9 trade candidates for reliever-needy contenders

A bad bullpen can cause an early exit in the postseason -- or even keep a team from reaching the playoffs in the first place.

While hardly any clubs are permanently set when it comes to their relief pitching, some contenders have it better than others. Plenty of good teams in both the American and National Leagues have already gone through bullpen strife in 2025, and that could be a precursor of tough times ahead.

But there are ways to fix the problem. Several big-name closers and a host of other reliable arms could be made available ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline, where teams in need will be waiting to make big moves.

Here are eight teams hoping to contend in 2025 that could use bullpen help -- plus nine of the top relievers who could be available for trade.

Which teams need relief help?

D-backs
Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk have spent time on the injured list. Joe Mantiply and Kevin Ginkel have posted ERAs above 10. Ryan Thompson and Scott McGough have struggled, too. It’s been a tough year for a D-backs bullpen that ranks 27th in MLB with a 5.31 ERA, ahead of only the A’s, Nationals and Angels.

Shelby Miller (1.75 ERA) and Jalen Beeks (3.26 ERA) have been bright spots, and Martinez is healthy now, but the D-backs still have plenty of room to improve -- especially since they’ll be leaning on their bullpen even more with Corbin Burnes set to undergo Tommy John surgery next week. To separate themselves in a crowded National League playoff field, the D-backs will need to make a splash (or two) for their bullpen at the Trade Deadline.

Phillies
Once again, the bullpen appears to be a weak spot for the Phillies. José Alvarado's 80-game suspension for a PED violation has exposed some holes in Philadelphia’s bullpen, a unit relying heavily on three pitchers: Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano. Kerkering and Strahm have pitched well despite a sizable workload, but Romano (7.71 ERA) has struggled, as has the rest of the ’pen.

Signing Romano was the Phillies’ attempt to address Jeff Hoffman’s departure in free agency, but the Phillies still appear to be in need of bullpen arms -- potentially several -- if they harbor hopes of defending their NL East title. Even when Alvarado returns from his suspension, he’ll be ineligible for the postseason, so picking up some key relievers for the stretch run will be paramount.

Brewers
While Milwaukee’s ever-changing rotation has been a strength this season (3.44 ERA, fifth in MLB), the Brewers bullpen has had its ups and downs. The Crew has a solid corps of high-leverage arms in Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Nick Mears, Jared Koenig and Grant Anderson, but they’ve all pitched a lot. The Brewers backed off Mears’ usage after relying on him heavily in May, and Koenig is tied for the MLB lead with 31 appearances in 2025.

Due to the struggles of relievers like Joel Payamps (8.35 ERA) and Tyler Alexander (6.19 ERA), Milwaukee’s bullpen ranks 23rd in MLB with a 4.41 ERA this season in 257 1/3 innings, the second-most relief frames in the Majors. For a team very much in the NL Wild Card mix, adding to the ’pen -- even if it’s not a major move -- could be critical.

Yankees
Devin Williams has been better since a poor start to the season, but his 6.35 ERA remains evidence that the Yankees could use some help at the back end of their bullpen. That’s especially true after Luke Weaver suffered a left hamstring strain that could sideline him for a month or more. Offseason trade acquisition Fernando Cruz is off the IL, at least, after missing time with right shoulder inflammation.

The Yankees rank 13th in MLB with a 3.66 bullpen ERA and have gotten solid contributions from pitchers such as Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr. and Yoendrys Gómez, so a bullpen piece isn’t as big a trade need as, say, an infielder. But with Williams’ shakiness and Weaver’s injury, the Yanks could certainly benefit from adding another high-leverage reliever to the mix.

Dodgers
The Dodgers’ starting pitching staff has been hit the hardest by injuries in 2025, but the bullpen hasn’t been spared. Among the key names, Evan Phillips underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, Blake Treinen is still working his way back from a right forearm sprain, and Brusdar Graterol might not be available at all in 2025 after offseason surgery.

Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech were both activated from the injured list Saturday, so that should help, but a Dodgers bullpen that looked formidable on paper has been far from dominant. Free-agent add Tanner Scott, for instance, has just a 4.40 ERA. Having to cover the most relief innings in MLB hasn’t helped, but a middle-of-the-pack 3.94 bullpen ERA might inspire the Dodgers to make moves at the Deadline.

Braves
Three times in the past three games, the Braves have shown a need for major relief help, which will be a must if they hope to turn their disappointing season around. Atlanta gave up seven runs in the ninth inning Thursday to lose to the D-backs, lost Friday to the Giants on a walk-off wild pitch and fell Saturday on a walk-off homer by Matt Chapman.

Closer Raisel Iglesias (6.75 ERA) has regressed significantly from 2024, and injuries have been an issue: Joe Jiménez might not pitch in 2025, while Daysbel Hernández was placed on the IL on Friday with a forearm issue. The return of Craig Kimbrel, meanwhile, was short lived. The Braves still have Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer and other fairly reliable relievers, but the accumulation of close losses and the team’s poor record could necessitate a Trade Deadline splurge.

Mariners
Yes, Andrés Muñoz has been dominant, but one elite reliever can’t carry an entire bullpen. While Muñoz’s excellence has helped Seattle early in the year (he hadn’t given up an earned run until his two most recent outings), the Mariners don’t have a ton of high-leverage arms beyond him. Carlos Vargas, Gabe Speier and Matt Brash -- who missed all of 2024 due to injury -- are the go-to guys in the late innings, but the M’s could use some more depth.

Part of that is because Gregory Santos (knee surgery) remains on the 60-day injured list, while Collin Snider and Trent Thornton are on the 15-day IL. All three pitchers own ERAs over 5 on the season, too. Pairing Muñoz with an elite back-end arm would help support an excellent rotation that has been marred by injury and give the Mariners even better chances of finishing off wins.

Cubs
The Cubs bullpen has looked MUCH better over the past few weeks, owning a 0.99 ERA dating back to May 12 -- MLB's lowest in that span by a considerable margin. Ryan Pressly, Caleb Thielbar and Brad Keller have not allowed an earned run since then; Drew Pomeranz, in his first MLB action since 2021, has a 0.00 ERA in 14 2/3 innings this season. Daniel Palencia has thrived in a high-leverage role lately, racking up saves in five straight outings and posting a 1.74 ERA on the season.

With the way things are going right now, the Cubs don’t seem to be in need of any major upgrades, but there’s no guarantee that a 36-year-old Pressly and several unproven pieces will hold up for 162 games. Through the end of April, Chicago’s 4.76 bullpen ERA was the fifth worst in baseball, and regression can happen anytime. Things likely won’t get that bad again, but it wouldn’t hurt the Cubs to add a couple proven arms to shore up their suddenly resurgent ’pen.

Who’s on the market?

The trade market for relievers in 2025 could feature plenty of big names. There’s no guarantee any of the following players will be made available by their teams, but here’s who could be on the move at the Trade Deadline.

Pete Fairbanks, Rays
Fairbanks has been Tampa Bay’s primary closer for the past three years, saving a career-high 25 games in 2023 and recording 11 saves so far this season. The right-hander, who has a 1.88 ERA in 24 innings, is under contract for just $3.67 million in 2025 with a $7 million club option for 2026. Fairbanks has never pitched more than 45 1/3 innings in a season because of injuries, but his talent is undeniable and his contract is affordable.

Ryan Helsley, Cardinals
The Cardinals’ success in 2025 makes Helsley one of the least likely players on this list to be dealt, but he’s on an expiring contract and could still be moved at the Deadline. Making just $8.2 million this season, Helsley -- last year’s MLB leader with 49 saves -- is an appealing option for a club in need of relief help. His 3.52 ERA in 2025 is his highest since 2021, but he has still locked down 13 saves and is one of the top closers on the market.

Félix Bautista, Orioles
Bautista hasn’t been as dominant as he was in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he has four saves in his past five appearances and 11 saves on the year for the Orioles with a 3.48 ERA. He’s on the second year of an extremely cheap deal (two years, $2 million) and is eligible for arbitration this offseason. With Baltimore’s struggles in 2025, Bautista (as well as teammates Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto) could be dealt away this summer.

Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox
Chapman is in the midst of his best season since 2016, when he played a key role for the Cubs in their World Series-winning campaign after being dealt at the Deadline. The left-hander has a 1.80 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 25 innings for the Red Sox, who have gone cold and currently occupy fourth place in the American League East. If Boston decides to sell, Chapman -- on a one-year, $10.75 million deal -- could be among the first players moved.

David Bednar, Pirates
Bednar has bounced back from a demotion to Triple-A early in the season, lowering his ERA to 3.74 and allowing just one earned run in his past nine outings. The 30-year-old is making an arbitration salary of $5.9 million in 2025 and is under contract for next year, too. The extra year of control could drive up Bednar’s price at the Deadline -- if the Pirates decide to part with the closer, who saved an NL-best 39 games with a 2.00 ERA in 2023.

Kyle Finnegan, Nationals
Finnegan was an All-Star for the Nats in 2024, saving 38 games with a 3.68 ERA for Washington. This year, the right-hander’s numbers have been even better: He has 18 saves (he's on pace to tie San Diego's Robert Suarez for the most in MLB with 49) and a 2.49 ERA. With Finnegan set to become a free agent after this season, the Nats could move on from him if their record doesn’t improve by the Trade Deadline -- and he’d probably fetch a decent haul.

Kenley Jansen, Angels
Jansen hasn’t had the best season -- his 4.43 ERA is actually a career-worst mark -- but he has still gone a perfect 13-for-13 in save opportunities in 2025, his first year with the Angels. The 37-year-old righty could be a trade chip for a Los Angeles team who entered Saturday 5 1/2 games out of first place in the AL West, although his value might not be as high as it once was. Jansen, whose 459 career saves are the fourth most all time, is pitching on a one-year, $10 million deal.

Emilio Pagán, Reds
In his second year with the Reds -- the sixth franchise of his nine-year career -- the journeyman Pagán has settled nicely into the closer role. He has saved 15 games in 17 chances for Cincinnati, owning a 3.58 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. Fighting to stay around the .500 mark, the Reds might not be motivated to trade Pagán, who’s making $8 million in 2025 and will become a free agent after the season. But if they do, a contender could pounce.

Jake Bird, Rockies
Bird’s breakout season has made him a major trade chip for a Rockies team in a distant fifth place in the NL West. After posting a 4.53 ERA across his first three MLB seasons, the 29-year-old has been excellent in 2025 with a 1.49 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings. With just one career save, Bird -- under club control through 2028 -- isn’t likely to take over a closer role for a contender, but he can be an effective arm out of anyone’s bullpen.