2010 CLOSERS THREAD

[Havok1517]

Rock Solid
Solid
Safe
Shaky
Volatile
Out of Options
Current Closer
Top Closer Prospect
Destined for Rotation
Trade Candidate
Looking over his shoulder
Injured/Disabled
Suspended/Bereavement

Note:The purpose of this thread is to denote status based on job security and identify an alternate closer on an off day.

NL EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES – B. Wagner , T. Saito, P. Moylan, C. Krimbel
FLORIDA MARLINS – L. Nunez, C. Hensley, B. Sanches, R. Tucker
NEW YORK METS – H. Takahashi, B. Parnell, R. Igarashi, J. Familia
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES – B. Lidge, J. Contreras, R. Madson, S. Mathieson
WASHINGTON NATIONALS – D. Storen, T. Clippard, S. Burnett

NL CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS – C. Marmol , J. Grabow, J. Russell, A. Cashner
CINCINNATI REDS – F. Cordero , A. Chapman , A. Rhodes, D. Joseph
HOUSTON ASTROS – B. Lyon , M. Lindstrom, W. Lopez, M. Melancon, S. Gervacio
MILWAUKEE BREWERS – T. Hoffman, J. Axford, Z. Braddock, J. Jeffress , M. Rogers
SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS – R. Franklin , J. Motte , K. McClellan, E. Sanchez
PITTSBURGH PIRATES – E. Meek, J. Hanrahan , S. Gallagher, V. Black

NL WEST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS – A. Heilman , J. Gutierrez, S. Demel, R. Mercedes
COLORADO ROCKIES – H. Street , M. Corpas , R. Betancourt, C. Weathers
LOS ANGELES – J. Broxton , H. Kuo, O. Dotel, J. Lindbolm
SAN DIEGO PADRES – H. Bell , M. Adams, L. Gregerson, A. Portillo
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS – B. Wilson , C. Ray , J. Affeldt, H. Sosa

AL EAST
BALTIMORE ORIOLES – K. Uehara, M. Gonzalez, A. Simon, P. Beato ,W. Pelzer
BOSTON RED SOX – J. Papelbon , D. Bard, H. Okajima, A. Wilson
NEW YORK YANKEES – M. Rivera , J. Chamberlain , K. Wood, D. Marte,
TAMPA BAY RAYS – R. Soriano , J. Benoit, J. Howell , J. McGee
TORONTO BLUE JAYS – K. Gregg , S. Downs, C. Janssen, J. Roenicke

AL CENTRAL
CLEVELAND INDIANS – C. Perez , T. Sipp, J. Lewis, J. Todd
CHICAGO WHITE SOX – B. Jenks , M. Thornton, J. Putz, S. Rodriguez
DETROIT TIGERS – J. Valverde , R. Perry, D. Schlereth, C. Ruffin
KANSAS CITY ROYALS – J. Soria , K. Farnworth, R. Tejada, C. Rosa
MINNESOTA TWINS – M. Capps , J. Rauch, B. Fuentes, A. Slama

AL WEST
LOS ANGELES ANGELS – F. Rodney, K. Jepsen, M. Kohn, J. Whalden
OAKLAND ATHLETICS – A. Bailey , M. Wuertz , B. Ziegler, H. Rodriguez
SEATTLE MARINERS – D. Aardsma , B. League, S. Kelley, J. Fields
TEXAS RANGERS – F. Francisco, N. Feliz , D. O'Day, T. Sheppers

Reportedly Out for the Year
K. Escobar (NYM)
A. Guzman (ChC)
J. Nathan (Min)
F. Rodriguez (NYM)
J. Zumaya (Det)

Unsigned Relievers of Interest
Fernando Cabrera (FA)
John Smoltz (FA)

Possible Future Foreign Imports
CHIBA LOTTE MARINES - Kazuya Fukuura (LHP)
Chunichi Dragons - Hitoki Iwase (LHP)
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks - Takahiro Mahara (RHP)
Hashin Tigers - Kyuji Fujikawa (LHP)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp - Katsuhiro Nagakawa (RHP)
Orix Buffaloes - Daisuke Katoh (RHP)
Yakult Swallows - Hirotoshi Ishii (LHP), Chang Yong Lim (RHP)
Yokohama BayStars - Hayato Terahara (RHP)
Yomiuri Giants - Kiyoshi Toyoda (RHP), Tetsuya Yamaguchi (LHP)

[AussieDodger]

Welcome back

I would consider M.Wuertz to be Oakland's number 3 at the moment, who knows if Meloan will even stick with the team.

[Cream]

Great resource - thanks for setting this up.

[rookies and cream]

Looks great Havok. I understand the Halos signed Rodney, but I would still consider Fuentes solid, or at the very least safe.

[mblax10]

Good job. I would think Lyon is the guy in Houston considering all the money they threw at him.

A couple comments on your prospect choices:

Phillipe Aumonte is the future closer in Philly unless they plan to move him back to the rotation.

Cashner was moved to SP last year. I'd put John Gaub.

Why Ryan Tucker moving to the pen? I know he was hurt all of last season by I'd put Jose Ceda in FLA.

I think Pelzer stays as a SP but not sure who else to choose in SD. Poreda?

[ensanimal]

Great stuff as always Havok.

[Dan Lambskin]

didnt the White Sox sign Putz? i gotta imagine he's in the mix if Jenks has issues

also not sure i'd consider Wagner solid with his age and injury history

[BitterDodgerFan]

putz is the one with issues... he was just horrible with the mets last yr.

[Neato Torpedo]

I'd upgrade Nunez from to at least. He was 24 for 28 in save ops with a workable 4.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP last year after becoming the full time closer, and there's no other viable option in the Marlins pen. Also, Lyon's contract suggests that the Astros organization isn't afraid to put him in the closer spot if Lindstrom falters, so I'd put a by Lyon's name.

And why isn't Wilson solid? He was lights-out last year.

[Havok1517]

Looks great Havok. I understand the Halos signed Rodney, but I would still consider Fuentes solid, or at the very least safe.

Well, Fuentes looked pretty bad near the end of the season as he actually had more walks than Ks with an ERA near 5 in the 2nd half. I think he'll recover hopefully but the Rodney signing was an insurance deal if I ever saw one. I'll surely change his status with a successful spring.

Good job. I would think Lyon is the guy in Houston considering all the money they threw at him.
A couple comments on your prospect choices:
Phillipe Aumonte is the future closer in Philly unless they plan to move him back to the rotation.
Cashner was moved to SP last year. I'd put John Gaub.
Why Ryan Tucker moving to the pen? I know he was hurt all of last season by I'd put Jose Ceda in FLA.
I think Pelzer stays as a SP but not sure who else to choose in SD. Poreda?

You, the Hou situation is an interesting one as I think Lindstrom is only really suited to close where Lyon can close and setup. I think this may a be a case where the best reliever isn't the closer. Also, I think Paulino and Gervacio have the better, or more effective relief arms, are great speculative picks in NL Only late in a draft as I think both could see be closing by the end of the year.

I actually forgot Aumonte was traded and chose J. Fields over him for the Seattle spot. I added Aumonte but I still think Philly might try him as a starter this year before committing to him in relief.

I don't go by this but Baseball America has both Cashner, Tucker, Pelzer listed as the future closer of their teams. I've been a fan of Cashner for sometime but I keep hearing the word 'relief' from industry in-the-knows that I respect. Tucker has dealt with some injuries and I feel they're going to convert a high-powered starter to relief due to log jam and injury history. Ceda hasn't been listed on many prospect rankings since his injury. I might add Ceda if he recovers his form. I've been keeping track of Pelzer since he was the South Carolina closer. He has a thin muscular frame that I think plays best in relief with his velocity. I like Poreda and possibly Carillo as potential replacements. But it may also be a case where Pelzer is their best option there as well.

didnt the White Sox sign Putz? i gotta imagine he's in the mix if Jenks has issues also not sure i'd consider Wagner solid with his age and injury history

Putz hasn't pitched in a while and with an already deep White Sox pen, unless there is a trade, he has to prove he's back to form. Wagner is solid due to the aggressive signing by the Braves and I firmly believe he's get every chance to succeed or fail.

I'd upgrade Nunez from to at least. He was 24 for 28 in save ops with a workable 4.11 ERA and 1.23 WHIP last year after becoming the full time closer, and there's no other viable option in the Marlins pen. Also, Lyon's contract suggests that the Astros organization isn't afraid to put him in the closer spot if Lindstrom falters, so I'd put a by Lyon's name.
And why isn't Wilson solid? He was lights-out last year.

I really see Nunez as the weakest closer option in baseball going into the season. He's much rather served as a setup man but his periphials weren't impressive last year and he got hit hard at times. Many clubs have seen him in that role and will adjust. This could be a Nationals Joel Hanrahan situation in 2010.

It actually works by putting a next to Lindstrom's name to signify he's looking behind him. I'm holding off until something is announced. It could be Lyon is the closer to start things off.

Wilson isn't solid because he has really has some impressive arms coming up in the minors that are more talented imo with Sosa and Stoffel being two of them.