SAGNOF: Final Spring Notes

What’s poppin’, Razzpimples?

Sorry for my lil hiatus, folks. Went on a lovely little vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii. Kinda sucks to be back in Arkansas after that little slice of paradise. Picture perfect weather every day of the week there, basically. Already sneezing my rump off being back in pollen country.

Anywho. This week I’ve just got some final notes on situations that caught my fancy. Some injuries to remind you about, some spring battles to talk about, some more clarification on roles for some guys. That sorta water cooler fodder.

Don’t forget to keep that Razzball Bullpen Chart bookmarked. It’s been updated with the latest, and I’m usually quick to get it touched up once any type of news drops. And if you’re not a subscriber, I do highly, highly, highly recommend it. The tools are — how do you say? — bussin’. If’n you’re of the mind to consider it, you can find all the info here. I’m partial to the Relievonator Game Log Tool. So dope.

Welp. Let’s do it to it, pardner.

Aroldis Chapman was officially named closer for the Red Sox. Comes with a little caveat that he could also be used for highest-leverage when needed, leaving the ninth to Hendriks or possibly Slaten. People who had the stones to draft him got him at a real nice discount. I said back in my Early Bird Specials piece that you’d do well do snag you some Chapman. I didn’t quite expect him to be named closer outright before the season started, but anyone with a chance at saves and 100+ K needs to be on a roster anyway.

I’ll be fair; I bragged on myself with the Chapman call, but now I’ve gotta make fun of myself with the Chris Martin call. Luke Jackson is a thing again, apparently; so much so that he was used as closer in a Spring game, with Bochy saying after the fact that that could very well be the case come time for the real games. Of course, because of course, he said that roles were not set in stone. Martin could definitely still be worth having around. And frankly I just think he’s a better pitcher. Jackson is younger, however, and was once upon a time one of the best setup men in the game when with Atlanta. Has always had good K stuff with strong Whiff% (81% last year after missing most of ’23 and all of ’22). If he’s healthy, he could be a baller. If’n you’re in a SVHD league and that feller is just sittin’ there for the taking, wellllll pardner, stop reading this and go wrangle that boy. I like Martin most back there, but I got Jackson ahead of the likes of Robert Garcia. Another Rangers note is that Marc Church made Opening Day roster — someone to keep an eye on but not worth a roster spot outside of AL-only, I’m afraid. Might climb the depth chart in pretty short order, maybe.

Alexis Diaz injured his hammy and landed on the IL, so Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers, and Graham Ashcraft are all potential options as replacements. In SV-only, I’d grab either one and hope for the best, if you’re desperate. If you drafted like you should these days, you shouldn’t even be worrying about this…unless of course you drafted Diaz. In SVHD, all three are viable enough until Diaz is back. Then whichever one (or two) have sucked the most would just be drops thereafter. Quick edit: Tony Santillan is now in the mix. Francona was quoted as saying he’s an “easy” call on being a closer but also “too valuable” for just that. I do like me some healthy Santillan…needs to be on SVHD rosters at the very least.

Jason Foley was sent down. Guess his 28 SV last year didn’t hold any weight. His Spring wasn’t great but it sure wasn’t terrible. Anywho, he gone! That leaves some sort of committee between Tyler Holton (a Player Rater standout last year), Beau Brieske, and Tommy Kahnle. All three are guys who need to be on SVHD rosters. For SV-only…ugh I dunno. I would probably lean Holton for overall value (he’s one ratio-stabilizing son of a gun), but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Beau and Kahnle get a fair share. Foley had a 10:0 K:BB this Spring, so don’t be shocked to see him back up sooner or later.

Matt Brash pitched in a game! K’d a pair (also walked one). He’s got a little ways to go before being ready for high leverage in real baseball games, but it’s nice to see him out there again. Worth an IL stash if you can spare one. Upside to the moon when he’s ridin’ with both spurs jinglin’ and janglin’.

Matt Strahm‘s shoulder seems okay, but then he didn’t pitch recently because of a fingernail boo boo. Shoulder ouchies are scary, so let’s just hope this is truly a dodged bullet. Jose Alvarado is catching people’s attention again with good zippity zappity-ness. The Spring numbers are delicious: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 0.31 FIP, 58.8 K%, 8.8 BB%, and 36.4 CSW%. I really don’t give a hoot about Spring numbers for veterans, but you can’t not be a tooch encouraged by that level of strikeout stuff from a guy who isn’t far removed from fantasy eliteness. Dude has been marred by inconsistency over his career…also can’t forget that. My advice is to roster him but give him a short leash if it turns out he was indeed just feasting on minors-level hitters (BBRef gives him a 7.5 OppQual rating, which is between AA and AAA).

Felix Bautista should be good to go for Opening Day. I mean, I wasn’t really concerned, even if it came down to him needing a little more time to ramp up. They probably won’t pitch him back-to-back for a little bit. Don’t care; for fantasy purposes, he’s gotta be treated like the elite upside closer that he is.

David Bednar is on thin ice but is probably still the closer…for now. Ugly, ugly Spring, but then again, he’s a proven veteran. But then again, he ballooned your ratios and was below-average in the strikeout department in ’24. I’m expecting him to be handed the ball in the ninth, though I could see Mr. Shelton standing real close by with a lasso at the ready. Dennis Santana is probably the handcuff you want to have on hand, if you’re of the type.

Mason Montgomery hype season is upon us. I’m seeing his name all over the place in the nerdy circles of the internet where I roam. Had 17 K in less than 10 IP in last year’s cup of coffee, and this Spring he’s pitched 7.1 scoreless, allowing just 3 H with a 9:0 K:BB. That last part is what’s exciting, cuz the walks were ugly last year. Then again, it’s Spring numbers, and his 6.6 OppQual rating means he was basically pitching against college bats. No denying the upside here, regardless. Fairbanks will close and Uceta should be main setup, but then after that it could be Montgomery rising to the occasion. If nothing else, he should pile up K for you and probably keep your ratios locked down.

Mike Clevinger looks to be closing for White Sox if you’re brave enough to go that route. Saw some crazy FAAB bids on that guy. We made fun of them in the Razzball writers chat. And there’s always the fact that he sucks as a human being. But maybe you don’t care about that. You want some saves, he might be able to give you a handful. White Sox probably win 35 games all year and I imagine just about every single one of them comes with a save at the end. Sooooo, who knows. Maybe there’s something there. Probably not, but maybe.

Kevin Ginkel is out with shoulder inflammation. Guess that means that after Martinez and Puk, you want Ryan Thompson in SVHD. He’s boring.

Robert Suarez concerns were popping up. Didn’t pitch for a while, sucked when he did, blah blah blah. I haven’t seen anything to indicate he’s hurt or he’s out of a job. He’s coming off a stellar 2024 season after being a stellar closer in Japan before that. Don’t overthink it, pard.

The Rockies closer battle is still murky. Apparently a Twins announcer said that Victor Vodnik has won the job and that Tyler Kinley was gonna be the 7th-inning guy? Can’t find any verification of that anywhere else. Y’all gonna trust a Twins announcer about a different team during a Spring game? And if you’re gonna go by Spring, Kinley has been much better anyway. I’ve said in like 45 articles so far this offseason that Kinley was great post-All-Star Break, and he’s picking up right where he left off. I’ve still got him pegged as the favorite in the ninth. He’s good, he’s a veteran — we all know the Rockies love veterans — and he’s already making closer-type money. Seth Halvorsen has not impressed this Spring, yet there’s still upside to consider. I don’t think Vodnik brings much to the table at all. Gimme Kinley, gimme Halvorsen maybe, forget everyone else. Buncha tumbleweeds drifting in a beige prairie of uselessness.

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment below so I feel all warm and fuzzy.