Tap here to access our MLB Trade Tracker which includes all trades and rumors leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.
Closers are falling off the board at a rapid pace as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, and according to Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, his closer Chad Qualls can also be scratched off the list.
"I hesitate to use the word 'untouchable,' but he likes it here, he's comfortable here and he's pitching well," Luhnow said. "To have a guy who's capable of pitching late in the game, in close games, we're going to have opportunity going forward. This is a team that's improving, and as the team improves, you have more save opportunities, more opportunities to pitch at the end of close games. We need more Chad Qualls. We don't need less."
Qualls, 35, has converted 11 of his 13 save opportunities for the Astros and boasts a stellar 1.78 ERA in 35 1/3 innings pitched. The righty is making $2.75 million in 2014 and is under contract until 2017.
Huston Street, Joakim Soria, Jason Grilli and Ernesto Frieri are some of the late-inning arms that have already found new homes for the stretch run.
