MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for David Robertson
By John Buhler
David Robertson is a solid right-handed reliever that isn’t getting save opportunities with the Chicago White Sox. Here are five trade destinations for him.
Right-handed reliever David Robertson has been one of the more reliable pitchers coming out of the bullpen in the American League for the last decade. After being drafted by the New York Yankees out of his hometown Alabama Crimson Tide in 2006, Robertson made his first big league appearance in 2008 for the men in pinstripes.
He would spend his first seven major league seasons in Yankees uniform, winning a World Series in 2009 and earning a trip to the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Overall, Robertson has boasted a 2.98 ERA and a 1.186 WHIP in 10 big league seasons. He became the Yankees closer in 2014 and would leave the Bronx in 2014 to sign a four-year deal worth $46 million to close games for the Chicago White Sox.
While he has done well as the White Sox’s closer since 2015, he has only saved 83 games in 2.5 years with the southsiders. That’s because the White Sox are one of the worst teams in the American League. Robertson may have a solid 3.18 ERA in 26 appearances for Chicago, but he only has 12 saves through July 1.
With contending teams almost always needing relief in the relievers department, here are five teams that could be calling on Robertson’s services before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Minnesota Twins
AL, Central
Last year’s complete debacle of a season looks to be an anomaly in the Twin Cities. Paul Molitor’s Minnesota Twins are right in the thick of things in the AL Central, hovering around .500 and in a tight division race with pretty much everybody not named the White Sox.
Since the Twins haven’t reach the AL postseason since 2010, might it be time for Minnesota to be all-in on getting a division crown or a wild card berth at that? Minnesota has gotten great play out of starting pitchers like Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios. However, the bullpen continues to be an issue for the ball club.
Minnesota has been able to hover around .500 despite having a bullpen that is quite literally costing them games. The Twins have the Wins Above Average By Position of -3.0 from their leaky bullpen. Of course losing All-Star closer Glen Perkins for presumably the year after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery is going to hurt. However, Brandon Kintzler has come in and done a nice job in place of the injured Perkins.
That being said, Minnesota might be a legitimate AL Central champion if the Twins had Perkins. Adding a viable arm like Robertson at either closer or as the setup man could only help. However, why would Chicago be willing to trade their best reliever inside of the division? Chicago better be getting an elite prospect back from Minnesota for any of this trade talk to manifest involving Robertson.