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Closer Report

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Every week I take a look at the going's on in the life of relief pitching in fake baseball. These rankings are a pretty good indicator of who has been getting it done and who has wasted your roster space. So have a gander at how I would rank the best conclusionary pitchers and the guys that set them up.

  • Brett Myers was dealt to the White Sox this week. He will set-up for Addison Reed in Chi-town. Meanwhile in a separate deal the Astros acquired Coco Cordero from the Blue Jays and immediately placing him the closers role. Not much value gained/lost, Cordero is a bottom rung option but still an option, Myers adds depth to a great bullpen and will see situational time with Jesse Crain amongst others.
  • Frank Francisco is headed for a rehab assignment on Tuesday, barring any setbacks he should be back in the Mets bullpen by the weekend. No time is soon enough as it seems as though they are all pitching on fumes for the Metropolitans.
  • According to Ken rosenthal of Fox sports, the Giants are interested in Chris Perez, it's a semi decent read but me thinks it's more the bow-tie talking about speculation than actually what's happening.
  • Jose Valverde must not like working on weekends. It seems he always gets injured around a weekend series and will then be available on the Tuesday game following. Weird but true.
  • Huston Street looks like he will be following in Carlos Quentin's footsteps and re-upping with the Padres instead of being traded to a contender. He would have a been an interesting piece for several competing teams.
  • Tyler Clippards grasp on the closer's role in the nation's capitol is shaky but still intact. The return of Drew Storen has made it alot easier for fantasy knee jerkers to cry for Storen to be put back in his originating role. Besides a few hiccups recently Clippard has been awesome in the role for the Nationals and will continue until complete implosion or injury.

Rankings and holds tiers after the jump.


2. Rafael Soriano



5. Jim Johnson

6. Chris Perez

7. Jonathon Papelbon

8. Jason Motte

9. Aroldis Chapman

10 Kenley Jansen

11. Joe Nathan

12. Ernesto Frieri

13. Jonthan Broxton

14.Ryan Cook

15. Tyler Clippard

16.Santiago Casilla

17.Huston Street

18. J.J. Putz

19.Addison Reed

20.Rafael Betancourt

21. Casey Janssen

22. Alfredo Aceves

23. Jose Valverde

24. Francisco Rodriguez

25. Tom Wilhelmsen

26.Francisco Cordero

27. Carlos Marmol

28. Steve Cishek

29. Bobby Parnell / Frank Francisco

30. Jared Burton / Glen Perkins / Matt Capps

Tier 1.

Mike Adams TEX

Sergio Romo SF

Vinnie Pestano CLE

Joaquin Benoit DET

Sean Burnett WAS

Sean Marshall CIN

David Hernandez ARI

Jason Grilli PIT

Antonio Bastardo PHI

Scott Downs ANA

David Robertson NYY

Vincente Padilla BOS

Ronald Belisario LAD

Tier 2:

Tim Byrdak NYM

Pedro Strop BAL

Eric O'Flaherty ATL

Aaron Crow KC

Joel Peralta TB

Josh Lindblom LAD

Matt Belisle COL

James Russell CHC

Jake McGee TB

Grant Balfour OAK

Mitchell Boggs STL

Shawn Camp CHC

Tier 3:

Chad Durbin ATL

Greg Holland KC

Juan Cruz PIT

Bryan Shaw ARI

Mike Dunn MIA

Luke Gregerson SD

Juan Cruz PIT

Joe Smith CLE

Kelvin Herrera KC

Matt Thornton CHW

Jose Arredondo CIN

Brad Ziegler ARI

Boone Logan NYY

Jesse Crain CHW

Andrew Miller BOS

Brett Myers CHW