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0 Subject: 2014 Closer List

Posted by: Khahan
- Donor [39432178] Mon, Jan 27, 2014, 14:04

The 2014 baseball season is fast approaching. This means it’s time again for the prospective closer list to be assembled. All gurupies are welcome to use this in the same way as always – to kick butt in your respective fantasy baseball leagues (except for ones you are in with me. I mean, come on guys really. HAH).
I like to do this list each year because the closer slot is a unique position and causes so many headaches. Its nice to have an easy reference source. This is not *my* prospective closer list so much as a compilation of information from multiple sources, all pooled together into 1 convenient location. Those sources include espn, mlb.com, drafthelp.com and rotoauthority.com
I dropped Yahoo from my resources as a) their depth chart page was overlapping and not clear and b) the last few years they were just bad at this.

The pre-spring training list has seemingly been somewhat steady the past 2 years but I expect 2014 will be drastically different from 2013.

Baltimore Orioles: Tommy Hunter (unanimous)
Boston Red Sox: Koji Uehara (unanimous)
Chicago White Sox: Nate Jones/Matt Lindstrom
Cleveland Indians: John Axford (Cody Allen possiblity)
Detroit Tigers: Joe Nathan (unanimous)
Houston Astros: Chad Qualls/Jessie Crain
Kansas City Royals: Greg Holland (unanimous)
Los Angeles Angels: Ernesto Frieri (unanimous)
Minnesota Twins: Glen Perkins (unanimous)
New York Yankees: Dave Robertson (unanimous)*
Oakland A's: Jim Johnson (unanimous)
Seattle Mariners: Danny Farquhar (unanimous)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Grant Balfour/Heath Bell/Joey Peralta
Texas Rangers: Neftali Felize/Joakim Soria/Tanner Scheppers*
Toronto Blue Jays: Casey Janssen (unanimous)
Arizon Diamondbacks: Addison Reed (unanimous)
Atlanta Braves: Craig Kimbrel (unanimous)
Chicago Cubs: Jose Veras/Pedro Strop
Cincinnati Reds: Aroldis Chapman (unanimous)
Colorado Rockies: Latroy Hawkins (unanimous)
Los Angeles Dodgers: Kenley Jansen (unanimous)
Miami Marlins: Steve Cishek (unanimous)
Milwaukee Brewers: Jim Henderson (unanimous)
New York Mets: Bobby Parnell (unanimous)
Philadelphia Phiillies: Jonathan Papelbon (unanimous)
Pittsburgh Pirates: Jason Grilli (unanimous)
San Diego Padres: Huston Street (Joaquin Benoit when Street is on the DL....cause he will be)
San Francisco: Sergio Romo (be warned, with that last name there is a good chance opposing catchers will come intercept the pitch!)
St Louis Cardinals: Trevor Rosenthal*
Washington Nationals: Rafael Soriano

*Dave Robertson is the presumed closer but has not won the job. He is going into spring training with first crack at the position.
Trevor Rosenthal - definitely a guy you want to get a handcuff for. Grabbed a few Saves late last season and has the potential for sure. But has yet to put a full season as closer. No telling how he'll handle a mini-slump
Bobby Parnell - get a handcuff. Had herniated disc surgery in sept. Should be ready for opening day.
Texas Rangers - Scheppers is appearing on lists but he may not be on the MLB roster opening day. Big talent and supposed closer of the future. Just not sure the future is now.
There's a few big fights, namely: Houston, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox

1Khahan
      ID: 16341313
      Sun, Apr 06, 2014, 09:48
In Milwaukee looks like Jim Henderson is out and Frankie Rodriguez is in. This is appearing more and more permanent every time Henderson takes the mound.
2Khahan
      ID: 47634248
      Thu, Jul 24, 2014, 09:34
So with Soria now in Detroit does this mean Feliz is the Rangers new closer?
I haven't seen one word on this end of the deal.

I'm assuming with Nathan's performance this year that Soria is closing for Detroit, if not immediately then soon.
3GO
      ID: 59918108
      Thu, Jul 24, 2014, 10:03
Nathan is supposedly still the closer and has pitched well of late. So I would say its his until he falters. Same setup/closer combo Texas had last year.

Feliz is probably next up which is why I added him where I could, but Cotts is hanging around.

How many of the above are actually the closers of their respective teams still? 50%? Gotta love closers. So reliable.
4holt
      ID: 38338181
      Thu, Jul 24, 2014, 16:31
Feliz will be given the first shot. Don't understand why Cotts would be given any shot at all. 34 yr old lefty with a whip around 1.4 (both career and 2014). Tolleson should be the one they hand the ball to. Feliz has a nice looking ERA & WHIP at the moment but he's not striking anyone out and he's given up 2 long balls in 10 IP. His fastball has averaged 92 mph so far (it used to average 96). My prediction is that he's going to get hammered from time to time. The Rangers don't seem to care about winning at all so even if he gets hammered he may still chalk up a few saves.
5filthy
      ID: 4157202
      Fri, Jul 25, 2014, 03:54
Baltimore Orioles: Tommy Hunter- 11 sv, Britton took the job and is stable now with 18 sv.

Boston Red Sox: Koji Uehara- 20 sv, stable.

Chicago White Sox: Nate Jones/Matt Lindstrom- 0/6 sv for these guys, Belisario got 8, and Putnam 3, but Petricka is the current closer with 5. Very unstable all year.

Cleveland Indians: John Axford (Cody Allen possiblity)- 9 sv for Axford, Allen is the current stable closer with 13 sv.

Detroit Tigers: Joe Nathan- 21 sv. Traded for Soria (17 sv). Suddenly unstable.

Houston Astros: Chad Qualls/Jessie Crain- 0 for Crain. 11 sv for Qualls, the current closer in a surprisingly strong bullpen.

Kansas City Royals: Greg Holland- 26 sv, stable.

Los Angeles Angels: Ernesto Frieri- 11 sv, lost job to Smith (15 sv) and traded for Grilli (11 sv). Smith lost job to Street (25 sv). Hot potato all year here.

Minnesota Twins: Glen Perkins- 24 sv, stable.

New York Yankees: Dave Robertson- 25 sv, stable.

Oakland A's: Jim Johnson- 2 sv, Doolittle with 15 sv is the current stable closer.

Seattle Mariners: Danny Farquhar- 1 sv, Rodney (27 sv) took the job and ran with it.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Grant Balfour/Heath Bell/Joey Peralta- 11 sv for Balfour before McGee (9 sv) the current stable closer took the job.

Texas Rangers: Neftali Felize/Joakim Soria/Tanner Scheppers- Soria had 17 sv before trade. Feliz likely candidate now.

Toronto Blue Jays: Casey Janssen- 15 sv, stable. Support from Santos (5 sv) while injured and some lefties currently. Cecil & Loup (4 sv each).


Arizon Diamondbacks: Addison Reed- 24 sv, stable.

Atlanta Braves: Craig Kimbrel- 30 sv, stable.

Chicago Cubs: Jose Veras/Pedro Strop- 0/2 sv
for these guys, Rondon current stable closer with 11 sv.

Cincinnati Reds: Aroldis Chapman- 21 sv, stable.

Colorado Rockies: Latroy Hawkins- 17 sv, stable.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Kenley Jansen- 29 sv, stable.

Miami Marlins: Steve Cishek- 24 sv, stable.

Milwaukee Brewers: Jim Henderson- 0 sv, K-Rod took the job and ran with it (29 sv).

New York Mets: Bobby Parnell- 0 sv, Mejia is the only one who could really do anything with the job, 13 sv.

Philadelphia Phiillies: Jonathan Papelbon- 24 sv, stable.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Jason Grilli- had 11 sv, lost job, traded. Melancon current stable closer with 18 sv.

San Diego Padres: Huston Street- 25 sv and traded. Benoit (1 sv) is likely current closer.

San Francisco: Sergio Romo- 22 sv, lost job to Casilla (7 sv) who is current stable closer.

St Louis Cardinals: Trevor Rosenthal- 30 sv, stable.

Washington Nationals: Rafael Soriano- 23 sv, stable.

24 situations seemed stable preseason. 15 of those remained stable. Give or take a trade or two. Most bullpens are currently stable. Texas, San Diego, ChiSox, LAA, Det all off right now. Most of those teams with recent shakeups, but all with potential to settle down in the near future.

Injury and trade will keep things interesting though. My top bet for shakeup is Houston. Fields should get a shot down the stretch, Qualls will likely be traded. Philly right up there. Giles & Papelbon in that case. Colorado could trade Hawkins but that is not an interesting situation at all. Could see the Marlins trading too, but not seeing interesting options if they sell. Injury candidates? I could see Aaron Sanchez thrown into the fire if Casey Janssen hurt again. Smith will probably get a chance again, Street has been a bit too healthy. I could see another shakeup in San Fran. Trade for Papelbon maybe. Just throwin' out some thoughts!
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