Report: Astros, Marlins check in on availability of Ken Giles

Every manager in the majors dreams of having a closer that can register triple digits on the radar gun to blow away the competition, and that means the trade market for flamethrowers is heating up.

The Houston Astros and Miami Marlins are among the teams that checked in on the availability of Philadelphia Phillies reliever Ken Giles, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Giles' fastball averaged 96.5 mph last season, but he's been known to dial it up to triple digits on occasion. The 25-year-old recorded 15 saves in 20 attempts while recording a 1.80 ERA over 70 innings for the lowly Phillies, and is under team control until 2021.

Coincidentally, new Phillies general manager Matt Klentak was a guest on MLB Network Radio at the same time Rosenthal broke the news, and quickly addressed trade rumors surrounding his closer.

"We're trying to add players like Ken Giles, we're not trying to subtract," Klentak said. "That's the type of player every team wants. ... I will say, though, I try as best I can to never operate in absolutes, and you have to be opportunistic."

The Astros beefed up their bullpen last offseason by adding Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek to handle high-leverage situations, but both hurlers didn't have a proven history of closing games until arriving in Houston.

Miami began last season with Steve Cishek closing games, but he quickly disintegrated after two strong campaigns as the team's closer, forcing the Marlins to tab A.J. Ramos as the ninth-inning man.