MLB Closer Watch 2010
Baseball closer is not a position with much job security. We update our Closer Watch grid daily in-season (and pretty often off-season) so you know who's in line for saves with each MLB club.
Update: MIN -- 3/9/2010
As feared, closer Joe Nathan has a torn elbow ligament and will miss significant time, likely the entire 2010 season. He will first try rest and rehab in the hope of avoiding surgery, but he seems a longshot to return the mound before he first revisits the OR.
Full Story >>
Updated 3/16/2010
| Closer | Leaning In | Notes | |
 |
BAL MGonzalez |
Johnson Meredith Mickolio Hoey |
The surprise signing of expensive ex-Brave Mike Gonzalez solidified a confused Baltimore bullpen for 2010. Behind him will be some capable arms: Jim Johnson held down the job adequately after the trade of George Sherrill in late 2009, but didn't exactly blow anyone away. Rookie Kam Mickolio has an outside shot at taking over sometime, but probably not until 2011. |
 |
BOS Papelbon |
Bard Okajima R Ramirez Delcarmen |
Papelbon continues season-to-season in Boston, but expect to hear fans clamoring for the fashionable Dan Bard early and often, especially if Papelbon's two seasons of fading effectiveness become a real trend. A dropping strikeout rate and a rising price tag is not a good mix for a developing arm. Other than Bard, the relievers in waiting are a solid bunch of young veterans who won't break radar guns, but they can get the job done. |
 |
NYY Rivera |
Chamberlain Hughes Melencon Robertson Cox |
In the least-exciting closer 'battle' in baseball, future Hall of Famer Rivera will be holding the league in check once again. Phil Hughes blossomed as an eighth-inning type in 2009, but many mumble that he doesn't have the confidence or guile to work as an everyday closer. He could be moved back to starting action at any time, while Joba Chamberlain might be back in the bullpen once again. |
 |
TOR Gregg |
Frasor Downs Accardo Reinecke |
Frasor and Downs swapped places a few times in 2009 as injuries and ineffectiveness seemed contagious in the Toronto bullpen, though both were capable enough during the bulk of their duties. The less-expensive Frasor looks like a slightly better bet entering 2010, but there must have been a reason Toronto found it necessary to sign the 'established' (but not very good) Kevin Gregg. From here, it looks like they just turned a two-way battle into a three-way one. Deeper down, Toronto is stacked in hot young pitching, so this job will not be very stable long-term, either. |
 |
TB Soriano |
Wheeler Balfour Howell Davis |
The surprise availability of Rafael Soriano threw a sharp curve into Tampa's options for 2010, and the team responded swiftly, sending baby closer prospect Jesse Chavez to the Braves at the first opening. Until Soriano's arrival, this was probably Wheeler's job to start 2010, and he remains the obvious fallback. The rumored conversion of Wade Davis to bullpen work also looks like a nice sleeper option. |
 |
OAK Bailey |
Ziegler Devine Wuertz Casilla |
Rookie breakout artist Andrew Bailey, a great success after being converted from starting duties, is the favorite to hold down the ninth inning in 2010, too. But the A's are nothing if not resourceful, and the arms behind him are all capable of taking over at any time. Oakland's closer situation has to be considered one of the least stable in baseball, no matter how good the incumbent performs: Bailey's unlikely to be the only A notching saves in 2010. |
 |
LAA Fuentes |
Rodney Jepsen R Rodriguez F Rodriguez |
Proving that it's the team that makes a closer, newcomer Brian Fuentes led all of baseball in saves in 2010 despite some pretty average ancillary numbers. The arms behind him were better, and youngster Kevin Jepsen in particular took a step forward. Keep an eye on young Rafael Rodriguez and 'the other' Francisco Rodriguez, too. They both have the stuff and ego to succeed in pressure situations. |
 |
SEA Aardsma |
Kelley Lowe League Fields Cordero |
New GM Jack Zduriencik didn't wait long to shake things up in Seattle, sending ace closer JJ Putz and reliever Sean Green to the Mets in exchange for six young players. After bouncing between half a dozen options in spring and experimenting with Brandon Morrow as their closer, the team settled on young journeyman David Aardsma, a fine fastballer. Aardsma proved that any cool head can hold down closing duties by being one of the AL's best in 2009. He's a lock to get the job again in 2010. |
 |
TEX Francisco |
Feliz Wilson Ray O'Day Fukumori |
Franky Two-Times ended the 2009 season as the best bet in Texas, but the 102mph explosions coming from rookie Neftali Feliz can't be doing much for his confidence. If Texas leaves Feliz in the bullpen, rather than attempting to stretch him out and return him to starting duties, he's going to be hard to keep in the eighth inning for long. Lefty CJ Wilson remains a solid but undominant backup choice, too. |
 |
CHW Jenks |
Putz Thornton Pena |
The always-shaky but usually-successful Jenks will probably return to closing duties in 2010, with new acquisition JJ Putz and the always-capable Matt Thornton there to back him up if he stumbles again. |
 |
CLE Wood |
C Perez R Perez Lewis |
The always-exciting Kerry Wood will remain to save what few victories the Tribe can scrape out in 2010. On the horizon, ex-future-Dodger closer Jon Meloan and onetime Cardinal closer-of-the-future Chris Perez are both getting close to taking their shot. If Wood stumbles, this could be a bloodbath. |
 |
DET Valverde |
Zumaya Perry Fien Schlereth |
It looked like the Tigers might finally give fragile but fiery Joel Zumaya a chance to close in 2010, at least until they signed Jose Valverde to be a safer saver. Longer term, youngsters Ryan Perry and Casey Fien are decent gambles for the future, and newcomer Daniel Schlereth is nothing to sneeze at, either. |
 |
KC Soria |
Farnsworth Cruz Yabuta |
Probably the best closer everyone forgets about, Joakim Soria has a lock on the job once again for 2010, and he's bound to deliver another Mariano-Lite season. Right now, Professor Farnsworth looks like the backup plan, but (good news, everyone!) KC will also try to add some more reliable arms behind him during the winter. |
 |
MIN Nathan (Out) |
Rauch Neshek Guerrier Mijares Crain |
Nathan's aging and now surgically-scraped elbow could not hold up through the spring, and another serious injury has sidelined the veteran Twins closer. He'll try rest and rehab first, but if he needs a second operation it could mark the end of an illustrious and underrated career. In his absence, the seasoned young lefty Jose Mijares, the flame-throwing Jesse Crain, the usually-reliable Matt Guerrier, the tall import Jon Rauch and the finally-returning Pat Neshek will all compete for the closer's role. Of the five choices, Crain is nastiest and Rauch is most-experienced, but it could be a mix and match season in Minnesota if Nathan is really down for the count. If you are a fantasy player looking for saves, it will take five roster spots to lock up Minnesota's closer early. |
 |
ARZ Qualls |
Schoeneweis Gutierrez Zavada |
Qualls is the technical closer here, but Arizona's hedging their bets heavily: a churning flow of bullpen candidates means the team will keep the pressure on all year. It seems likely that Arizona will keep tinkering, as the team always seems to have a surplus of adequate arms, but no standout performers. |
 |
COL Street |
Betancourt Morales Corpas Buchholz Weathers |
Huston Street will be expensive in arbitration, but the Rockies don't have anyone else who's really ready yet. Franklin Morales had moments of greatness in spot duty but didn't show the poise or polish needed for a regular job. Manny Corpas and Taylor Buchholz, both capable closers, will be on the shelf recovering from injuries and off-season surgeries until at least the All Star Break. Casey Weathers, a college closer working his way up the farm system, won't be ready until 2011 or later. |
 |
LAD Broxton |
Sherrill Kuo Troncoso Belisario |
Broxton was on-again, off-again in 2009. Practically unhittable at Dodger Stadium, he was awful on the road, posting an ERA high enough to make him the absolute worst closer in baseball when away from his friendly fans. George Sherrill can do the job if necessary, but the real question is whether the Dodgers really need three veteran lefties (Sherrill, Kuo, Elbert) in their full-season bullpen. Moves to bring in a strong righthanded setup artist could be in the offing. |
 |
SD Bell |
Adams Gregerson Mujica Russell |
Heath Bell might not seem like major league closer material, but he looked pretty damn fine in 2009. So good, in fact, that he's about to get arbitration-expensive, which means the ever-poor Padres could go looking for cheaper in-house options like Mike Adams, Luke Gregerson or Adam Russell. |
 |
SF Wilson |
Affeldt Romo Runzler |
Wilson did a commendable (if high-ERA) job again in 2009, so he's a lock to keep his job again in 2010. Sergio Romo, who has often looked like the Giants' best pitcher, needs to find a consistent groove if he's going to be second-in-command. SF is likely to add some bullpen depth in the winter, but it'll be for setup and innings-eating purposes. |
 |
CHC Marmol |
Grabow Guzman Marshall |
Carlos Marmol has been given many opportunities to lock down the Cubs' closing job, but has failed to do it thanks to his come-and-go approach to command and control. With this rare development experiment still faltering, the Cubs spent most of the 2010 winter in the market for a premium closer (which would have pushed Marmol back to setup work), but failed to come up with a better option. And so Marmol's high strikeout, high walk, high drama approach to the ninth inning will continue... |
 |
CIN Cordero |
Burton Masset Bray |
By signing Francisco Cordero last year, the Reds stabilized a bullpen that was once a wild ride of ever-changing players. With Cordero at the end, the other wannabe-closers in Cincinnati suddenly look like a solid bunch of setup guys: all capable, none standout-ish. But they're all young enough that a blossom could yet bloom. If that happens, look at Cordero to get moved for maximum value at mid-season. |
 |
HOU Lindstrom |
Lyon Sampson Brocail |
The acquisition of Matt Lindstrom from Florida this winter sent a strong signal that the Astros were prepared to move on without closer Jose Valverde, and when they backed him up with ex-Tiger Brandon Lyon, the deal was pretty much sealed. Lyon is a gamer who gets by on average stuff, while Lindstrom is a hard-throwing classic closer who suffers from control problems and the occasional meltdown. Either can do a good enough job here; it's not as if the Astros will be contending in 2010 anyway. |
 |
MLW Hoffman |
Villanueva Hawkins Coffey |
It's one more year for Trevor Hoffman, as he works to put his all-time saves record out of Mariano's reach. The arms behind the veteran Hoffman are talented, and feisty Carlos Villanueva filled in admirably for Hoffman more than once in 2009. |
 |
PIT Dotel |
Hanrahan Grabow Meek |
The arbitration-eligible Capps was shown the door in winter to make room for a new closer in Pittsburgh, and by the time Pittsburgh got around to signing one, Octavio Dotel was the best player available. Of course, since the team is nowhere close to competitive yet (despite an improved farm), it doesn't much matter who the Pirates trot out in 2010's ninth innings. Evan Meek remains the best of the home-grown options, should the Pirates ever decide to take rebuilding seriously. |
 |
STL Franklin |
Motte McClellan Kinney |
Chris Perez is out of the mix and toiling in Cleveland, but Ryan Franklin and Jason Motte are both back to fight over the closing job for 2010, with Franklin's incumbency guaranteeing the first opportunity. A capable stable of workhorses will return behind them. |
 |
ATL Wagner |
Saito Moylan Carlyle Chavez Medlan |
The Braves made a big splash early in the winter by signing elite relievers Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito to shore up their bullpen. Veteran Saito provides handy cover, too: While Wagner looked strong after returning from surgery in 2009, he still has to be considered one of the more fragile closers entering 2010. |
 |
FLA Nunez |
MacDougal Sanches Meyer |
Leo Nunez took the job away from Matt Lindstrom late in 2009, but don't feel too bad if you didn't notice that: neither was very effective, and no job is very secure here. The Marlins didn't do much to replace Lindstrom, but they did sign veteran Mike MacDougal (who has some closing experience) in the spring, so there should a nominal closer battle early on. Of course, the Marlins will also bring their customary collection of young 99mph arms to spring training, and at least one or two should break onto the roster and into that same competition for the closing job, as usual. |
 |
NYM Rodriguez |
Parnell Igarashi |
His numbers don't look as good as they usually do, and a three year slide in his eponymous statistic has some observers worried, but K-Rod still got the job done in his first year as a Met, and there's no reason to think he won't have the job once again. The Mets will work to bolster the bullpen behind K-Rod, of course, but the way luck runs in Brooklyn, half of the bullpen will be on the DL by June anyway. |
 |
PHI Lidge |
Madson Baez Romero |
You dance with the one what brung you, and that means Brad Lidge will be back as the Phillies closer in good times and in bad. Brett Myers is probably a better choice, and Ryan Madson was acceptable as a substitute in 2010, while new Phil Danys Baez provides some backup closer experience for the NL Champs. |
 |
WAS Capps |
Storen Bruney Clippard Burnett Perez |
Mike MacDougal did an exemplary job closing for the Nationals at the end of 2009, though of course nobody really noticed that. Rather that retaining him for 2010, the Nats went out to sign ex-Pirate Matt Capps on a one-year deal that has 'holding measure' written all over it. The Nationals hope that Drew Storen, just picked up in the 2009, will be ready to close soon, but 2011 looks like his arrival time from here. |
Notes and Updates
Update: MIN
As feared, closer Joe Nathan has a torn elbow ligament and will miss significant time, likely the entire 2010 season. He will first try rest and rehab in the hope of avoiding surgery, but he seems a longshot to return the mound before he first revisits the OR.
Update: TOR
The Blue Jays have scooped up ex-Tiger Casey Fien from waivers, according to JaysJournal.com. Assuming he sticks on the 25-man roster (and he should), Fien is yet another closer-capable young gun in what's becoming a very deep (and confusing) Toronto bullpen.
Update: HOU
Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom are beginning a month-long spring competition for the closer's job in Houston, according to new manager Brad Mills. It's been awhile since there was such a clear cut battle for ninth inning duty, which makes this one of the spring's more interesting stories to watch. We like Lindstrom's stuff, but Lyon has the cooler head.
Update: LAD
Eric Gagne is returning to L.A. after signing a minor league deal with the Dodgers. The righthander, who had his best years as a dominant closer with the Dodgers, will compete for a bullpen role in spring training.
Update: FLA
Free agent Mike MacDougal, who ended the 2009 season as Washington's closer, has signed a one year contract with the Florida Marlins. He's expected to provide at least token competition for likely-closer Leo Nunez in spring training.
Update: NYY
It looks like the Yankees might be more interested in winning than experimenting after all. According to the NY Post, the team has decided to deposit a grumbling Joba Chamberlain (who's always been best as a reliever) back into the bullpen while moving Phil Hughes (who was pretty effective in the 8th inning himself) back into the rotation. Again.
...
