21 Late-Inning Relievers Who Could Be On The Move Before The MLB Trade Deadline

Welcome to DiamondCentric's 2025 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline primer. Here, we've compiled a comprehensive list of late-inning relievers who could be on the move ahead of or on July 31. Every team can use pitching in some form or fashion, so be sure to check out our starting pitchers and middle relievers as well. 

We're less than 10 days away from the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, but so much remains in flux about this season. We have a clear class of contenders -- eight teams with a 90% chance or more to make the playoffs -- and bottom-dwellers (nine teams with less than 5% odds). Those remaining 13 squads in the middle, though, provide immense intrigue as the seconds tick away to Deadline Day.

The Toronto Blue Jays, fortunately, have played themselves into the first group by going 17-4 since June 26. FanGraphs gives them a 93.9% chance to make the playoffs -- second-best in the AL behind Detroit (98.5%) -- and 55.6% odds of capturing the AL East crown. Despite this, FanGraphs believes the Blue Jays have just the fourth-best chance among AL teams to win the World Series (6.3%), showing they need reinforcements to battle deep into October.

A dominant bullpen can be a great equalizer in the postseason. Toronto's bullpen has been one of baseball's better relief units, but adding an upper-end closer would make it a tantalizing force. If the cost for a transcendent arm looks too hefty, though, there are plenty of options that would supplement what's already in place.

Rankings mentioned are from The Athletic's Trade Deadline Big Board 2.0 (updated July 9), ESPN's Top 50 Trade Deadline candidates (updated July 21), and MLB Trade Rumors' Top 40 Trade Candidates (published July 4). Players included -- with one exception -- are from teams with less than a 25% chance to make the playoffs as of July 22, per FanGraphs. 

RHP Emmanuel Clase, CLE
The Athletic - 4th OVR (1st RP); ESPN - 7th OVR (2nd RP); MLBTR - N/A

Clase, 27, posted one of the most dominant relief seasons we've ever seen in 2024 en route to a third-place finish in Cy Young voting. He hasn't replicated his 0.61 ERA from a year ago due to a rough April, but from May onward, he has recorded a 1.19 ERA in 30 appearances. He's set to make only $6.4 million in 2026 and has $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028. At that price, his production is an absolute bargain. It would take a massive package to convince the Guardians to part with him.

RHP Jhoan Duran, MIN
The Athletic - 8th OVR (2nd RP); ESPN - 6th OVR (1st RP); MLBTR - N/A

A .321 BABIP allowed contributed to an inflated ERA (3.64) for Duran in 2024. This year, with his BABIP luck back at career norms, his ERA (1.62) is stellar. The 27-year-old has somehow never been an All-Star, but could become a World Series champion if the Twins elect to trade him. Duran is arbitration-eligible for two more seasons and will reach free agency in 2028.

RHP Griffin Jax, MIN
The Athletic - 9th OVR (3rd RP); ESPN - 10th OVR (4th RP); MLBTR - N/A

It's easy to see why the Twins have the league's most fWAR from relievers, isn't it? Jax's strikeout rate (37.9%) and walk rate (5.6%) are actually better than Duran's (27.0% and 8.6%, respectively) in 2025. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old is somehow experiencing worse luck (.375 BABIP allowed) than Duran did last season. His 3.83 ERA is nowhere near indicative of how well he has pitched this year. Jax, like Duran, has two years of team control remaining ahead of 2028 free agency.

RHP David Bednar, PIT
The Athletic - 21st OVR (5th RP); ESPN - 20th OVR (6th RP); MLBTR - 3rd (1st RP)

MLBTR's list balances trade likelihood and player talent, while The Athletic and ESPN base theirs more on the current caliber of player. Bednar, 30, has recovered from a brutal 2024 showing and recouped his trade value for the Pirates. The two-time All-Star has a 2.38 ERA across 38 appearances (34 IP) and will become a free agent in 2027. He'll almost assuredly be wearing a new uniform come August.

RHP Ryan Helsley, STL
The Athletic - 25th OVR (6th RP); ESPN - 27th OVR (8th RP); MLBTR - Honorable Mention

Helsley has a 2.05 ERA over 186 appearances -- 201 2/3 IP -- since 2022 (is that good?). He led the NL in saves (49) last season. The 31-year-old two-time All-Star is on an expiring deal for a Cardinals team that has surprised many this year. St. Louis sits 3 1/2 games back in the Wild-Card hunt and has just a 20.1% chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs. The smart move for the Cardinals' long-term outlook is to trade him, but their performance over the next week could impact their decision.

RHP Cade Smith, CLE
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 9th OVR (3rd RP); MLBTR - N/A

Smith, 25, finished ninth in Cy Young voting last season -- with a 1.91 ERA in 75 1/3 innings -- as a rookie setup man for Clase. Producing at that clip for an encore was always going to be tough, but his underlying metrics (xERA, FIP, xFIP) suggest he has been almost the same pitcher. The Guardians are reportedly listening on Smith and Clase, but the former isn't arbitration-eligible until 2027. His presence making Clase expendable feels more probable than him being dealt himself, but both are longshots to be traded at all.

RHP Felix Bautista, BAL
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 19th OVR (5th RP); MLBTR - N/A

"The Mountain" has picked up right where he left off following Tommy John surgery in Aug. 2023. Unlike Jax or Smith, Bautista's analytical profile suggests he has benefit from some good luck in his return, but those datapoints still show him to be a top-notch arm. The 30-year-old has been a bright spot during an incredibly disappointing campaign for the Orioles, who could attempt to capitalize on his two years of team control at the Deadline. 

RHP Pete Fairbanks, TB
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 23rd OVR (7th RP); MLBTR - 36th OVR (7th RP)

The Rays have never been shy about flipping soon-to-be free agents regardless of their position in the standings. Fairbanks, one of Tampa Bay's longest-tenured players, could fit the bill. His $7 million club option for 2026 is reasonable, though, and an extension for 2027 and beyond could be something the team's new owners are willing to explore. If not, the 31-year-old -- with a 2.92 ERA and 16 saves across 37 innings -- will likely be on the move.

RHP Dennis Santana, PIT
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 36th OVR (8th RP); MLBTR - 9th OVR (2nd RP)

Santana is the perfect trade candidate. The Pirates plucked him off waivers from the Yankees in June 2024. At that point, Santana had a career ERA of 5.34 in 177 innings. Since then, Santana has a 1.97 ERA in 86 2/3 innings with Pittsburgh. Teams may be wary of his track record outside of black and gold, but the Buccos aren't competing anytime soon. Landing a nice return for a 29-year-old with one year of arbitration remaining is good business. 

RHP Kyle Finnegan, WSN
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 37th OVR (9th RP); MLBTR - 18th OVR (3rd RP)

Another cut and dried situation here. Finnegan, 33, is an impending free agent. The Nationals are down and out of the playoff chase this year. There's no reason for them to hang onto their 2024 All-Star, whom they probably could have fetched a bigger return for at the 2024 Trade Deadline. Finnegan has a 4.62 ERA and 19 saves across 38 appearances (37 IP) this season.

RHP Phil Maton, STL
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 43rd OVR (10th RP); MLBTR - N/A

Maton has sparkled in St. Louis, posting a 2.48 ERA in 38 games (36 1/3 IP) in 2025. The Cardinals added him late in free agency (Mar. 13) on a one-year, $2 million pact. If the organization decides to make a playoff push, Maton will likely stay in town. Otherwise, the 32-year-old is primed to exit via trade and could be packaged with Helsley for the right package.

Emilio Pagan, CIN
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - 45th OVR (11th RP); MLBTR - Honorable Mention

Pagan, 34, has performed tremendously as the Reds' closer. The nine-year veteran recorded his career-high 21st save on July 19 and leads the NL in games finished (35). Cincinnati's front office, according to general manager Brad Meador, wants to "push in to win this year." But he also stated the team could "do some [buying and selling]." The public pressure Pagan -- who's on an expiring deal -- recently put on the team could lead the Reds to move him, though, depending on how the next week goes for them.

RHP Seranthony Dominguez, BAL
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - N/A; MLBTR - 29th OVR (4th RP)

Baltimore added Dominguez in exchange for Austin Hays at the 2024 Trade Deadline. The 30-year-old has been solid (3.82 ERA in 61 1/3 innings) since joining the O's and is on the verge of free agency. It's possible he's extended for another run at things in 2026 -- they accepted his $8 million club option for 2025, after all -- but they could re-up with him in the offseason after a trade if desired. Dealing him for a prospect or two would make sense.

LHP Gregory Soto, BAL
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - N/A; MLBTR - 30th OVR (5th RP)

If there's any upside to adding relievers then falling flat, it's that those arms will be enticing trade chips down the line. Soto, like Dominguez, went from Philly to Baltimore at the Deadline a season ago. He's on an expiring deal and is the first left-hander on this list, which could add to his value for interested clubs. The same line of thinking for Dominguez applies here.

RHP Anthony Bender, MIA
The Athletic - N/A; ESPN - N/A; MLBTR - 35th OVR (6th RP)

Predictive metrics aren't everything, but there's a reason people point to them during player analysis. Bender may be the 2025 poster child for this. His ERA (1.96) pales in comparison to his xERA (3.49), FIP (3.87) and xFIP (4.47). Perhaps it's just a course correction for 2024, where everything mentioned here was essentially the opposite. The 30-year-old won't hit free agency until 2028, but he'd presumably rank a bit higher if teams had faith in him maintaining his current production.

RHP Kenley Jansen, LAA
Jansen, on his third team in four years, keeps churning out productive seasons. The Angels (49-51) have been way better than anticipated and sit four games back of a playoff spot, but have only a 4.8% chance of reaching the postseason, per FanGraphs. If the front office gets a good offer for the 37-year-old (looking at you, Dodgers), getting a prospect back for Jansen's expiring contract would be a wise decision.

RHP Raisel Iglesias, ATL
Iglesias, making $16 million, is in the midst of what is by far the worst season of his career. The Braves would almost certainly need to eat some money in order to trade him away in the next nine days. The 35-year-old is one year removed from a 2024 campaign where he recorded a 1.95 ERA over 69 1/3 innings, so there's theoretically some upside one could unlock over the past two months. He'd be a worthwhile gamble at the right financial and prospect cost.

RHP Shelby Miller, ARI
Miller has put together an excellent season for the second time in three seasons. He has taken over the closer role for the Diamondbacks, who have been absolutely gutted by injuries to the pitching staff. Arizona inked the 34-year-old to a one-year, $1 million deal in the offseason. As Arizona prepares to sell pieces, expect Miller to be one of the departing names.

LHP Dylan Lee, ATL
Lee, a soon-to-be 31-year-old, was not among MLBTR's honorable mentions of trade candidates, but has been great throughout his career when healthy. He has three years of team control left on his contract. He's not someone that it'd be incredibly logical for the Braves to sell, but the lack of left-handed late-inning options on the market could inspire a team to make a big offer for the southpaw.

RHP Calvin Faucher, MIA
Faucher, 29, has four years of team control remaining on his deal with the surprisingly spry Marlins, who fans may not realize are ahead of Atlanta in the NL East standings. His command issues may keep another organization from offering what it'd take to pry him out of Miami, but as Ely Sussman of Fish on First laid out, you never know.

RHP Seth Halvorsen, COL
Halvorsen finds his way onto this list courtesy of MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, who listed him amongst his Deadline targets with rising stocks on Sunday. The 2023 seventh-round pick has a 5.15 ERA and nine saves through 38 appearances this year. Back on June 18, he authored one of the most unique at-bats of the season when closing out a victory against the Washington Nationals.

Halvorsen isn't arbitration-eligible until 2028 and won't reach free agency until 2031, so there's no need for the Rockies to explore moving him. I would advocate against it. However, Colorado isn't close to contention, and a 25-year-old flamethrower would be enticing to a number of teams. If the Rockies get a trade package that knocks off their socks, trading him wouldn't be the worse idea they've ever had (and that's saying something).