Below is my fantasy baseball preview for the relief pitcher/closer position. This is a mere supplement to the fantasy guide, which will have in-depth player capsules for each player ranked. The fantasy guide will be released on March 1. If you’re looking for player projections for the 2014 season, please go to the fantasy guides page.
If I’m playing in a shallow league (13 teams or less) I’m not drafting a high end closer and I’ll wait for a middle of the road closer. It’s possible to draft the closers you need near the end of your drafts. For example, last year I drafted (in a 12-team mixed league) Grant Balfour, Jason Grilli and Casey Janseen in the 16th and 17th rounds and I finished third in saves. In deeper leagues I want one of the closers in the first two tiers and I’ll wait and grab one tier four closer.
Tier 1
- Craig Kimbrel
- Greg Holland
- Aroldis Chapman
- Joe Nathan
- Trevor Rosenthal
- Kenley Jansen
Overall, these closers will provide elite production in four categories and there’s no question the job belongs to them. I’m down on Kenly Jansen because of potential injury concerns (he had a heart problem two years ago) and with Brian Wilson waiting in the wings I wouldn’t be surprised if Jansen’s leash is the shortest among this group. Joe Nathan is the least dominate of the bunch, but he has been consistent his entire career and will play on a team that should win 90-plus games.
Tier 2
- David Robertson
- Grant Balfour
- Sergio Romo
- Jim Johnson
- Glen Perkins
- Koji Uehara
I have no doubt David Robertson is the best reliever in the Yankee bullpen, but since he doesn’t have the “experience” closing games he may have a short leash. If the potential short leash didn’t exisit he would be in the first tier. I’m not worried about the “failed” medicals for Grant Balfour because most teams were fine with them. Even though Balfour has lost some zip on the fastball he’ll still pitch in another pitcher friendly ballpark and behind another great defense. Barring injury Jim Johnson is going to be the A’s closer. In fact he’s the safest player in this tier. I believe the Giants finish fourth in the division and will therefore have less save opportunities, but at the end of the day Sergio Romo is the best option in the Giants bullpen.
Tier 3
- Jonathan Papelbon
- Casey Janssen
- Ernesto Frieri
- Nate Jones
- Rafael Soriano
- Fernando Rodney
- John Axford
If I’m drafting one of these players I want to make sure I roster the reliever next in line because I wouldn’t be surprised if they lose the closer role during the season. Jonathan Papelbon is a fastball heavy pitcher and last year his fastball sat in the 92 range instead of the 95 we’ve been accustomed to. He has been one of the most reliable closers ever, but I have doubts about how many games the Phillies win and how often he’ll be used (i.e. he won’t pitch in extra-inning games unless it’s a save opportunity). Fernando Rodney is probably the safest bet to keep the closer job because of the contract he signed, but the Mariners bullpen has at least two players who could take saves away. John Axford presents the highest upside because after realizing he was tipping his pitches (after he was traded to the Cardinals) his numbers got a lot better. Ernesto Frieri is prone to the home run ball, which makes him more dangerous in H2H leagues, but if the Angels improve their performance he could be a tier one closer.
Tier 4
- Jesse Crain
- Bobby Parnell
- Addison Reed
- Jason Grilli
- Jim Henderson
Addison Reed lost two mph on his fastball and threw the most sliders in his major league career. With J.J. Putz waiting in the wings the hook for Reed may be fast. Jesse Crain is a great reliever, but with a one year deal I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s pitching for a different club and subsequently no longer closing at the end of July. I like Jim Henderson a lot, but the signing of Francisco Rodriguez means the Brewers are dumb enough to give Rodriguez saves in order to trade him at the trade deadline again. I’m not convinced Jason Grilli pitches the whole year, which means Mark Melancon is the most important non-closer to roster. Parnell should be in tier three, but I want to see him pitch in spring training first.
Tier 5
- Steve Cishek
- Huston Street
- Neftali Feliz
- Tommy Hunter
- Rex Brothers
- Jose Veras
- LaTroy Hawkins
The LaTroy Hawkins sign doesn’t make a lot of sense, but as of early February the Rockies are saying he’ll split save opportunities with Rex Brothers. That may be the case now, but Brothers is the better reliever and it’s only a matter of time before he Brothers takes full control of the closing duties. Veras is another candidate that will likely be traded at the deadline, but unlike a Jesse Crain, he’s not a very good pitcher. Neftali Feliz is likely to be the closer, but Joakim Soria has been successful in that role before. As of early February this is a situation that should be closely monitored because whoever gets the closer role could be a tier two player. If you own Houston Street you need to roster Joaquín Benoit because Street will eventually get hurt.
