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MLB Trade Rumors: Top 10 remaining offseason trade candidates

By Joshua Sadlock

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 15: Christian Yelich #21 of the Miami Marlins walks through the dugout before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 15: Christian Yelich #21 of the Miami Marlins walks through the dugout before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Alex Colome #37 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 9-6. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 23: Alex Colome #37 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Rays won 9-6. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

2. Alex Colome

The true value of a closer on a very good team is open for debate. The value of a closer on a rebuilding team — definitely not up for debate. If a team is not going to be very good, there is no real point in having a solid closer out in the bullpen collecting dust while the losses pile up. While it’s still not crystal clear that the Rays plan to tear things all the way down and start over, trading Evan Longoria is a good indication that things are headed that way.

With only one top closer left on the open market in Greg Holland and a handful of teams who would like to sign a closer, the Rays are in a good position to auction off Alex Colome for a good return. The Chicago Cubs are one potential trade partner that stands out for Tampa Bay. Theo Epstein has not shown a willingness to spend big on a closer, and it’s unlikely he’s about to go down that road with Holland.

The Rays would be wise to trade Colome now as he comes off a down year. He did lead the major leagues with 47 saves, but also had a 3.24 ERA and saw his strikeouts per nine drop from 11.3 to 7.8. Colome’s velocity still looks good, but he was not getting many empty swings on his cutter in 2017. With only two viable pitches, that is not a great indicator for future dominance.

Despite the drop in whiffs, Colome still manages to limit hard contact. His batting average on balls in play actually dropped from 2016 to 2017, but so many more balls were being put in play against him. Hence, the spike in ERA. Closers who pitch to contact will always be a volatile bunch. It’s in the best interest of the Rays to trade Colome now or risk the wheels falling off.

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