Closer Watch Blog 2007 OCT

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Boston Red Sox
Closer role open in place of Mike Timlin
Manny Delcarmen still 1st in line
Craig Hansen to 2nd in line in place of Keith Foulke

Timlin is a free agent and Foulke has a team option that the Red Sox are not expected to pick up. Jonathan Papelbon is projected to join the starting rotation after ending his season with a shoulder injury.

The Red Sox could be on the market for a proven closer, as well as a veteran set up man, with Delcarmen and Hansen coming off inconsistent seasons.

Cleveland Indians
Closer role open in place of Rafael Betancourt
Rafael Betancourt to 1st in line in place of Tom Mastny
Tom Mastny to 2nd in line in place of Jason Davis

The Indians could be on the market for a proven closer as well after Fausto Carmona failed to fill the role following the trade of Bob Wickman. Betancourt pitched well in the closers' role late in the year after Mastny hit the rookie wall. However, the Indians' may want to keep Betancourt in a set up role with a veteran closer pitching the ninth.

Kansas City Royals
Closer role open in place of Joe Nelson
Joe Nelson to 1st in line in place of Joel Peralta
Ambiorix Burgos still 2nd in line

The Royals could be on the market for a veteran closer after Burgos failed to claim the role following the trade of Mike MacDougal. Nelson finished the year as the Royals' closer, but doesn't have the track record to be annointed the closer heading in to next season.

Chicago Cubs
Ryan Dempster to Closer from Co-closer
Bob Howry to 1st in line from Co-closer
Mike Wuertz still 2nd in line

This is an unsettled closer role after Dempster had an inconsistent season. New manager Lou Piniella may not be as patient as Dusty Baker was with Dempster and it will be interesting to see what the new manager has to say about his closer situation.

Cincinnati Reds
Closer role open in place of David Weathers
Bill Bray to 1st in line in place of Scott Schoeneweis
Todd Coffey still 2nd in line

Weathers and Schoeneweis are both free agents. Regardless of their status, the Reds may be on the market for a veteran closer. Bray has decent future closer value, but needs to show more consistency at the major league level. Coffey may have lamented himself as a set up man after not stepping up in the closer role early in the 2006 season.

Florida Marlins
Closer role open in place of Joe Borowski
Taylor Tankersely still 1st in line
Sergio Mitre still 2nd in line

Borowski is a free agent and may be resigned by the Marlins. If Joe B isn't brought back and the Marlins' don't bring in a veteran closer, Tankersley may get the job following his surprise rookie campaign. The 23-year-old left hander had a 1.44 WHIP and 2.85 ERA in 41 IP with 46 K, 22 holds and 3 saves.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Mike Gonzalez to Closer in place of Salomon Torres
Salomon Torres to 1st in line in place of Matt Capps
Matt Capps to 2nd in line in place of John Grabow

Gonzalez missed the final month of the season with an elbow injury and will head in to 2007 with some injury doubt. Torres was a capable closer in September and provides the Pirates some insurance for Gonzalez. Capps has decent future closer value, but will have to show improvement next season after tailing off in the second half this year.

St. Louis Cardinals
Adam Wainwright still Closer
Jason Isringhausen to 1st in line in place of Braden Looper
Braden Looper to 2nd in line in place of Josh Hancock

Wainwright has stepped up as the Cardinals' closer in the post season after a surprise rookie campaing in his first year in relief. Isringhausen's 2007 status has some doubt following a second hip operation in the past 3 years. The original plan may have been for Wainwright to return to a starting role, but he's building momentum as a closer that may keep him in the role heading in to next year.

San Francisco Giants
Armando Benitez to closer in place of Mike Stanton
Vinnie Chulk still 1st in line
Billy Sadler still 2nd in line

The Giants' may hit the market for a veteran closer as Benitez' arthritic knee may require surgery following his injury plagued, inconsistent season. Stanton is a free agent after filling in surprisingly well in the closers' role in September.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
2006