Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report (Mid-April)

If you know me, you know what I believe about closers. Out of the 30 that start the season with the job, half will have lost that job by the All-Star break, if not earlier. This column will go over this position each week. We’re only going to discuss teams that have made a change at closer, so if a team isn’t listed, that simply means everything remains status quo. If you are short a closer, you really need not to worry, it won’t be long before another change is made. Saves are the one statistic that you can find during the season assuming you pay attention and are willing to work your waiver wire.

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks: It was assumed coming into the season that Archie Bradley would be the closer for the Diamondbacks, but no. They elected to go with Greg Holland despite his ineffectiveness in spring training. Why did they do this? Well, if you’re managing the game correctly, you should use your best reliever when the game is on the line, and that isn’t always in the 9^th inning. It’s sometimes in the 7^th or 8^th. Bradley is the best reliever for Arizona and not having him pigeonholed into the closer role allows the Dbacks to use him where needed. That being said, I don’t expect Holland to hold onto this job all season.

Atlanta Braves: Arodys Vizcaino is still the closer here but the return of A.J. Minter from the injured list does mean that he will still a few saves when the opponents have left-handed bats lined up in the 9^th inning and he wasn’t needed earlier.

Miami Marlins: This team, to no one’s surprise, is a mess. Even if you wanted to grab a Miami closer, you should have second thoughts. Not only will they lose over 100 games, but they are also going with a closer by committee. Drew Steckenrider, Sergio Romo, and Adam Conley. If you’re desperate and have to pick one, give me Romo.

Milwaukee Brewers: How many fantasy owners threw up their hands in disbelief when they lost their closer before the season even started. Corey Knebel is gone due to Tommy John surgery. Right now, that means Josh Hader, who is actually a better reliever than Knebel, and one of the best in the game, as the closer for Milwaukee. The question is, will he remain so? The Brewers, like the Diamondbacks, would prefer to use Hader for multiple outs in the 7^th and/or 8^th inning when the game is on the line. As of right now, that isn’t the plan, but Jeremy Jeffress could take over the closing role as soon as he returns from a shoulder injury, next week. Now, Jeffress wouldn’t close right away, but that move could be made as soon as he proves himself 100 percent healthy and capable of getting batters out.

Philadelphia Phillies: This is yet another bullpen that is a mess. David Robertson was expected to be the closer but has faulted early on. This has led to manager Gabe Kapler pretty much trolling Fantasy owners by using just about anyone in his bullpen to close out games. Maybe it’s Hector Neris, maybe Seranthony Dominguez, even Edubray Ramos was given a chance. I still believe Robertson is your best bet here, but another bad outing or two will have that media and those fans clamoring for Craig Kimbrel.

American League

Boston Red Sox: Coming into the season we thought the bullpen would be the biggest problem for the Sox, not the starting rotation. That being said, we don’t have much clarity as to who the closer will be. We think It’s Matt Barnes, but he’s been used in both the 7^th and 8^th innings. Maybe that’s because Boston has been trailing in most games or maybe it’s because Ryan Brasier is going to get a shot to close.

Chicago White Sox: Going into the season it was a coin toss as to who would close, Alex Colome or Kelvin Herrera. Colome won the job and should be valuable as even a closer on a bad team could save in the vicinity of 30 games. I’d rather have a closer on a bad team than a reliever that is part of a committee on a good one.

Kansas City Royals: Speaking of a committee, that is what we have here in KC. It could be Brad Boxberger in the 9^th or Ian Kennedy or Wily Peralta. Does it matter? This is a bad team and while every save is important, you’re playing a guessing game as to which one will close game in and game out and it’s a game you’re unlikely to win.

Minnesota Twins: Quite a few of us fantasy owners are waiting for one reliever to separate himself from the others. Why? Because we believe the Twins are a solid team that could make a run at a playoff spot and thus should win 85+ games with many of those games needing to be saved. It looked like it was going to be Trevor May coming into the season but now Blake Parker looks like the favorite to close. It’s really still a committee and this is another team that could benefit greatly with the addition of Kimbrel. If you’re looking to bid on Parker this weekend, I’m on board, but don’t break the bank to acquire him.

Seattle Mariners: Hunter Strickland started off strong with a couple of saves in Japan but then quickly ended up on the IL with a lat strain. Strickland isn’t expected back until June which leaves the closer position in flux for Seattle. The current closer is Anthony Swarzak after Cody Gearrin failed, but his stint as closer may only last until he blows a save. Seattle has gotten off to a hot start, but they will falter, and there just isn’t a closer here that you hang your hat on.