Baltimore Orioles
Tommy Hunter seemed like a questionable option to closer entering the season, but he’s been great so far. Perhaps the Orioles won’t change closers throughout the season like we originally expected. Hunter has two saves in three scoreless appearances on the year.
Savvy closer replacements are key to success
Closer: Tommy Hunter
Status: Strong
Next up: Bud Norris, Kevin Gausman , Brian Matusz and Darren O’Day could all get a crack, at some point.
Boston Red Sox
Koji Uehara is coming off one of the most dominant seasons by a reliever in baseball history. He posted a 1.09 ERA and 0.57 WHIP over 74.1 innings in 2013. Uehara enters the season as Boston’s closer, but general manager Ben Cherington has publicly said he "would love to have more than one closer on the team.” Edward Mujica is now in Boson after saving 37 games for the Cardinals in 2013 but he’s strictly a handcuff to Uehara… for now. Uehara has been great so far, tossing three scoreless innings.
Closer: Koji Uehara
Status: Steady
Next up: Edward Mujica and Andrew Miller
New York Yankees
David Robertson is on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 1 strain of his left groin. He suffered the injury during his appearance Sunday against the Blue Jays. While he wasn't concerned initially, he still felt it when he woke up Monday and an MRI confirmed the strain. The hope right now is that Robertson will only have to miss the minimum 15 days. Shawn Kelley picked his first career save in Robertson's absence during New York's home opener on Monday and is the favorite for saves at the moment.
Robertson’s injury already making Yankees fans miss Mariano Rivera
Closer: David Robertson on D.L. - Shawn Kelley
Status: Shaky
Next up: Dellin Betances
Tampa Bay Ray
Grant Balfour wasn’t brought back by the Oakland A’s after saving 38 games in 2013. Then, Balfour failed a physical when the Orioles tried to sign him. The 36-year-old ended up inking a two-year, $12 million deal with the Rays and he will be their closer for the foreseeable future. Balfour is a fiery guy with excellent stuff but he’s had a ton of physical ailments over the past few seasons.
Closer: Grant Balfour
Status: Rock solid until he gets injured
Next up: Heath Bell (short term), Jake McGee (long term)
Toronto Blue Jays
Sergio Santos is closing with Casey Janssen nursing a back injury. Janssen is hoping to return on April 13 when he’s first available. Janssen emerged as a terrific ninth-inning option last season when he posted a 2.56 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 34 saves. He’s converted 56 of 61 save chances the last two seasons abut we don’t know if he’ll have the same stuff once he returns. Santos has pitched well and has the ability to keep the job if he outperforms Janssen upon his return.
Closer: Casey Janssen on D.L. - Sergio Santos
Status: Filling in
Next up: Steve Delabar
Houston Astros
Matt Albers and Qualls are the only two pitchers in the bullpen to have recorded saves this season for the Astros, as manager Bo Porter continues a closer-by-committee approach. The Astros have the most questionable closer situation in all of baseball. Jesse Crain, who missed the second half of last season with biceps and shoulder injuries, has been a “closer of the future” for about a decade now. However, Crain started the season on the disabled list and isn’t a lock to take over ninth-inning duties upon his return.
Closer: Chad Qualls, Matt Albers
Status: Shakiest in baseball
Next up: Josh Fields, Jesse Crain when healthy
Los Angeles Angels
Many fantasy writers were down on Ernesto Frieri entering the season, and his first appearance was proof that he’s not elite. Frieri allowed two runs in one inning on April 2 and doesn’t have a save on the year. Either way, Frieri racks up the strikeouts and will keep the job unless he implodes.
Closer: Ernesto Frieri
Status: Servicable
Next up: Joe Smith, Dane De La Rosa
Oakland Athletics
Jim Johnson saved 50 games for the Orioles in 2013 but got off to an extremely shaking start in Oakland, allowing five runs in his first two appearances. He was booed at home but has settled down and appears to have a firm grasp on the role. Johnson doesn’t rack up the Ks but has a 2.72 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over the last two seasons.
Closer: Jim Johnson
Status: Solid
Next up: Luke Gregerson
Seattle Mariners
Fernando Rodney inked a two-year, $14 million deal to become the new closer of the Mariners. The veteran, who turns 37 this week, has enough in the tank to save 35-plus games for the Mariners after recording 37 saves for the Rays in 2013.
Closer: Fernando Rodney
Status: Solid
Next up: Danny Farquhar
Texas Rangers
The Rangers had three potential closers entering Spring Training. Now, it appears Joakim Soria is the only viable option. Neftali Feliz was so awful this spring that he's starting the season in the minors. If Ron Washington didn't trust him on the Opening Day roster, than we don't trust him to collect saves anytime soon.
Closer: Joakim Soria
Status: Solid
Next up: Neftali Feliz down the road?
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox traded closer Addison Reed to the Diamondbacks this offseason, opening the door for Nate Jones to emerge as the ninth-inning man. Too bad Jones didn't emerge and is now sidelined with a hip injury. That leaves Matt Lindstrom as the default closer despite starting the season with a 9.00 ERA and 2.33 WHIP
Closer: Matt Lindstrom
Status: Not particularly strong
Next up: Daniel Webb
Fantasy baseball draft strategy: Sleepers to stash
Cleveland Indians
John Axford scares me for fantasy purposes. He was a complete stud in 2011, posting 46 saves with a 1.97 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Things fell apart in 2012 for Axford and he lost his job while posting a 4.69 ERA. The Indians inked Axford to a one-year, $4.5 million contract to pitch the ninth inning until Cody Allen is ready to take over.
Closer: John Axford
Status: Keeping the seat warm, but steady in the short term
Next up: Cody Allen
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Minnesota Twins
Glen Perkins was given a four-year, $21.48 million contract extension by the small-market Twins this winter. The contract alone should be enough to convince fantasy owners that Perkins is a legit closer.
Closer: Glen Perkins
Status: Rock solid
Next up: The Twins are in big trouble if Perkins struggles
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers had severe ninth-inning issues in 2013. They signed Joe Nathan to a two-year, $20 million contract and the ninth-inning problems are solved, assuming the 39-year-old Nathan stays healthy. The veteran has 341 career saves and is a terrific fantasy option.
Closer: Joe Nathan
Status: Rock solid
Next up: Joba Chamerlain
Kansas City Royals
Greg Holland is a household name in the fantasy community, but still relatively unknown by the average baseball fan. That should change soon. Holland is among the most dominant closers in baseball, finishing ninth in the AL Cy Young race and 15th in the AL MVP voting last season. He’s probably the best bet in the American League for fantasy purposes. All he did in 2013 was save 47 games with a 1.21 ERA and 0.87 WHIP.
Closer: Greg Holland
Status: Rock solid
Next up: Aaron Crow
Atlanta Braves
Craig Kimbrel is the best closer in baseball.
Closer: Craig Kimbrel
Status: No. 1 option in baseball
Next up: Jordan Walden
Miami Marlins
Steve Cishek racked up 34 saves with a 2.34 ERA last season and is undervalued in fantasy leagues. The frugal Marlins gave him a one-year, $3.8 million contract and the closer role is all his entering the season. Cishek’s 74 Ks in 69.2 innings and low WHIP (1.08) help his fantasy outlook.
Closer: Steve Cishek
Status: Underrated
Next up: Mike Dunn
New York Mets
Bobby Parnell is out for the season as a result of Tommy John surgery. Jose Valverde is the Mets' closer for the foreseeable future. Vic Black was my original sleeper for saves in the Mets’ bullpen, but an awful spring got him sent to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the season.
Closer: Jose Valverde
Status: Only viable option
Next up: Kyle Farnsworth (short term), Vic Black (long term)
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies reportedly shopped Jonathan Papelbon in the offseason, but didn't find a taker. Perhaps it is because he’s owed $26 million over the next two seasons and could be due $39 million over three seasons if he reaches an attainable vesting option for 2016. Papelbon’s currently posting an 11.57 ERA and 2.57 WHIP and fantasy owners should be nervous.
Closer: Jonathan Papelbon
Status: Getting scary
Next up: Antonio Bastardo
Washington Nationals
Rafael Soriano doesn’t pick up too many Ks and his 1.23 WHIP from last season leaves plenty to be desired. That said, he’s making $14 million this season and managed 43 saves in 2013 despite a mediocre 51 Ks over 66.2 innings. Soriano won’t lose the job unless he absolutely implodes, but the Nats do have two capable alternatives in Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen.
Closer: Rafael Soriano
Status: Steady, but many fantasy writers are down on him
Next up: Tyler Clippard
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks acquired Addison Reed over the offseason from the White Sox in exchange for third base prospect Matt Davidson. Reed, who posted 40 saves with a 3.79 ERA in Chicago last season, will hold onto the closer role unless he implodes. But all closers will lose their job if they implode. So why do so many analysts think J.J. Putz will claim the job? Well, Putz is a proven veteran and Reed is only 25... but other than that, it doesn’t make sense. Reed is the better option and a nice target for fantasy purposes.
Closer: Addison Reed
Status: Steadier than people think
Next up: J.J. Putz
Colorado Rockies
LaTroy Hawkins is the “closer” of the Rockies, but that is only because Rex Brothers is left handed. Brothers is the superior pitcher, and is likely the closer-of-the-future in Colorado, but it appears Hawkins will open the season in the ninth-inning role.
Closer: LaTroy Hawkins
Status: Keeping the seat warm
Next up: Rex Brothers, who could be the closer by May 1
Los Angeles Dodgers
Kenley Jansen struck out 111 batters over 76.2 innings last season while posting a 1.88 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. He’s downright filthy and should be considered an elite fantasy closer.
Closer: Kenley Jansen
Status: Rock solid
Next up: Chris Perez
San Diego Padres
The often-injured Huston Street is a solid closer when he’s healthy. Street saved 33 games with a 2.70 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 2013. However, the addition of veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit gives the Padres a serviceable fallback option if (when) Street lands on the DL.
Closer: Huston Street
Status: Serviceable
Next up: Joaquin Benoit
San Francisco Giants
Sergio Romo saved 38 games in 2013, but he only picked up 58 Ks over 60.1 innings. Romo gets the job done with command, as opposed to strikeouts. The 31-year-old righty only walked 12 batters last season and finished with a very respectable 2.54 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.
Closer: Sergio Romo
Status: Solid
Next up: Santiago Casilla
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs signed Jose Veras to a one-year, $4 million deal to take over the ninth-inning duties. Veras is a perfectly serviceable option who saved 21 games for the Astros last season. However, the Cubs aren’t expected to be contenders this season and Veras, who is on a one-year deal, will be a candidate to get traded at the deadline. Whoever acquires Veras would likely use him in a setup role. Just last year, he was traded from Houston to Detroit in July and lost his fantasy value. Also, Pedro Strop has closer-type stuff and could push for the job immediately if Veras struggles. Strop even picked up a save last week when Veras was unavailable.
Closer: Jose Veras
Status: Shaky
Next up: Pedro Strop
Cincinnati Reds
Aroldis Chapman underwent successful surgery to repair fractures to his face but remains a few weeks from returning. The Cuban lefty was hit by a comebacker in Cactus League play and will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the season. J.J. Hoover has been the Reds’ “closer,” but when your days are numbered when you surrender a walk-off, game-winning grand slam to Ike Davis. Jonathan Broxton is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday and he should be the favorite for saves once he shakes off the rust. Chapman is an elite option when healthy and fantasy owners are hoping for a quick recovery.
Reds closer Aroldis Chapman posts pic of surgically-repaired head on Instagram (PHOTO)
Closer: Aroldis Chapman on D.L. - J.J. Hoover
Status: Broxton should replace Hoover ASAP
Next up: Jonathan Broxton
Milwaukee Brewers
It scares me from a fantasy perspective when a veteran with closer experience backs up a mediocre closer. That’s why I avoided Jim Henderson for fantasy purposes entering 2014. It turns out, my hunch was correct (so far) as Francisco Rodriguez appears to have surprisingly overtaken Henderson for the ninth-inning role. K-Rod has two saves over three scoreless innings.
Closer: Francisco Rodriguez
Status: Pitching great but Henderson is lurking
Next up: Jim Henderson
Pittsburgh Pirates
Jason Grilli has been great the past three seasons in Pittsburgh, posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 201/50 K/BB ratio over 141.1 innings. Grilli is also 37 years old and has battled elbow issues since the end of last season. Mark Melancon is among the most necessary handcuffs in the league. It would be extremely wise to pick up Melancon, if you’re counting on Grilli for saves. You have yourself a nice little combo if you own both pitchers.
Closer: Jason Grilli
Status: Solid but aged
Next up: Mark Melancon
St. Louis Cardinals
Trevor Rosenthal had a coming-out party during the 2013 playoffs. The flamethrower threw 11.2 shutout innings with four saves and an 18/3 K/BB ratio while holding opponents to a .108 average. He enters 2014 as the Cardinals’ closer and has the tools to be an elite fantasy option.
Closer: Trevor Rosenthal
Status: On the verge of elite
Next up: Carlos Martinez
Questions? Hit me on Twitter @briansflood
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