Fake Teams 2013 Consensus Reliever Rankings: 21 - 40

Well, the big news from Tuesday was that Scott Boras somehow weaseled a 2 year, $28 million contract for closer Rafael Soriano, with the Nationals adding to their already strong bullpen with the signing. It's a guarantee that Soriano will open the season as the Nationals closer, but this is bad news for Drew Storen owners. The big talk from yesterday was how prophetic our own Jason Hunt was in ranking Drew Storen as his #40 reliever in our consensus rankings. Some readers questioned the ranking, and while I thought it was low, Jason went with his gut reaction to Storen's post season performance. I think Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo must have seen Jason's ranking and decided Soriano was the more reliable choice, and made him the second highest paid closer in baseball.

To respond to reader's questions about the Kenley Jansen ranking, or rather, my Jansen ranking, I do think Jansen will eventlually take over the Dodgers' closer job as he did last season. Like Javy Guerra in 2012, I see Brandon League's hold on the closer job being short-lived. I just can't see League and his increasing walk rate keeping the job for long. There will be too much pressure on manager Don Mattingly to win this season, and he already went to Jansen last season, and I see it happening again this season. Jansen is the more dominating reliever, a change in his pitching mechanics late in 2012 resulted in a 5 mph increase in his cutter, and his strikeout rate was second in baseball, trailing just Braves closer Craig Kimbrel.

Let's take a look at our Consensus Reliever Rankings for relievers ranked 21 - 40:

Brandon League, LAD

Like I mentioned above, I see League's hold on the Dodgers closer job will not last long in 2013, as there will be huge pressure on Mattingly to win this season. All it will take is a few blown saves in April, and I see Jansen taking over the closer job fairly quickly. This is all a gut feeling really, but Jansen is easily the more dominating reliever.

Jason Grilli, PIT

The Pirates cashed in on Joel Hanrahan by dealing him to the Red Sox a few weeks ago, so the deal signaled that recently signed reliever Jason Grilli will be closing in 2013. So, where did the huge improvement in his strikeout rate come from? His fastball velocity increased from the 92 mph range to 93.6 mph, and his swinging strike rate improved from 12.4% to 14.4%. Grilli has just 5 career saves, but will be given the first opportunity to close in Pittsburgh in 2013.

Ernesto Frieri, LAA

If Ryan Madson isn't ready to start the season as the Angels closer, Frieri has a good shot at opening the season in the role. Madson is coming off Tommy John surgery, so there is a chance he won't be ready in March-April. Frieri saved 23 games last season, but fell apart in August and September, giving up six home runs in 23 innings. His 12.9% HR/FB rate was more than triple his HR/FB rate in 2011, so we could see some regression there in 2013. His strikeout rate improved to 13.36 per nine innings last season, good for sixth among all qualified relievers.

Steve Cishek, MIA

With the trade of Heath Bell to the Diamondbacks this offseason, Cishek should open the season as the Marlins closer. Cishek saved 15 games last season, with a 9.61 strikeout per nine, 4.10 walk rate, which isn't great, but he keeps the ball on the ground at a 52% rate, and gave up just 3 homer runs in 63.2 innings of work last season. He is someone to target late in drafts, and he should reward you with 30+ saves in 2013.