2009 preseason closing report

Fantasy managers achieve success with many different methods. Some prefer throwing, others prefer to stock up on big bashers and lead their team to success. Regardless of how they win, winning managers have one thing in common: they understand value.

In a fantasy draft, one of the most difficult positions to draft is the closer position. How much are the savings really worth? Should you draft Jonathan Papelbon, Mariano Rivera, or Francisco Rodriguez in rounds 6, 7, or 8? Maybe you should wait for Matt Capps, Joakim Soria or BJ Ryan in rounds 14, 15 or 16.

The answer to that question depends on the depth of the position. In a standard 10-team league, you’ll probably want at least three closers, four if you’re lucky. Unfortunately, the state of relief pitching in Major League Baseball this year has created an unprecedented situation. Only eleven closers are a safe bet to keep their positions all year.

Jonathan Papelbon (Bos)
Joe Nathan (minimum)
Francisco Rodriguez (LAA)
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Brad Lidge (Phi)
Bobby Jenks (ChW)
Joaquin Soria (KC)
BJ Ryan (Tor)
Jose Valverde (Hou)
Francisco Cordero (Cinema)
Brian Wilson (SF)

That works your way down to roughly one closer per fantasy team. Due to the instability of the position, it’s a pretty safe bet that these eleven players will probably go pretty soon, especially the top seven. Then come the salespeople who should be able to keep their jobs, but not without a few questions. They include the following:

Matt Capps (Pit) – 21 saves in 2008, but Pit isn’t a good team and Grabow has some experience
Brian Fuentes (LAA) – 80 saves in the last 3 years at Colorado, but there are a lot of good arms in LA
Trevor Hoffman (Mil) – new team for veterans who are aging and many think they have lost something
Jonathan Broxton (LAD) – flamethrower who stepped in well for Saito, but Kuo is great too
Heath Bell (SD): Closest on standby behind Hoffman for years, but has never held a full-time job

By my count, there are also thirteen teams with unstable shutdown situations:

Tampa Bay Rays: Troy Percival (2008-28), Wheeler/Balfour/Howell (2008-20)
Baltimore Orioles: Chris Ray listed as closer, George Sherrill had 31 S’s in 2008
Cleveland Indians: Kerry Wood (34 in 2008), Lewis/Betancourt/Perez/Kobayashi (28)
Detroit Tigers: Brandon Lyons, Fernando Rodney
Seattle Mariners: Roy Corcoran (3 in 2008) has little CL experience, but no one else
Texas Rangers: Frank Francisco listed as closer, goal CJ ​​Wilson had 24 in 2008
Oakland Athletics: Brad Ziegler had 11 saves, 1.06 ERA in 2008, but Joey Devine offers tough competition in camp
Atlanta Braves: Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano came and went
Florida Marlins: Matt Lindstrom (5 in 2008) has little CL experience, but no one else
Washington Nationals: Joel Hanrahan (9 in 2008) has the job, but this is Washington
St. Louis Cardinals: Ryan Franklin (17 in 2008) and Chris Pérez (7 in 2008)
Chicago Cubs: Kevin Gregg earned the job, but Carlos Mármol is electric
Arizona Diamondbacks: Chad Qualls and Jon Rauch have experience
Colorado Rockies – Traded for Houston Street, but Manuel Corpas has significant CL experience at Coors

So when do you come around? Usually when you pick a closer, you pick them solely to save, and if they can add a boost to his ERA, WHIP, K/9 or whatever other category he has, then that’s a plus. My advice would be to get a close up of each of the three groups. This will give you great stability and prevent you from reaching. Strikeouts are probably the single most important stat for a closer (saves aside), giving players like Lidge and Broxton extra value and detracting from Hoffman and Ziegler. However, a canny fantasy manager will always be on the lookout for the waiver wire. Additional closers are excellent commercial bait and also complement your team’s saves. Do not throw overboard this category that is very easy to win, but do not pay more. It’s about value.