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2008 Fantasy Baseball - Team Closer Report

(By Mike Inglett of Sport Fanatics Fantasy Sports on 2-25-2008)

 

Teams seem to change closers frequently from year to year. 2008 appears to be no different as injuries and off season trades have once again changed closer situations on various teams. This report will be updated frequently and will illustrate who is the primary closer and set up pitchers for each team. The player listed at the top of the list is the primary closer or one who we expect will be the closer on Opening Day. The players listed underneath the closer are in order of who would step in if there were injuries to the closer or if the closer is ineffective. The reliability rating 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) is a best estimate of the likelihood that the primary closer keeps his job through out the season.

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Baltimore
George Sherrill
Jamie Walker
Chad Bradford / Greg Aquino
Chris Ray (injured) and Danyz Baez (injured)
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 3
Notes: Going into 2007 BAL had an upcoming young closer in Ray and an established vet in Baez, both had Tommy John surgery late in 2007 and will miss most, if not all, of the 2008 season. With the Erik Bedard trade, George Sherrill appears to be the closer in BAL this season. Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford should be strictly used as setup men, but one of them would be next in line if Sherrill falters.  Jim Hoey who was an effective closer at the AA and AAA level last year may be given a shot if the others fail. 
 
Boston
Jonathan Papelbon
Hideki Okajima
Mike Timlin
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 10
Notes: BOS wised up before the season started in 2007 and put Papelbon back in the closer role where he thrived and helped lead BOS to a World Series title. Papelbon will be closing again this year and be one of the top 3 closers on most draft boards. Hideki Okajima had a great season in '07 and will be the primary setup man in 2008. Timlin keeps going at 42 and provides added depth and experience.
 
New York
Mariano Rivera
Kyle Farnsworth
LaTroy Hawkins
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 9
Notes: Rivera signed a three year contract this offseason and will once again be the closer for NY. Jaba Chamberlain looks to be moving to the starting rotation, so this puts a huge hole in for the primary setup job. Farnsworth has not been impressive, but would be the leading candidate to pitch the 8th inning. Hawkins was signed this offseason, but is he really the answer as a primary setup man?
 
Tampa Bay
Troy Percival
Dan Wheeler
Al Reyes
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 6
Notes: Much more experienced and better relief group this year as compared to years past. Percival came out of retirement and pitched very well last year in his 40 IP stint. He has a lot of experience closing and has already been named the closer to start the year. He should maintain that role unless he is injured. Wheeler and Reyes will be the two setup men in the pen. Reyes filled in well last season with 26 saves, but tired down the stretch. Wheeler has quality stuff even though he had a high ERA last season.
 
Toronto
B.J. Ryan (injured)
Jeremy Accardo
Casey Janssen
Scott Downs
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7
Notes: Ryan had Tommy John surgery in May 2007. The job will be his when he is ready to pitch, but that may not be until May 2008. Jeremy Accardo filled the closer role nicely last season with Ryan injured and will begin the year as the closer until Ryan is ready. Janssen, Downs and Jason Frasor round out a good bullpen.
 
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Chicago
Bobby Jenks
Scott Linebrink
Matt Thornton
Mike MacDougal
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Jenks improved as a pitcher in 2007 and is fully entrenched as the closer in 2008. CHI decided to sign Linebrink as the primary setup man even though his production is starting to fall. MacDougal and Thornton both had disappointing seasons in '07, but both remain options as setup men as they have quality stuff.
 
Cleveland
Joe Borowski
Rafael Betancourt
Masahide Kobayashi
Rafael Perez
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7
Notes: Borowski will once again be the closer in 2008, but now with several quality arms in the bullpen, may be on a shorter leash. Betancourt is a very solid reliever who had a fantastic season in 2007 and could close if Borowski falters. CLE signed Masahide Kobayashi in the offseason, he has over 200 saves in Japan and also could fill the role if needed.
 
Detroit
Todd Jones
Fernando Rodney
Joel Zumaya (injured)
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7
Notes: 2008 was the year that Jones was to hand off the closer responsibilities to Zumaya, but a freak injury during the off season to Zumaya means Jones will close again this year. Rodney will be the primary setup man until Zumaya returns sometime in June or July.
 
Kansas City
Joakim Soria
Yasuhiko Yabuta
Joel Peralta
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7
Notes: Soria did very well for KC in 2007 once he took the job from Octavio Dotel. Sorio is the closer for KC in 2008 and really has no competition for the job. KC signed Yabuta during the offseason to be the primary setup man. Peralta is a solid reliever, but is more of a 7th inning pitcher than closer.
 
Minnesota
Joe Nathan
Pat Neshek
Juan Rincon
Matt Guerrier
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 10
Notes: Nathan has been dominate for several years now and established himself as an elite closer. There has been rumors that once Johan Santana is traded that Nathan will be the next player traded by MIN. If that is the case Pat Neshek will probably be given first chance to close. He was dynamite for the first half of the season, but seemed to fall apart from overuse in the second half of the season. Rincon and Guerrier are seen more as setup men. Jesse Crain was expected to be the closer of the future for MIN, but a torn labrum has put his future in question.
 
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Los Angeles
Francisco Rodriguez 
Scot Shields
Justin Speier
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 10
Notes: At only 26, Rodriguez has established himself as a top 3 closer in any league format. There are no injury concerns for Rodriguez at this time. Angels have very good depth behind Rodriguez if injuries or rest is needed.
 
Oakland
Huston Street

Alan Embree

Santiago Casilla

Andrew Brown

Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Street is a very solid closer when healthy, but has had nagging injuries the past few years and that must be considered during your fantasy draft. Duchscherer has been the primary setup man, but looks to be moving to the rotation in 2008. Embree filled in nicely as the closer while Street was out and will be the primary setup man this season. Casilla and Brown are young power pitchers who have some upside potential.
 
Seattle
J.J. Putz
Brandon Morrow
Eric O'Flaherty
Ryan Rowland-Smith
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 10
Notes: Putz put together his second consecutive outstanding season in 2007 and more of the same is expected in 2008. Last season Brandon Morrow was the primary setup man and now with the Erik Bedard trade, he will likely resume that role with George Sherrill being shipped to BAL. O'Flaherty and Rowland-Smith round out the late inning possibilities.

 
Texas
C.J. Wilson
Joaquin Benoit
Kazuo Fukumori
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 3
Notes: This will be one to watch in Spring Training. Texas let Akinori Otsuka go because of injury concerns, so the closer role will go to C.J. Wilson or Joaquin Benoit.  Kazuo Fukumori comes over from Japan and will be one of the setup men for whoever it is that closes.
 
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Atlanta
Rafael Soriano
Peter Moylan
Mike Gonzalez (injured)
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 6
Notes: Soriano took over the closer role from Bob Wickman in late August and is the closer heading into the 2008 season. Moylan will be the setup man to begin the season after producing outstanding results in 2007. Mike Gonzalez should be back from the disabled list around June or July and if healthy will provide a serious challenge to Soriano for the closer role. 
 
Florida
Kevin Gregg 
Matt Lindstrom
Henry Owens (injured)
Taylor Tankersley
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 5
Notes: Gregg is the closer entering the season, but does not have a solid grip on the position. After FLA tried several different closers early in 2007, Gregg was finally given the chance and did quite well. FLA may end up trading him as they have younger and cheaper options in Lindstrom and Owens if the right deal comes along. Lindstrom is a flame thrower well Owens is a polished youngster with talent. Tankersley is also in the mix, but there are better choices ahead of him.
 
New York
Billy Wagner
Aaron Heilman
Joe Smith
Pedro Feliciano
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Wagner had another good year in 2007, but struggled the final 6 weeks of the season. There is no indication that he will not have another good year in 2008, but he is getting up there in age and injuries may start becoming more of a concern. Heilman will once again be the primary setup man. Joe Smith shown potential, but is not ready yet. Feliciano provides a reliable arm in the pen to help where needed.
 
Philadelphia
Brad Lidge (Injured)
Tom Gordon 
Ryan Madson 
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 6
Notes: Gordon started 2007 as the closer, but when he went down with injuries PHI put starter Brett Myers in as the closer and he did a very good job in that role. In 2008, PHI will start the season with Brad Lidge as their closer. Lidge had a solid year in '07 after his meltdown in '06. He will be playing for a tough crowd and must up his mental game as he has the physical tools to be a dominate closer. Gordon and Madson both are injury concerns coming into this season and PHI may need to get additional help at the setup position during the off season.
 
Washington
Chad Cordero
Jon Rauch 
Luis Ayala
Jesus Colome
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Cordero is the primary closer and should do well as long as he is with WAS. There have been trade rumors around Cordero for over two years yet he remains with WAS. If he is traded, Jon Rauch or Luis Ayala would become the closer. WAS is moving out of RFK park ( a predominate pitchers park) into a new stadium in 2008 which will not be as pitcher friendly. 
 
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Chicago
Carlos Marmol
Kerry Wood 
Bob Howry 
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 2
Notes: The good news is Ryan Dempster will not be the Cubs closer. The bad news from a fantasy perspective is there is no clear choice as to who the closer will be in 2008. Wood is an intriguing closer possibility with explosive stuff, but has constant injury problems. Howry is a solid veteran, but may be more valuable in the primary set up role. We think Marmol has the best shot at being the Opening Day closer, but he needs to pitch with better control.  This is one to watch during spring training. 
 
Cincinnati
Francisco Cordero
David Weathers 
Jared Burton
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Although Weathers filled in well as the closer in 2007, he really should be a setup man. In 2008, Francisco Cordero will be the closer and help solidify the CIN relief pitching. Weathers will now pitch the 8th and Jared Burton will pitch the 7th.
 
Houston
Jose Valverde
Oscar Villarreal
Doug Brocail
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 9
Notes: HOU traded to get the MLB saves leader in 2007 and landed Valverde from ARI. He will be a big improvement over the committee of Lidge, Wheeler and Qualls from last year, but now HOU has limited options as to who will be their primary setup man. Villarreal is only average at this stage of his career and Brocail will be almost 41 when the season starts. 
 
Milwaukee
Eric Gagne
Derrick Turnbow 
David Riske
Salomon Torres
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7
Notes: MIL lost Francisco Cordero to CIN in free agency. They went out and signed Eric Gagne to be the closer in 2008. He is not the same pitcher as he was in a few years ago, but he will be given every chance to be the permanent closer for this team. Turnbow will be the primary setup man and be the first in line if Gagne falters as a closer. MIL bolstered their bullpen by adding Riske via free agency and Torres via trade. 
 
Pittsburgh
Matt Capps
Damaso Marte
John Grabow

Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 7

Notes: Capps will begin the season as the closer as he did quite well in the role when given the opportunity last season and he has quality stuff. Marte will be the primary setup man with Grabow adding depth to the back end of the pen. Choices after these three get a little scary.

 
St. Louis
Jason Isringhausen 
Ryan Franklin
Russ Springer
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 8
Notes: Isringhausen stayed relatively healthy in 2007 and as long as he does stay healthy, the job is his. Franklin was a surprise in 2007 and will be the primary setup man in 2008. If Isringhausen does go down with injuries, expect Russ Springer to be the temporary closer and Franklin to remain in the setup role. 
 
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
Arizona

Brandon Lyon

Tony Pena

Chad Qualls
Reliability of primary closer to remain the team closer (1 "poor" to 10 "excellent"): 6
Notes: Even with the off season trade of Valverde, ARI has a solid group of relief pitchers. The closer job will initially go to Brandon Lyon, who has some experience as a closer. Tony Pena brings quality stuff and is the closer of the future for ARI. Chad Qualls brings plenty of experience. They will be the primary setup men and provide insurance in case Lyon falters.
 
Colorado
Manuel Corpas 
Brian Fuentes 
Matt Herges
Luis Vizcaino