Each new season brings change. And this one is no different. The leaves have changed color, and they will turn back again. The reliever corps are no different, in-season or off of it. The reliever flux train has already started, and it’s just January. For some teams, it is a needed boost to a back-end unit that was piss pour last season. For most though, it is a change for the piece they were missing. While others, (cough, cough, the Yankees) just want to be greedy and make a super-unit of the three-headed variety. So today, as it being my first post in the new season, I will look at the guys who changed clubs and will most likely open the season as that teams new closer. It isn’t very dissimilar to real life, you know that ‘ole tale… for it’s as old as the sea. Some young up-and-comer arrives and thinks they can do your job better, faster and for longer, but veterans that have been an established piece for years get the respect they deserve. That’s what makes a 12 dollar salad a 12 dollar salad. So without all the soliloquy and gesturing, let’s just get to the closers who have changed clubs for the better…
Aroldis Chapman – It’s kinda not fair. The Yankees now have three relievers that could pretty much close for 25 other teams, and on top of that, three relievers with just disgusting K/9 rates. So disgusting that they were the only three relievers that were over 14 K/9 last season. Now they all get to do it in order. Not fair. Come draft day, it isn’t going to be impossible to draft all three. The thought of owning all three, and getting roughly 200 innings of sub-2 ERA, with more K’s then any starter you are going to draft… it’s tempting. I know that three guys take up a lot of roster space, but the thought of it is pretty sexy.
Steve Cishek – Dumped by the Marlins, revitalized in the ‘Lou. Sounds like a spin-off of One Day at a Time. So he goes to the land of Tehol’s and should be given the keys to a unit that last year was a decent bunch. Unfortunately the Mariners have traded a dearth of their quality arms in the relief game. Cishek should do well with a switch of leagues and the added veteran behind him in Benoit gives him a nice safety net to fall back on if falter does occur. He is by no means a salad, but a low end donkey based on his being employed. If drafting him as a cuff to Benoit is probably your best bet.
Francisco Rodgriguez – The Tigers haven’t had a closer since Joe Nathan could actually pick up a baseball and throw it effectively. That unfortunately was three years ago. For now, K-Rod is the new infused closer pedigree that the Tigers have been missing. The only problem with this is the Tigers middle relief group is porous at best. So getting from the starters to Frankie will be the trick. A group led by Mark Lowe is a step in the right direction, but after that the names become also-ranish and not very comfy. If anything leads to Rodriguez’s lack of stat accumulation it will be the lack of quality in the setup and hold game for the Motor men.
Craig Kimbrel – I could just say he went from being a shiny hood ornament on a Ford Pinto, to basically being the same thing. The problem in Boston isn’t the relievers… it’s who, after Price, is going to give them depth in a game consistently? They didn’t have it last year by any stretch, and their record showed it. I am not trashing the Sawx, because I should from a Yankee fan perspective, I am simply being an honest baseball observer. The bullpen was the least of their woes. Adding Kimbrel does bolster it, but at the expense of a few trade chips, and a lack of usable fantasy depth in starters, he will get his and the saves will definitely be there. Fantasy teams pray on closers on bad teams, and he will be an accumulator, getting his 40 saves for a just .500 team.
Ken Giles – He goes from being bottom “B” to possibly in the top-3 relief group discussion. From a fantasy perspective, Giles is going to be off the board within the first five closers. Mostly because of age, what he has shown, and the new team. Stat wise he isn’t going to let you down, he’ll get you 40 saves, an above 10 K/9 rate, and will be a stud piece that never moves once you set your roster after draft day. I’m just a bit leery of the over-draft when the Astros hype wagon gets steaming along. I would rather have a Jeurys Familia or Huston Street later in the draft…
