Bullpen help becomes very important in the MLB playoffs and that makes Trevor Rosenthal a huge name to watch on the trade market.
Trevor Rosenthal has had a nice bounce back season with the Kansas City Royals after he struggled with two different teams in 2019. Rosenthal has mostly been used as a closer in Kansas City, notching a 0.79 ERA through 10.1 innings of work while also locking down six saves.
Those kind of numbers are going to ensure that Rosenthal finishes the 2020 season in a uniform other than the Royals. The trade deadline is on August 31 and Rosenthal is surely going to be dealt, but who could he be pitching for by season’s end?
3. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds had a lot of hype surrounding them heading into the 2020 season and for good reason. They had promising talent and for the most part, have competed throughout the course of the short season so far.
The biggest problem for the Reds has been their bullpen, which sits as the fifth worst in the entire league with a combined ERA of 5.81. The Reds are fortunate to have the second best starting pitching ERA in all of Major League Baseball, though they’re hanging on by a thread in the NL playoff hunt at 11-13.
The problem here is that it’s all riding on their starters to be great every single game because the bullpen hasn’t been up to par. They do have some promising relievers, but Raisel Iglesias — their closer — has seen his fair share of struggles in 2020.
Trading for Rosenthal would give the Reds the top-notch reliever they need and could be the difference between them making the postseason or watching from the couch.