Mahay drawing interest as trade deadline creeps closer
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
BALTIMORE | Lefty reliever Ron Mahay is drawing plenty of interest from contenders seeking to bolster their bullpen before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline.
No surprise there.
Mahay continues to undergird the Royals’ bullpen with remarkable consistency. He improved to 4-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.13 by pitching two scoreless innings Monday night when the Royals rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Orioles in 11 innings.
For now, the interest is mostly a low-level buzz among scouts. Nobody has called yet with a firm offer. That figures to change, although the Royals seem disinclined to deal unless overwhelmed.
“Ron Mahay has done a terrific job,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “and we expect him to continue to do a terrific job. He’s a big part of our team now and for next year.”
Mahay, 37, is signed through next season at $4 million a year.
“He’s just been a fix-all guy ever since we lost (Leo Nuñez),” manager Trey Hillman said. “His biggest asset is the way he changes speeds and throws strikes. He’s also able to read swings and throw that split out of the zone. It looks just like a fastball.”
The Tigers, Yankees, Red Sox, Marlins and Rays are all known to be shopping for relievers. The Yankees made a strong run last winter to sign Mahay as a free agent before he chose the Royals.
Mahay was traded last year at the deadline from Texas to Atlanta.
“I don’t listen to the rumors or read the paper,” he said. “All that can do is play with your mind. But that’s my life right now. Teams are looking for a little boost that can maybe put them over the top.”
Mahay’s reliability has allowed the Royals to weather a miserable season from lefty Jimmy Gobble, who has slipped to mop-up status because of a 7.40 ERA in 27 appearances.
Other clubs also have interest in Gobble, although his struggles have also dropped his trade value to an all-time low. That makes a deal unlikely.
A deeper look at Mahay’s numbers show a 199 ERA+, which measures a pitcher’s performance by adjusting it to his ballpark and his league’s average. The average is set at 100. Anything higher is better; anything lower is worse.
Mahay’s 199 ranks third among American League setup relievers who have pitched at least 35 innings behind Baltimore’s Jim Johnson (355) and Tampa Bay’s Dan Wheeler (216).
Mahay’s teammate, Ramon Ramirez, ranks fourth at 158.
This is nothing new for Mahay, who has been at 117 or better in nine of his 12 seasons. His 132 mark since 2001 ranks ninth among setup relievers with at least 300 innings.
Not quite
Center fielder Joey Gathright nearly made a spectacular catch on Nick Markakis’ deep drive in the fifth inning with no outs and Brian Roberts at first.
Markakis hammered a 2-0 fastball into the right-center gap. Gathright closed on the ball and made a leaping catch, but the ball came free when his arm slammed into the wall.
“I had the ball,” he said. “But I lost feeling in my arm. I just couldn’t squeeze the glove.”
Instead of a highlight catch, the play turned into an RBI double. Markakis reached third on an error by right fielder Mark Teahen, who bobbled the ball while retrieving it. That turned into another run when Ramon Hernandez singled to left.
The sequence turned a 3-2 lead into a 5-2 lead.
Award also-rans
José Guillen and DeJesus were among four players to receive votes as the American League player of the month for June, but the award went to Boston outfielder J.D. Drew.
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