sergio Romo from the closer role and is now relying on Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt in high-leverage situations. Nobody would be surprised if Romo, who owns a career 2.51 ERA and four career saves in the postseason, pitches his way back into Bochy's good books. But Uehara would be great insurance if Romo continues to struggle and give them another reliable arm in an already strong bullpen. Most of the Giants' top prospects are pitchers. The Red Sox wouldn't be opposed to stocking the farm with young arms due to an aging rotation and the uncertain future of ace Jon Lester.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Kenley Jansen is the closer in Los Angeles, but he only got his first taste of October baseball last season. The righty recorded two saves but his 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP could be cause for concern. The club also boasts former All-Star closers Brandon League and Brian Wilson. League doesn't have any postseason experience and Wilson is no longer the closer he once was for the World Series-winning Giants in 2010. The Dodgers also have an abundance of outfielders, a position the Red Sox will be seeking to bolster in any potential trade. Yasiel Puig isn't going anywhere and the BoSox likely wouldn't want Carl Crawford back for a second stint with the team, but Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke could be potential trade bait.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are perhaps the most desperate of the playoff contenders for pitching help. Detroit saw first-hand what Uehara is capable of in the postseason last year and he would be a major upgrade over struggling closer Joe Nathan, who is the owner of a lofty 6.37 ERA and has five blown saves. The Tigers, much like the Dodgers, could afford to trade an outfielder with Andy Dirks on the mend and poised for a return after the All-Star break. Don Kelly or even J.D. Martinez could be deemed expendable and packaged with prospects in an attempt to acquire Uehara's services.