Much like a department store during the holiday season, this year’s trade market for relief pitching has a little bit of everything for potential shoppers.

There are controllable youngsters, veterans on expiring contracts and everything in between, offering a variety of bullpen arms for contenders — or teams looking to get back into contention for one of the 12 tickets to October — to pursue between now and the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline.

Among the teams expected to look for bullpen help are the Dodgers, Pirates, Rangers, Phillies, D-backs, Mets, Brewers and Blue Jays, all of whom rank in the lower half of the Majors in relief ERA.

Here’s an early look at some of the relief arms on potential sellers that could be available in the coming weeks.

 

Daniel Bard, RHP, Rockies
Under club control through 2024

Bard’s resurgence in Colorado has been a great story, and after pitching to a 1.79 ERA in 2022, he’s been even better this season, posting a 1.52 ERA in his first 23 appearances. The Rockies love Bard, but he turns 38 next week and is owed $9.5 million in 2024, which isn’t ideal for a rebuilding club. Given his closing experience — he had 54 saves in 2021-22 — and ability to pitch anywhere in the late innings, Bard could fill a number of roles for a contending team.

 

Scott Barlow, RHP, Royals
Under club control through 2024

Barlow is earning $5.3 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for one more year before reaching free agency. The 30-year-old has converted 48 of 59 save chances since the start of the 2021 season, including eight of nine in 2023. After posting a 9.45 ERA in his first seven outings this season, Barlow has a 2.25 ERA with an opponent OPS of .528 and 29 strikeouts over his past 19 outings (20 innings) since April 22.