The Twins and Mets "should learn from the mistake the Royals made with Joakim Soria," writes Dave Cameron of FanGraphs, and trade closers Glen Perkins and Bobby Parnell. Cameron's argument is convincing: "Relievers, even really good young relievers, should be viewed as ripe fruit. They are great for a while, but you don’t store ripe fruit for the future planning on having a healthy snack later. You consume it now or waste it." The latest from around the relief trade market:
- The Mets would need to be "blown away" to trade Parnell, tweets David Lennon of Newsday. The 28-year-old is under the Mets' control through 2015 as an arbitration eligible player. Lennon hears the Red Sox are not looking for a closer, so he doubts they would overpay for late-inning help. The Red Sox have done just that since allowing Jonathan Papelbon to leave as a free agent, in trades for Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan.
- Red Sox assistant GM Mike Hazen labeled the bullpen as "an area that's shown the biggest inconsistencies," on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show this morning. Hazen suggested one or two of Brandon Workman, Pedro Beato, or Jose De La Torre could step into a role in the "front side" of the bullpen, "or we go external."
- Earlier today, Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com heard the White Sox were seeking "high-end prospects" for lefty Matt Thornton.
- Boston's top pitching scout, Eddie Bane, is watching White Sox relievers Thornton, Lindstrom, and Addison Reed, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Red Sox would love a healthy Crain, adds Cafardo.
- Another of many teams the Red Sox may turn to is the Giants; Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says Boston and Detroit have checked in with San Francisco on bullpen arms in case they decide to sell. Morosi seesJavier Lopez as one potential trade candidate, with the Giants having lost four in a row to drop to 6.5 games out. Other veterans in the Giants' pen include Sergio Romo (signed through 2014), Jeremy Affeldt (signed through '15), Jose Mijares (under control through '14), and Santiago Casilla (signed through at least 2015). Casilla could be activated today following a stint on the DL for a knee injury.
- Check out an updated FanGraphs leaderboard I created of potentially available relievers here.
