Fantasy Baseball 2012: Early Relief Pitcher Rankings

by Jason Hunt on Dec 12, 2011 8:00 AM EST in 2012 Fantasy Baseball Position Rankings

NEW YORK - FILE: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the New York Mets on June 20, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. According to reports, Rivera will have surgery on his vocal cords to have polyps removed on Friday December 2, 2011. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

We continue our early look at 2012 positional rankings this week with starting pitchers. Why not have a look at the other positions as well?

Catcher: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles

First Base: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles

Second Base: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles

Third Base: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles

Shortstop: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles

Outfield: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles: #1 | #2

Starting Pitchers: Initial, In-Depth with Profiles: #1, | #2

Relief pitching is, as it is during the season, extremely volatile in terms of future rankings. As of this writing, the following teams either have an up-in-the-air closer's job, or one which may not be determined until the spring:

BAL, BOS, CHW, LAD, CIN

Needless to say, these will probably change before the season starts. These rankings are based on the premise that I was doing a draft today.

Another note: I have removed players who will almost assuredly not be in relief roles, most notably Neftali Feliz, Jim Johnson, and Chris Sale. But it is something to keep in mind when drafting that these players will likely be starting pitchers, but qualify as relief pitchers.

Craig Kimbrel - ATL
Mariano Rivera - NYY
Jonathan Papelbon - PHI
John Axford - MIL
Joel Hanrahan - PIT
J.J. Putz - ARI
Drew Storen - WAS
Brian Wilson - SF
Sergio Santos - TOR
Heath Bell - FLA
Joakim Soria - KC
Jose Valverde - DET
Ryan Madson - FA
Huston Street - SD
Daniel Bard - BOS
Carlos Marmol - CHC
Francisco Cordero - FA
Jordan Walden - LAA
Brandon League - SEA
Andrew Bailey - OAK
Jason Motte - STL
Joe Nathan - TEX
Chris Perez - CLE
Javy Guerra - LAD
Rafael Betancourt - COL
Frank Francisco - NYM
Jonny Venters - ATL
Kenley Jansen - LAD
Kyle Farnsworth - TAM
Matt Capps - MIN
David Robertson - NYY
Mike Adams - TEX
Sergio Romo - SF
Tyler Clippard - WAS
Mark Melancon - HOU
David Hernandez - ARI
Sean Marshall - CHC
Vinnie Pestano - CLE
Francisco Rodriguez - MIL
Fernando Salas - STL
Antonio Bastardo - PHI
Eric O'Flaherty - ATL
Joaquin Benoit - DET
Joel Peralta - TAM
Grant Balfour - OAK
Greg Holland - KC
Jose Veras - PIT
Rex Brothers - COL
Aroldis Chapman - CIN
Ramon Ramirez - NYM

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

is it me

or are there only about 7-8 closers that are really reliable on this list.

Also, any word if Wilson will be healthy heading into spring training?

Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 12, 2011 8:13 AM EST reply actions

I think there are about 3 or 4

And then a huge bunch who are reasonably likely to be good, rated on how well they did last year, which can be a mistake with relievers due to smaller sample sizes and greater volatility.

I do think there is value to be found lower down this list – I would have both Betancourt and Frank Frank higher. Guerra is too high without having the closer role sewn up – his numbers are relatively ordinary without saves. Not sure why Melancon is so low – he isn’t awful, and he should have more job security than some of the others. I’d feel happier with him than Capps or Perez for example – Perez’s peripherals last year were horrible.

by A Behemoth on Dec 12, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Clumped together

Yeah, the hard part I was having is that as I went down the list, you could kind of throw a dart depending on what you needed the reliever to be. I honestly wouldn’t have any complaint about mixing up the group from about 23 through 36 in just about any order. I really wonder what these will look like as we get closer to the season, when hopefully the roles will be a lot more determined than they are now.

Follow me on Twitter

Writer at FakeTeams
Writer at MLB Daily Dish

by Jason Hunt on Dec 12, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

it's not just you

I am still looking for more info on Wilson specifically, but yeah, the closers are a mess.

And of course, news this morning that Bard WILL be a starter at the beginning of ST instead of the bullpen. Not sure how that will change the ranking, especially since we don’t know if they will try to acquire Bailey or use Jenks/someone else instead.

Follow me on Twitter

Writer at FakeTeams
Writer at MLB Daily Dish

by Jason Hunt on Dec 12, 2011 10:04 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions

I think

its BAiley as they are up against the luxury tax threshold and will move salary to get him

Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 12, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Saw a suggestion

That Madson was waiting until the Red Sox and Angels made decisions about their luxury tax position. There have also been a few rumours that the Angels are looking for an alternative to Walden – not really sure why, as he seemed pretty solid last year.

Also, the fact that Bard is a starter at the beginning of spring training doesn’t mean he’ll still be one at the end of it.

by A Behemoth on Dec 13, 2011 7:04 AM EST up reply actions

Is there any real shot Guerra keeps the CL role in LA after Jansen’s 17 K/9 ratio last year?

KEMvP

"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."

by T.C. Engel on Dec 12, 2011 6:00 PM EST reply actions

I doubt it

I see Jansen taking over early in the season.

Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.minorleagueball.com
www.mlbdailydish.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 12, 2011 11:36 PM EST up reply actions

Fantastic.

He blows my mind. I wish we were better, then he’d be the best in the league.

KEMvP

"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."

by T.C. Engel on Dec 13, 2011 1:34 AM EST up reply actions

Thing with Guerra

Is that he might just keep the job if he keeps getting it done. I know Jansen is a superior pitcher, but people tend to keep jobs until they actually start to suck, and Guerra was (just about) all right last year.

by A Behemoth on Dec 13, 2011 7:05 AM EST up reply actions

Guerra definitely sufficed.

But Jansen is a five pitch flamethrower.

KEMvP

"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."

by T.C. Engel on Dec 13, 2011 8:12 AM EST up reply actions

Jansen

I haven’t seen him pitch myself (just seem to keep missing it), but the first thought in my head was Carlos Marmol. Great strikeout rate, bordering on insane, but the walk rate is brutal too.

Jansen probably needs a bit more research to see if we can deduce what happens next.

Follow me on Twitter

Writer at FakeTeams
Writer at MLB Daily Dish

by Jason Hunt on Dec 13, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

He can be a little crazy, yeah. I think his four seam hits about ~97 IIRC, if he pulled it back to ~94 with greater command, he could be better, I think. I love that kid.

KEMvP

"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."

by T.C. Engel on Dec 13, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions