The trade deadline is closing in and some teams like the Yankees, Cardinals and Rangers are looking to add some depth to their bullpen. ESPN’s Buster Olney writes in today’s column that bullpen help could be available immediately for teams looking to add relievers.

Although up to this point there are no teams considered to be sellers, there are plenty of relievers that could be moved according to Olney:

– Grant Balfour and Michael Wuertz from the A’s. Balfour is under contract for this season and next, for $3.75 million this year and $4 million next year and is having a good season posting a 2.81 ERA. Wuertz is usually effective when healthy, and the recent A’s losing streak plus Bob Geren’s firing could force them to move pieces.

– Mike Adams, Luke Gregerson and Heath Bell of the Padres. We’ve talked about this a couple of times before. The Padres are in desperate need for offense, and they could be willing to deal one or more of their tops relievers to get some offense in return.

– Kerry Wood appears to be an extremely attractive piece, because he’s only making $1.5 million, but that’s only because he gave a home town discount to the Cubs as he lives in Chicago and wanted to be close to his family.

Image by bryce_edwards under the Creative Commons License.