clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Closer Report

Addison Reed White Sox closer....This took entirely to long to happen.
Addison Reed White Sox closer....This took entirely to long to happen.


Every week I take a look at the going's on in the life of relief pitching in fake baseball. It has been a relatively slow week for closer turnover this week. As per the growing 2012 trend it seems that it is constantly in flux. So have a perusal of what I have to say about the closers, how I rank them and even a tiered ranking of the guys who set them up for holds. Happy save chasing.

  • Jose Valverde fell down and went boom. He hasn't appeared in a game since last Tuesday. Benoit and Dotel have each garnered a save in that time. Jim Leyland likes to set-it and forget it so I am sure this situation is making him reach for his pack of Winston's. Jose figure to be available either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week.
  • The long awaited promotion of Aroldis Chapman to the closer role has finally come. To say he is dominant is an understatement. He is still unscored uponincluding the 7-0 inherited runners to zero scored rate. He also has allowed just 14 baserunners in over 22 innings. He has the stuff that makes closer's dominant, will the pressure of the 9th be the only problem, only time will tell. He has been ranked pretty aggressively in my rankings below.
  • The situation in the Bronx became more obvious when D-Rob went on the DL. Soriano has got the reigns here and can run with this. He can become a step down from elite level fantasy contributor in the next couple of weeks by just garnering chances. The Yanks just need to get him some opportunities.
  • In the other New York borough, the Mets are still hanging in there with Frank squared. He looks awkward out there and for fantasy purposes I would rather trust my sister than him to close out the ninth. Continue to monitor as he will crap all over your periphs and give you an occasional save.

1. Craig Kimbrel

2. Jonathan Papelbon

3. John Axford

  • I have flip-flopped Papelbon and Axford due to Axford's high ERA. Unless someone can make an argument to say that the top three is or should be someone else.

4. Jason Motte

5. Chris Perez

6. Jim Johnson

7. Joel Hanrahan

8. Kenley Jansen

9. Aroldis Chapman

10. J.J. Putz

11. Santiago Casilla

12. Fernando Rodney

  • Pretty aggressive ranking here for Chapman, as he has top 10 stuff. Accumulating stats are the only thing not placing him above established no threat from other reliever type closers.
  • My love for Santiago Casilla is getting pretty obvious. You can disagree with me that he is a top 11 closer all you want but based on situation and team's lack of run outpouring he is in a great position to grab 25 plus saves for a waiver wire pick-up.

13.Jose Valverde

14.Brandon League

15. Rafael Betancourt

16. Joe Nathan

17. Rafael Soriano

18. Jonathan Broxton

19. Matt Capps

20. Brett Myers

21. Alfredo Aceves

22. Henry Rodriguez

23. Addison Reed

  • Valverde continues to drop for me based on injury and inconsistency. Everyone knew last year was a fluke kind of deal and this year the devil is here to collect on the soul he offered up in exchange for last year's results.
  • Raffy Soriano ranks in just below the 3rd tier of closers for me initially. Given time and hopefully the right decision by Girardi he should stay the closer as it suits his game more.
  • Addison Reed is finally in the clear from all the riff-raff that Ventura has been pulling all year. He is clearly the best option and besides an occasional hiccup he should be higher then this slot next week.

24. Brian Fuentes

25. Heath Bell

26. Frank Francisco

27. Casey Janssen

28. Dale Thayer

29. Scott Downs / Jordan Walden / Ernesto Frieri

30. Rafael Dolis / James Russell

  • Everyone listed here is either a replacement temporarily or a name that I would trust on my fantasy roster unless forced.
  • Heath Bell has come back into the closers role and garnered 2 saves in as many chances while miraculously not being scored upon. Its starting to look as if he will climb back up the rankings, albeit very slowly. A good buy low guy if your looking to add some saves via the trade route.

HOLDS:

Tier 1.

Jonny Venters ATL

Mike Adams TEX

Sergio Romo SF

Tyler Clippard WAS

Vinnie Pestano CLE

Joaquin Benoit DET

Alexi Ogando TEX

Ryan Cook OAK

Sean Marshall CIN

David Hernandez ARI

Tier 2:

Sean Burnett WAS

Andrew Cashner SD

Edward Mujica MIA

Antonio Bastardo PHI

Francisco Rodriguez MIL

Jesse Crain CHW

Tom Wilhelmsen SEA

Pedro Strop BAL

Ernesto Frieri LAA

Jason Grilli PIT

Kris Medlen ATL

Greg Holland KC

Vincente Padilla BOS

Joel Peralta TB

Javy Guerra LAD

Tier 3:

Jared Burton MIN

Juan Cruz PIT

Franklin Morales BOS

Bryan Shaw ARI

Darren O'Day BAL

Tim Byrdak NYM

Marc Rzeczypnski STL

Josh Lindblom LAD

Ryan Webb MIA

Luke Gregerson SD

Kelvin Herrera KC

Matt Thornton CHW

Jose Arredondo CIN