I kicked off the bullpen parade last week with the AL East. It’s a safe place for us reliever analysts with mostly secure jobs and quality arms. The tradeoff for that comfort is following it up with the AL Central. The odds are far better that all five of these projected closers will be changed out than none of them being replaced. There isn’t a ton of depth either. I suppose that’s what happens when you refuse to spend money. Let’s push through this muck like a swamp on dagobah and hope a little green man imparts us some wisdom in rearranged syntax. Did no one else take a hit of acid for this? Just me? Ok. Fire up the Rage Against the Machine and on to the pens.
| Chicago White Sox | Razzers | |
| Closer | Alex Colome – We’re entering a new decade but people will still overlook Colome despite the fun new date. I’ll spare you the column B joke. He’s consistent if something less than flashy. |  |
| Setup | Steve Cishek – The veteran sidewinder is just changing neighborhoods in Chicago. He’s been a reliable back end reliever for a long time now. Probably a better real-life pitcher than fantasy asset. | |
| Useful Arm | Aaron Bummer – We’ll see if the LOOGY has any ill effects from having to face at least three batters now. He’s still a ratio life preserver for me. | |
| Saves Dart | Kelvin Herrera – There are not many bullets left in the former fireballer’s arm. So much will depend on whether he continues to adjust to pitching with less velo. | |
| Cleveland Indians | Razzers | |
| Closer | Brad Hand – It was a rough end to 2019 for Hand investors. His poor performance was injury related. There’s the rub, though. Will he be healthy coming into 2020? If yes, you’re getting stellar ratios with a pace for 100 Ks. | |
| Setup | Emmanuel Clase – Cleveland thought highly enough of Clase to make him the main return for Corey Kluber. Clase boasts an extremely effective 100 MPH cutter. We’ll find out if he’s the real deal after only 23 major league innings. | |
| Useful Arm | James Karinchak – The Indians love their nasty relievers. Karinchak posted a K/9 in the 20’s during his 30 minor league innings in 2019. It remained a respectable 13.50 in 5.1 big league innings. The control needs work but dude’s a buzzsaw. | |
| Saves Dart | Nick Wittgren – It’s hard not to see one of the other guys above taking over at closer if Hand cramps up. He does have more experience and has been with the Tribe longer. | |
| Detroit Tigers | Razzers | |
| Closer | Joe Jimenez – At his best, Jimenez is a strikeout artist who keeps the ball in the yard. He’s not always at his best, though, as a 2019 HR/FB of 18.3% shows. Still, he’s only 25. The Tigers won’t win many games but that didn’t stop Shane Greene from being the most valuable reliever in 2019’s first half. | |
| Setup | Buck Farmer – Farmer posted a 2019 ERA of 3.72. If saves were ever added to his stat line that plays. | |
| Useful Arm | David McKay – This is getting down to the end of the useful range but McKay posted a 14.63 K/9 in the minors in 2019. If he figures out how to limit runs he could be a handy Ks source. | |
| Saves Dart | Jose Cisnero – The Tigers perennially have some of the least bullpen depth. Jiminez is prone to cold spells, however, and someone needs to man the ninth. Cisnero notched 7 saves at triple A last year and didn’t look lost in 35 MLB innings. | |
| Kansas City Royals | Razzers | |
| Closer | Ian Kennedy – The industry collectively has very little trust in Kennedy as a closer. When you take a look at what’s behind him it’s possible that’s a mistake. How much leash will he have to chew through to get Tim Hill on the hill in the ninth? | |
| Setup | Scott Barlow – Scott Barlow is fine as a reliever. That’s about as warm as my endorsement gets. If you add some saves in, however… | |
| Useful Arm | Tim Hill – Hill’s use would come in the way of saves. He’s not a great bet as a left-hander, though. | |
| Saves Dart | Kevin McCarthy – He’s not going to be of any use to you without saves. | |
| Minnesota Twins | Razzers | |
| Co-Closer | Taylor Rogers – The thing with Rogers is that he’s two different pitchers when he pitches fresh versus in back to back games. That, along with him being a southpaw has the Twins deploying him as a co-closer most of the time. I personally love it. Let him be effective and trade-off 10 less saves. | |
| Co-Closer | Sergio Romo – The ageless Romo is still likely to figure into the saves convo for Minnesota. They want a righty to compliment Rogers and brought back the bearded one. Saves ain’t got no face, ya know? | |
| Useful Arm | Tyler Duffey – A 2.50 ERA over 57.2 innings and a 12.8 K/9 works for me. Maybe he’ll even get a crack at that righty co-closer gig. | |
| Saves Dart | Trevor May – It’s weird that May has pitched pretty well in relief for two seasons now but can hardly get a look in the ninth despite a revolving door at closer. He’s got good ratios and a solid K/9 at 11-12 the last two seasons. | |
