Closer Watch Blog 2007 DEC

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Cleveland Indians
Joe Borowski Closer
Rafael Betancourt 1st in line
Fernando Cabrera 2nd in line

The Indians signed Borowski to a 1 year contract with a team option for a second season. The signing was preceeded by the 35-year-old failing a physical with Philadelphia, nullifying a potential deal with the Phillies. Borowski had 36 saves for the Marlins this past season with a 1.38 WHIP in 69+ IP with 64 K.

Texas Rangers
Eric Gagne Closer
Akinori Otsuka 1st in line
Wes Littleton 2nd in line

The Rangers signed Gagne to a 1 year deal, as the former dominant closer looks to get his career back on track. The 30-year-old missed all but 15 innings of the past 2 years due to elbow and back surgeries. Gagne had a historic 3 year run with the Dodgers from 2002 to 2004 saving 152 games in 158 opportunties.

The Gagne signing has resulted in the Rangers' closer from 2006, Otsuka, being in recent trade rumors. Otsuka had 32 saves in 2006 with a 1.07 WHIP in 59+ IP with 47 K.

Kansas City Royals
Octavio Dotel Closer
Joe Nelson 1st in line
Joel Peralta 2nd in line

The Royals signed Dotel to a 1 year deal. The 33 year-old struggled in his return from reconstructive elbow surgery with the Yankees last year; 2.90 WHIP and 10.80 ERA in 10 IP. In his last full year, Dotel had 36 save season, split in Houston and Oakland, with 122 K in 85 IP in 2004.

Boston Red Sox
Mike Timlin Closer
Manny Delcarmen 1st in line
Craig Hansen 2nd in line

It was expected that the Red Sox would bring in a veteran closer after proclaiming that Jonathan Papelbon would move to the starting rotation in 2007. However, with most of the dust settling on the Hot Stove season, the Sox remain closer-less. Veteran, Timlin may get the default nod, but there is still time for the Red Sox to make a trade from a proven closer; Otsuka from Texas or Gonzalez from Pittsburgh?

The 40-year-old Timlin had a 1.47 WHIP in 64 IP with 30 K this past year and finished the season as the Red Sox' closer recording 7 September saves; while Papelbon was out with a shoulder injury.

Baltimore Orioles
Chris Ray Closer
Danys Baez 1st in line
Scott Williamson 2nd in line

The Orioles signed Baez to a 3 year contract to set up Ray. The 29-year-old Cuban lost the Dodgers' closer role in May this past season and was traded to Atlanta later in the year. Baez finished the year with a 1.29 WHIP in 59+ IP with 39 K, 9 saves and 12 holds.

Williamson signed a 1 year deal with the O's. The former Reds' closer struggled with the Cubs and Padres in 2006 with 1.60 WHIP and 5.72 ERA in 39+ combined IP.

Houston Astros
Brad Lidge Closer
Dan Wheeler 1st in line
Chad Qualls 2nd in line

Wheeler ended the 2006 season as the Astros' closer, but manager Phil Garner is on record earlier this month stating Lidge would return to the closers' role in 2007. Lidge had a disappointing 2006 season with a 1.40 WHIP and 5.28 ERA in 75 IP with 6 blown saves in 38 opportunities.

Wheeler finished the year with a 1.15 WHIP and 2.52 ERA in 71+ IP and could step up as the Astros' closer once again if Lidge continues to struggle.

Cincinnati Reds
David Weathers Closer
Bill Bray 1st in line
Todd Coffey 2nd in line

The Reds resigned Weathers to a 2 year contract and once again could be the teams primary closer as he was in the 2nd half of 2006. The 37-year-old had 12 saves this past season with a 1.29 WHIP in 73+ IP with 50 K.

The left handed Bray has future closer value with continued evolvement at the major league level. The 23-year-old posted a 1.48 WHIP in 50+ IP with 39 K in his rookie season of 2006.

Atlanta Braves
Bob Wickman Closer
Rafael Soriano 1st in line
Joey Devine 2nd in line

The Braves traded starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for Soriano. The 26-year-old Soriano has had future closer value with his plus "stuff" for a few years, but has been limited by injuries.

The hard throwing Dominican had a 1.08 WHIP in 60 IP in 2006 with 65 K and 18 holds. Soriano could succeed Wickman as the Braves' closer in 2008, but will have to have a primarily injury free 2007 to get there.

St. Louis Cardinals
Jason Isringhausen Closer
Adam Wainwright 1st in line
Braden Looper 2nd in line

Isringhausen will be one of the most closely watched players by fantasy owners this coming Spring Training as the 34-year-old looks to come back from a second hip operation.

The Cardinals won the World Series with Wainwright celebrating on the mound following his 4th post season save and 9 scoreless apearances in the playoffs. Isringhausen recently proclaimed himself healthy and the Cardinals are on record that Wainwright will be stretched out as a starting pitcher during Spring Training. We'll see how healthy Izzy is in March.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Mike Gonzalez Closer
Salomon Torres 1st in line
Matt Capps 2nd in line

Gonzalez has been in several trade rumors over the past couple of weeks. The 28-year-old left hander was a perfect 24 for 24 in save chances in 2006, but did miss the final month of the year with an elbow injury.

Torres filled in admirably for Gonzalez in September and the Pirates might be willing to go with Torres as their closer if they do deal Gonzalez. The 34-year-old Torres had a 1.46 WHIP in 93+ IP this past season, but had a strong 2nd half with a 1.22 ERA in 37 IP and was 11 for 12 in save opportunities in September.

Capps has future closer value with continued evolvement. The 23-year-old Capps had a 1.15 WHIP in 80+ IP with 56 K and 13 holds in his rookie campaign of 2006.

Closer Watch Blog Archive:
October 2006
2006 Season