Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report (8-30)

It’s usually a good thing when I don’t have much to write about in this column. As always it means there haven’t been all that many changes at the closer position. While this is good news for those who are strong and healthy at the position, it’s bad for those who need saves and were hoping for a closer or two to shake out due to injury or poor performance. There are always two sides to the same coin. What’s good for some isn’t necessarily the same for others.

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National League

Chicago Cubs: Craig Kimbrel is back and getting saves, but he does like to make things interesting. It seems Kimbrel always puts the tying runs on base when pitching. As long as he gets the job done, you shouldn’t complain. Well, if you play in a head to head league, I can see those runners hurting your WHIP. Maybe then you can complain.

Colorado Rockies: The Rockies look like a team that has mailed it in this season. For whatever reason, they just haven’t played well for over a month now. As for saves, they will likely be few and far between. Wade Davis has been terrible all season and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Jairo Diaz seems to be next man up with Scott Oberg out for the season, but he’s only worth a pickup if you’re desperate as he is unlikely to get more than 3-5 saves from this point forward.

Miami Marlins: The Marlins are a bad team, but they deserve credit for not mailing it in and generally being a pain in the rear to opposing teams. That being said, it’s hard to trust anyone at closer, including Ryne Stanek. As always though, if you need saves, beggars can’t be choosers. We need to make difficult choices at this point in the season and in one league I would start nine closers if I could. Stanek is your man here.

New York Mets: Edwin Diaz hasn’t had any blowups of late and it’s come out now that he has learned a new slider grip from Jacob DeGrom. Maybe that fixes his problem, maybe it doesn’t. Seth Lugo is still the closer, sort of, for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if and when Diaz gets another shot. That’s my way of saying I wouldn’t release him if you can afford to keep him on your roster.

Washington Nationals: Sean Doolittle is expected to begin a rehab assignment Friday and could be ready to resume closing duties as early as next week for the Nats. Daniel Hudson seems to be the favorite to close at this moment but it’s really hard to trust anyone in the bullpen for Washington right now. Doolittle was pitching batting practice in his last few appearances before the injury, let’s hope that’s not the case next week.

American League

New York Yankees: There isn’t anything wrong with Aroldis Chapman and he has looked lights out of late. This is just a warning that for those in keeper or dynasty leagues, Chapman will almost certainly opt out of his contract at the end of this season. Chapman only has two years and $30 million left on his contract. After seeing Kimbrel get $43 million over three years, Chapman has to figure he can get more out of the Yankees or another team in free agency. Zack Britton or Adam Ottavino would figure to be the favorites to take over the closer role if the Yankees don’t re-sign Chapman or acquire another closer in free agency or via trade.

Seattle Mariners: Matt Magill could pick up a few saves for the Mariners now that Cory Gearrin is no longer on the team. It really doesn’t matter; this is another team that is just playing out the string. Any closer on this can’t be expected to get anything more than a few saves down the stretch.