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MLB Trade Deadline 2019: Top 10 relievers who could be dealt

By Joshua Sadlock

DENVER, CO - JULY 14: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the Colorado Rockies during a game at Coors Field on July 14, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 14: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches against the Colorado Rockies during a game at Coors Field on July 14, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 25: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mychal Givens (60) in action during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels played on July 25, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 25: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mychal Givens (60) in action during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels played on July 25, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

8. Mychal Givens

Having already traded starter Andrew Cashner, the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles are short on trade chips to bolster their rapidly-improving farm system at the deadline. Infielder Jonathan Villar is drawing interest, as is slugger Trey Mancini. Villar is likely good as gone, but will fetch a minimal return. There is interest in Mancini from several contending teams, but he appears destined to remain in Baltimore and serve as the face of the team while it waits for Adley Rutschman to arrive.

Reliever Mychal Givens is the best asset the Orioles can offer, and the 29-year-old right-hander could bring them back a high-end prospect. Givens will not be a free agent until after the 2021 season, but the time to deal him is now for the Orioles. The converted shortstop’s performance has been up and down the last two seasons, but he remains one of the most intriguing arms in this year’s trade class. Givens throws from a sidearm slot, but can dial his fastball up into the upper nineties.

Givens has a 3.31 ERA in 301.2 MLB innings over the past five seasons and has struck out 10.7 per nine for his career. He has been particularly nasty against right-handed hitters, holding them to a .188/.264/.316 line with 250 strikeouts in 713 at-bats. Left-handers have had slightly more success squaring Givens up because he opens up slightly as he delivers and allows them more time to pick up the baseball.

The Orioles attempted to make Givens their closer this year, but he got off to an abysmal start. He has turned things around over the last month and has a 3.00 ERA over his last 16 appearances with 26 strikeouts and six walks in 18 innings of work.

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