2007 Closers

[Havok1517]

Blue = Rock Solid
Green = Solid
Brown = Safe
Orange = Shaky
Red = Volatile
Closer-of-the-Future = COTF
Purple = Trade Candidate
Italic = Looking over his shoulder
Bold = Injured



AL EAST

Baltimore = C. Ray , D. Baez, S. Williamson
Boston = J. Papelbon , J. Piniero , M. Timlin
New York = M. Rivera , K. Farnsworth, B. Bruney
Tampa Bay = A. Reyes , J. Stokes, J. Salas @
Toronto = B. Ryan , J. Frasor, J. Accardo


AL CENTRAL

Chicago = B. Jenks , M. MacDougal , J. Thornton
Cleveland = J. Borowski , F. Cabrera (COTF ), R. Batencourt
Detroit = T. Jones , J. Zumaya (COTF ), F. Rodney
Kansas City = O. Dotel , D. Riske, R. Bruan (COTF )
Minnesota = J. Nathan , J. Rincon, J. Crain


AL WEST

Los Angeles = F. Rodriguez , S. Shields, J. Speier
Oakland = H. Street , J. Duchscherer, K. Calero
Seattle = J. Putz , B. Morrow (COTF ) , C.Reitsma
Texas = E. Gagne , A. Otsuka , J. Benoit


NL EAST

Atlanta = B. Wickman , R. Soriano (COTF ), M. Gonzalez (COTF )
Florida = J. Julio , T. Tankersley (COTF ), K. Gregg
New York = B. Wagner , A. Heilman, A. Burgos
Philadelphia = T. Gordon , R. Madson, A. Alfonseca
Washington = C. Cordero , J. Ruach, R. Wagner


NL CENTRAL

Chicago = R. Dempster , B. Howry, K. Wood
Cincinnati = D. Weathers , T. Coffey, B. Bray (COTF ) @@
Houston = B. Lidge , D. Wheeler, C. Qualls
Milwaukee = F. Cordero , D. Turnbow , J. Aquino
Pittsburgh = S. Torres , M. Capps (COTF ), D. Marte
Saint Louis = J. Isringhausen , B. Looper, B. Thompson @@@


NL WEST

Arizona = J. Valverde , B. Lyon, T. Pena
Colorado = B. Fuentes , L. Hawkins, R. Speier
Los Angeles = T. Saito , J. Broxton (COTF ), Y. Brazoban
San Diego = T. Hoffman , S. Linebrick (COTF ), C. Meredith
San Francisco = A. Benitez , J. Sanchez, V. Chulk


Potential Closers-of-the-Future

Red Sox = Craig Hansen (RHP), Bryce Cox (RHP)
Yankees = Humberto Sanchez (RHP)
Devil Rays = Chad Orvella (RHP)
Indians = Tony Sipp (LHP)
Rangers = Edinson Volquez (RHP), Thomas Diamond (RHP)

Braves = Joey Devine (RHP)
Marlins = Brett Sinkbeil (RHP)
Phillies = Scott Mathieson (RHP)
Cubs = Jeff Samardzija (RHP)
Cardinals = Chris Perez (RHP)
Reds = Sean Watson (RHP)
Brewers = Mark Rogers (RHP), Jeremy Jeffress (RHP)
Astros = Fernando Nieve (RHP, Felipe Paulino (RHP)
Giants = Brian Wilson (RHP)
Rockies = Ubaldo Jimenez (RHP)


@ Does anybody know who will be the TB closer? No. Orvella has had the best spring and gives them the best longterm option but Reyes or another pitcher might get the nod.

@@ Hermanson has been given the nod as the closer to start the season. Weathers will remain an option in the 9th inning as well. Bray, who has gotten the endorsement from GM Krivsky, or Coffey (better in setup duty) are other in-house canidates but a trade might be likely. Turnbrow? Linebrick? Benitez?

@@@ The bullpen is super thin after the injury prone Izzy. Looper is right now slated to be the 5th starter but if an injury happens look for the Cards to move either him or even Adam Wainwright back to the closer role. A trade possibilty for Jon Lieber or Paul Byrd is also possible. A trade of that kind would likely move Looper back to setup duties and next in line for saves.

[Old_Style]

isn't it a little too early for this one?

[Havok1517]

isn't it a little too early for this one?

Well, people are already discussing over and under values for player next year. If players like Wood close and stay healthy I firmly believe he could be an elite closer. I guess I just put it together while trying to decide keepers.

[Old_Style]

either way, you have a couple interesting scenarios chalked up for next season.

[DirtyKash]

Putz has Nathan-like numbers. He'll be closing.

[Old_Style]

i don't see kerry wood ousting otsuka if in fact the rangers do aquire wood.

[mweir145]

This is far too early for this, I mean just look at the number of assumptions on that post.

Oh and BTW, I doubt Putz will be losing his closer job anytime soon.

[thedude]

It may be too early but it is still fun to think about.

Some interesting assumptions. I hope Ishii is clsoing somewhere in 2007, he could be a nice sleeper pick.

[smoovethug]

i don't see kerry wood ousting otsuka if in fact the rangers do aquire wood.

I agree his control problems would make him a shaky closer IMO. Not to mention he's never healthy. Its a little early for this but its always fun to look ahead.

[TheYanks04]

AL EAST

Baltimore = C. Ray
Boston = H. Ishii*
New York = M. Rivera
Tampa Bay = S. McClung
Toronto = B. Ryan

AL CENTRAL

Chicago = B. Jenks
Cleveland = O. Dotel**
Detroit = T. Jones
Kansas City = R. Braun***
Minnesota = J. Nathan

AL WEST

Los Angeles = F. Rodriguez
Oakland = H. Street
Seattle = J. Putz****
Texas = K. Wood*****


NL EAST

Atlanta = D. Baez******
Florida = T. Tankersley
New York = B. Wagner
Philadelphia = T. Gordon
Washington = C. Cordero

NL CENTRAL

Chicago = E. Gagne
Cincinnati = G. Balfour*******
Houston = B. Lidge
Milwaukee = F. Cordero
Pittsburgh = M. Gonzalez
Saint Louis = J. Isringhausen


NL WEST

Arizona = J. Valverde
Colorado = B. Fuentes
Los Angeles = J. Broxton
San Diego = T. Hoffman
San Francisco = A. Benitez

*Papelbon looks to be in the rotation, Foulke will be gone, and Hansen isn't ready.
**Cle is already rumored to be interested and Dotel has said he wants to close.
***Braun has been rumored to be the COTF after his 1st healthy year in the minors.
****Soriano will close soon. Predicting a big regression for Putz
*****Wood goes home to Tex as a FA and takes spot from 36 year old Otsuka.
******Wickman retires due to health and Braves sign Baez as a FA.
*******It'll be either Balfour or Bray unless a move is made

I can't imagine Dotel is closing for anyone to start next season. He has looked lousy in NY and I would doubt a serious team is going to sign him to be a closer at this point. Some team like KC or TB might take a chance on him, but Cleveland I would think is going to go another route.


I would think the jobs is Putz's to lose.

Saito has done a decent job for LA, so why would they switch to Broxton?

Otsuka has done OK. Why would Texas waste their time on DL Kerry.

Lidge I think is headed somewhere.