Texas Rangers: Keone Kela most valuable on the roster and most valuable reliever on the trade market

Keone Kela is top-tier in arm talent

Surely, most of you have seen Kela pitch. If you haven’t, you should. He possesses the typical closer fastball, ranging from 95-98 mph. He also possesses the coveted elite secondary pitch that historically promotes closers from good to great. I’m referring to his wipeout curveball.

30 of Kela’s 39 strikeouts have come via the curveball in 2018. He has brilliant command of the pitch as evidenced by his willingness to throw it at any point in the count. He can spin the hook with the best of them and he can spot the hook with the best of them.

It is safe to say he has mastered the fastball/curveball combination. Just as Mariano Rivera had his cutter and Trevor Hoffman his changeup, Kela has his curveball. It is risky to mention Kela in the same sentence as the all-time saves leaders, but his stuff is at least slightly deserving of it.

Certainly, Kela deserves to be recognized as one of the top relievers in the game. In half a season, he’s transitioned from experimental closer to elite closer. He’s been so dominant that teams are beginning to take notice MLB wide.

Keone Kela is young and under control

Kela is a late bloomer in some respects, but he’s still only 25 years old. Potential suitors would be getting a player that has just entered into his prime. Kela has quality mechanics which bodes well for future health. Aside from a couple of visits to the DL in his short career, he has proven to be quite durable.

Another benefit to teams of interest is Kela’s contract. He is making just $1.2 million this season and he is arbitration eligible through 2020. Thus, a team that acquires Kela will have contractual control over him for at least the following two seasons.

Youth and team control make Keone Kela even more enticing. He is younger and more affordable than any other reliever on the market. And he might just be the most talented reliever on the market. Contending teams in need of bullpen help should be ringing Jon Daniels’ (Texas Rangers’ General Manger) phone off the hook in regard to Keone Kela.

The markets sets up ideally for Keone Kela

We’ve seen relievers take over control of the trade market for a few consecutive years now. It’s kind of the new routine. Names like Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, and Brandon Kintzler have shifted the market in previous seasons. Closer Kelvin Herrera being traded to the Washington Nationals last month was the first big move of the year.

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While Keone Kela does not have the track record to match any of those relievers, he certainly has the talent and potential to warrant a very notable trade prior to the July 31st trade deadline.

Contenders in desperate need of Kela’s services are the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves. Each team is in the bottom half of MLB in bullpen ERA; Cleveland ranks dead last and Colorado third to last. The Los Angeles Angels could be tossed in the mix too. Though, they are quite the disoriented bunch at the moment.

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Expect negotiations to really heat up over the next week. Rumors should surface at a greater rate and deals should be inked soon enough. From the perspective of the Texas Rangers, now is the perfect time to swap Keone Kela for some prospect talent. It’s tough to let a high-caliber closer go; however, we’ve seen the kind of talent contending teams are willing to give up for exactly that.