Here is the NL relief pitching only stats. We do lead the league with 20 Lgr (relief losses) but as you can see the average is 15, you cant look at that 20 number and expect it to be close to 0. So that is 5 games lost above average our bullpen has cost us. For example Yuni right now is at 18.2 runs below average and Casey is 17.4 runs below average which combined accounts for about 4 wins below average between them.Three things of note about your post. 1. If 3B and SS combined are costing us less compared to the average than our bullpen, wouldn't that make bullpen a more pressing need? I can see the logic to the contrary: 3B and SS are just two positions and a bullpen is an entire bullpen. But two factors make me believe that this was a better move to make than left-side infield upgrades: a. As mentioned above, the addition of a quality, proven bullpen arm has a cascading positive effect on the rest of the relief pitchers. Hawkins and Saito will get more rest, and are very dominant pitchers to be getting 6th or 7th inning slots. Loe gets used more appropriately. And Estrada is only used when absolutely necessary.b. While Yuni B is almost assuredly going to continue performing at a crap level, Casey could very will pick it back up. If he plays to his abilities, SS is our only issue and accounts for somewhere around 2 wins below average. Therefore, i think the greatest need was filled, and with probably the greatest value available. 2. If you look at the bottom of that list, the teams that have lost the fewest due to bullpen issues are for the most part leading their divisions or are very much in the race. 3. We just grabbed one of the best relief pitchers for basically nothing off of one of the teams with the fewest bullpen losses. The best part about this trade, though, is that no matter what you rate as a more urgent upgrade, it in no way deters us from making another move for a 3B or SS. WIN WIN WIN