Note: I forgot Boston! I thought I had all 30 teams accounted for, but it wasn’t until I was about to post that I realized there was no Matt Barnes! Barnes goes in the “More-Stable-Than-We-Think?” group because while I think Garrett Whitlock could be a stud closer, they seem committed to expanding his role, even if it’s not into a true starter. Whitlock could eventually find his way back to the late-innings, but for now appears set to get multi-inning outings and might eventually become a true starter if it is successful. Barnes wore down after a brilliant start to the season, allowing nearly as many earned runs in August (10) as he had in the first 4 months combined (11). Darwinzon Hernandez isn’t a real threat until he gets his walk rate down quite a bit from his career 18%. In fact, that’s a major issue for most of the guys who would challenge Barnes: Jake Diekman, Hirokazu Sawamura, and Eduard Bazardo.

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tphnoob

3 years ago

I just can’t get on the Gallegos train, I really think they prefer to keep him in the fireman role that he has, same with Treinen, they brought in Hudson and his contract has games finished incentives- $100,000 each for 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, I feel like they prefer the 1 close 1 fireman type situation. Meanwhile I am really banking on Jansen’s walk rate to go down this year. 6.87 bb% and a 39.69k% from his first August appearance through the playoffs, about a 35 2/3s inning sample size, seems like he finally got into his new mechanics/delivery and figured something out.

BAL	CHW	ATH
BOS	CLE	HOU
NYY	DET	LAA
TBR	KCR	SEA
TOR	MIN	TEX

ATL	CHC	ARI
MIA	CIN	COL
NYM	MIL	LAD
PHI	PIT	SDP
WSN	STL	SFG