Closers: 2011 ---- 12/24 update

[manalishi]

As of 12/24/10:
Latest updates marked with a
No real updates other than Lindstrom getting dealt to Colorado (considering how fragile Street has been)

NL:

Atlanta -- Kimbrel? Venters? Or do they sign a FA? (Gregg?)
Philly -- Lidge... maybe Madson, maybe a FA
Florida -- Nunez, or one of the new bullpen arms?
...setup: Mujica, Webb?
New York -- KRod
...setup: Parnell?
Washington -- Storen, with Clippard in the wings in case he struggles.
Milwaukee -- Axford
setup: Braddock
Arizona -- Putz
setup: Hernandez, Mickolio
Houston -- Lyon
St. Louis -- Franklin
...setup: Motte
Pittsburgh -- Hanrahan, or Meek?
Chicago -- Marmol
...setup: K. Wood
Cincinnati -- Cordero, but Masset if he gets traded? Chapman the long-term closer?
San Diego -- Bell, but if/when he gets traded -- Adams, or Gregerson?
Dodgers -- Broxton
...setup: Kuo, Jansen
San Fran -- Wilson
...setup: Romo
Colorado -- Street ... Lindstrom in the wings?

AL:

New York -- Rivera
Boston -- Papelbon -- though open to trading him
...setup: Bard, B. Jenks
Tampa Bay -- ??? (Gregg?)
...setup: Howell
Toronto -- ??? Frasor?
Baltimore -- Uehara
...setup: They still have Gonzalez on their roster
Texas -- Feliz, or Francisco/Ogando if Feliz is moved to the rotation
White Sox -- Thornton?
...setup: Sale, Santos
Minnesota -- Nathan/Capps, depending on health
Detroit -- Valverde
...setup: Benoit
Cleveland -- Perez
Kansas City -- Soria
Seattle -- Aardsma, League (if Aardsma is traded)
Oakland -- Bailey
...setup: Wuertz, Breslow
Anaheim -- A platoon of Rodney and Downs? (Soriano?)
...setup: Walden, Jepsen

Current free agents who could affect things:
R. Soriano
K. Gregg

[neoforce]

It's not too early to start speculating. As of 12/5/10:

I'm always looking forward to Havoc's off season closer thread, but I wonder if before the winter meetings it might be a bit early. But if you are going to do it, it probably makes sense to at least list all of the teams! Arizona may have won only 67 games, but they do have a bullpen that might get you a save or two. Current possibilities are Gutierrez or Demel. Gibson seemed happy with Gutierrez in September as closer, I wish they had auditioned Demel for that role.

[wrveres]

It's not too early to start speculating. As of 12/5/10:

I'm always looking forward to Havoc's off season closer thread, but I wonder if before the winter meetings it might be a bit early. But if you are going to do it, it probably makes sense to at least list all of the teams! Arizona may have won only 67 games, but they do have a bullpen that might get you a save or two. Current possibilities are Gutierrez or Demel. Gibson seemed happy with Gutierrez in September as closer, I wish they had auditioned Demel for that role.

The D'Backs are eyeing free agents J.J. Putz and Jesse Crain as possible closers, tweets Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com. They're not in on Brian Fuentes, reports MLB.com's Steve Gilbert

[wrveres]

The Nationals would like to add a closer, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. That'd help ease Drew Storen into the role and perhaps trade the veteran signee midseason as they did with Matt Capps.

[Fenway Punk]

Wasn't KRod given like a "dishonorable discharge" type of gimmick from his contract with the Mets?

[neoforce]

Wasn't KRod given like a "dishonorable discharge" type of gimmick from his contract with the Mets?

no. It finally ended with KRod forfeiting his salary from the time he went on the DL due to him hitting his girlfriends dad through the end of the year. The remainder of his contract stays the same.

I am pretty sure the new Mets manager already announced that KRod is his closer.

Note that his contract includes a vesting option, based on number of games he finishes. That 2012 vesting option is $17.5M w/ $3.5M buyout. No way he gets $17.5 M in 2012. I would expect that if he blows some saves, he could lose the closing gig in order to limit his appearances to even avoid the $3.5M buy out. The Mets can't say they will do that to avoid vesting the option, but if his performance is bad, nothing to stop them from making a baseball decision.

[Cream]

Puts deal is being reported as done. Does AZ finally have a reliable closer? That closer situation was such a mess last year.

Edit: Putz

[manalishi]

12/7: a couple of updates to the master list.

[MasterX1918]

Jason Motte is a guy most definitly on my radar. The guy had a crazy SO/9 last season and Ryan Franklin is getting up there in age. Walks are an issue but he's my sleeper closer, ala Chris Perez last season.

[FantasyMan13]

I really hope we get rid of the overpaid, out of shape hack Cordero. Chapman in '11!