Closer Rankings (7/20/19)
Not much movement this week compared to my last report. I figured some bullpen trades would have occurred by now, but it looks like it will be a busy last 10 days before the traded deadline.
Note: These rankings are based on chances of getting Saves, not pitcher talent.
Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.
Edwin Diaz is stil a stud?
Yeah, he’s had a bad, roller coaster season thus far.
He’s a tough one to rank, maybe he should be in his own class. “Was Good but Team Too Stupid to Trade or Demote Him.”
Edwin Diaz is still a stud. 3.51/2.98/2.74 (FIP, xFIP, SIERA). 0.407 BABIP with the league’s worst defense behind him. Yes, the HRs are a problem and his Hard hit rate is way too high but the dude is still amazing.
Kyle Crick has been horrendous over the past month or so. His season FIP has ballooned to 5.72, WHIP is now an intolerable 1.65, BB rate is a ridiculous 7.94/9 and his HR rate, while slightly below league average at 1.32/9, is not what is expected from a closer. Maybe he has a minor injury that he’s playing through. I don’t think Pittsburgh would consider him the next man up without first resolving whatever issues are causing his struggles.
He’s got a lot of problems, but who else do the Pirates have?
This is where I stood. with just no other options. I moved him down some.
What do you think about Keone Kela’s status as potential future closer? Coming off DL soon.
This, Kela expected back today. If not him then RichRod is next in line. Crick has the worst BB rate of anyone in MLB with over 30IP.
Actually, Michael Feliz’ June-July numbers look very nice. In 16 and 2/3 IPs, he has given up 11 hits and 6 BBs (good for a 1.02 WHIP) while only giving up 1 HR. 18 Ks in that span equals 9.72 K/9, which is also pretty good.
Forgot to say his ERA in June-July is 2.16
Are we sure Carlos Martinez won’t be overtaken? He’s better than Miller, but is he better than Gallegos? Or even Brebbia?
Iām guessing he gets traded to the Red Sox
I think the Cards will keep him in the role unless he gets hurt.
Huh… Giles still getting the snub from the studs category I see.
Yeah, the Giles ranking is not based om talent or data. Kanley is not impossible to replace and doesnt belong in that category, and Edwin Diaz? Giles is a stud who will be traded. He.s better than most incumbents but may not be the closer due to politics… like the Yankees wont replace Chapman, but Giles is seriously better than him, or Kanley.
Perfect explanation of my stance. He could go to a team (Astros) and not be the guy.
The Astros won’t trade for him after running him out of town, but he is is clearly better than Osuna. I’d imagine if he gets traded he will be a closer. He’s better than all but maybe 5 closers in the game.
Hendriks needs stud consideration. He is 100% the A’s closer until further notice. Treinen lost his command and there’s honestly no other trustworthy A’s reliever right now (Trevino having rough year too). And Hendriks just looks filthy good right now, doesn’t seem flukey. Both his high 90s fastball and his slider are working and that’s making hitters guess.
Possibly. I have a feeling the A’s could add someone.
Why would one of the best bullpens in game add someone when their needs are more getting the game to the bullpen?
so their issue is getting to the bullpen – why not just make the bullpen bigger so you can use it more liberally and sooner?
Shane Greene is much better than ok now. He’s a stud.
But he could be traded and lose his closer’s role. His Save production is far from safe.
Love this article.
Who might take over for Yates? Maybe Munoz or Wingenter? I apologize in advance if there’s a Padre reliever listed already who I don’t recognize.
the second padre on the list is stammen. personally i wonder if it wouldn’t be munoz already, although he doesn’t even have a hold yet so maybe not
Seems like A Miller should make this list (somewhere). Aside from rough first month he’s been very good, and could see more saves due to C Mart trade or poor performance.
What is the theory on Chris Martin ahead of Pressly—is it belief the saves potential is higher? Ratio-wise (and track record-wise) it’s not very close.