Closer Rankings: Time to look at who might go where

If you're a regular reader of my weekly Closer Rankings, you know I do two charts: Right-Now rankings and Rest-Of-Season rankings. It helps me differentiate between the ranking of, for example, Santiago Casilla, who is the Giants' closer right now, and Sergio Romo, who I still think gets the job back eventually.

This time of year, though, those Rest-Of-Season rankings are nigh-on impossible. Yeah, I can tell you who the top-of-the-line closers will be the rest of the season. That ain't hard. But that list will also generally look like the Right-Now list, save for the occasional "uh-oh, he might be a little hurt" bump. But it doesn't take long to get to a spot in the rankings where it's total guesswork, and not just on ability.

It's trading time.

There are, by my count, some six or seven current closers who could be dealt. Most of them won't, of course, but could be. And there are a handful of contenders who are definitely in the market for a new closer. And of course, there are the setup guys who could become closers, either on their current teams or elsewhere. So do I rank Joe Smith of the Angels above Chad Qualls, who could be on the Angels? Where do I put Joe Nathan, considering the Tigers are linked to almost every available reliever? What the heck do I do with Huston Street and Joaquin Benoit?

So until the trade deadline, I'm forgoing the Rest-Of-Season rankings in favor of some looks at who might go, who might want them, and what that will mean. The Right-Now rankings aren't going anywhere, but the ROS is too much guesswork right now.

Also, there won't be a closer rankings next week, as fantasy weeks are going to be 10-day weeks after the All-Star break, and there aren't any more regular-season games until Friday, so there won't be enough movement at the position. In the meantime, here's a trade look:

Teams that might want relievers

Tigers - Joe Nathan has settled down a little, I guess, with no runs allowed in four outings this week. Still, though, his ERA sits at 5.61, with a WHIP of 1.51, and he gave up runs in three straight games before July. Joba Chamberlain (2.63 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 37.2 innings) could probably do the job, but the Tigers have traditionally wanted guys who have done the job before. They've been linked to the Padres guys, and Benoit has been in Detroit before. Also, we all know the Tigers and Astros like to deal with each other, and Chad Qualls is out there.

Angels - Joe Smith has been really good lately. He's pitched nine innings in July, striking out seven and allowing only one baserunner. He has eight saves and a win in his nine outings. Rumors persist about the Angels eying some outside guys, though, and Jason Grilli is also lying in wait if they want to go that way.

There are some other teams who have struggling closers or closer situations - the White Sox, Mets, Diamondbacks, Giants, and Cubs all come to mind - but there is less likelihood of them adding a closer, be it for non-competitive reasons or "we've got guys" reasons. Still, even if teams aren't eying closers, several will be looking for relievers who might fill the setup role. The Cardinals, Brewers, Mariners, and Blue Jays come to mind.

Teams that might be dealing

Texas Rangers - The Rangers can extend Joakim Soria for 2015 fairly affordably, so they'd demand a high price if Soria does go on the market. They also have Neal Cotts and Jason Frasor, and Neftali Feliz is back in the bigs in case Soria does get dealt. Best bet from here, though, is that Soria stays, while Cotts and/or Frasor move somewhere else and remain middle relievers.

Houston Astros - The Astros do this. They grab a guy to be a temporary closer and flip him for whatever they can get. See Veras, Jose, last year. Chad Qualls has had a good year (1.95 ERA, 1.08 WHIP) in his first year as even a semi-regular closer since 2009-10. I imagine anyone dealing for Qualls would move him back into a setup role, while Josh Fields or, interestingly enough, the now-back-in-Houston Veras might slide into the vacated role.

Philadelphia Phillies - Jonathan Papelbon has said he's open to the possibility of being dealt, and he's having, by some measures, his best season since 2006. It's just in time for Philadelphia, who really have to go into full-sell mode at some point. That said, Papelbon is in the midst of an enormous contract, so it's hard to imagine anyone offering much in return for him. Any deal for Papelbon would have to get creative.

San Diego Padres - I still don't exactly understand what the Padres have been doing the last few years, extending Huston Street, Carlos Quentin, and Seth Smith when they all had much more value as trading chips. Still, between Street and Joaquin Benoit, there's a lot of reliever value there, and you'd think the Padres would have to cash in on at least one. Historically, they've kept the closer and dealt the setup guy (like Luke Gregerson a year ago), so maybe Benoit goes, Street stays.

Colorado Rockies - I refuse to understand LaTroy Hawkins, with 14 strikeouts in 33 innings but still only a WHIP of 1.09. He's 41, though, and no part of any future Rockies plans. If anyone will offer them a warm cup of milk, they probably need to take them up on it. He won't go anywhere as a closer, but he could easily move.

Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox - David Robertson and Koji Uehara are both free agents after the season. The Yankees have Dellin Betances as a possible replacement closer, and the Masahiro Tanaka injury might have been the straw that broke their competitive backs. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are looking more out of it by the day, and Uehara would command a high price. Both Robertson and Uehara have been great, too. Meanwhile, the Rays would love to dump Grant Balfour, and while it's hard to imagine anyone trading for him to be a closer, there might be someone willing to take a low-cost flyer on him as a middle reliever.

Right-Now Rankings