Holy heck the closer position has been fire since the trade deadline. Not wasting any time to cover some bases.
Locked In
Matt Barnes – Boston Red Sox
Barnes gave up the game-winning home run to George Springer August 8. The Red Sox as a whole will want to forget that game.
Liam Hendriks – Chicago White Sox
Gregory Soto – Detroit Tigers
Ryan Pressly – Houston Astros
Raisel Iglesias – Anaheim Angels
Lou Trivino – Oakland Athletics
Spencer Patton – Texas Rangers
Jordan Romano – Toronto Blue Jays
Tyler Clippard – Arizona Diamondbacks
Saves are saves, and Arizona should be in a few situations where Clippard can collect them. Arizona continues to be one of the worst closer situations.
Will Smith – Atlanta Braves
Daniel Bard – Colorado Rockies
Kenley Jansen – Los Angeles Dodgers
Dylan Floro – Miami Marlins
Yimi Garcia was moved and Floro was the obvious choice.
Edwin Diaz – New York Mets
Ian Kennedy – Philadelphia Phillies
David Bednar – Pittsburgh Pirates
A 3.30 ERA and 10.9 Strikeouts Per 9 will play, even on a bad team. The 26-year old has been great this season.
Mark Melancon – San Diego Padres
Jake McGee – San Francisco Giants
Alex Reyes – St. Louis Cardinals
Kyle Finnegan – Washington Nationals
4.40 Walks Per 9 takes away some of the sheen of his 0.80 Home Runs Per 9, but Finnegan was holding down the 8th innings while Brad Hand was in town.
Closer Committees
Cole Sulser, Dillon Tate, and Tanner Scott – Baltimore Orioles
James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase – Cleveland Indians
Scott Barlow and Greg Holland – Kansas City Royals
Diego Castillo, Paul Sewald, and Drew Steckenrider – Seattle Mariners
Castillo was moved to Seattle to pitch in a similar closer committee as in Tampa Bay.
Matt Wisler and Andrew Kittredge – Tampa Bay Rays
Trading Castillo ended up backfiring some for the Rays with multiple relievers injured. Pete Fairbanks would likely lead the committee if he was healthy.
Codi Heuer and Manuel Rodriguez – Chicago Cubs
Heuer has a future-closer fastball and Rodriguez can hit 100 mph on the radar gun. Neither should be closers in 2021.
Mychal Givens and Michael Lorenzen – Cincinnati Reds
I believe this duo is the best 1-2 punch the Reds have had all season.
Injury Opportunities
Alex Colome – Minnesota Twins
It is unknown if Taylor Rogers will pitch again in 2021, and Colome has filled in nicely after losing the role in the beginning of the season.
Devin Williams – Milwaukee Brewers
Williams and his "Airbender" will close out games while Josh Hader is on the COVID-19 list.
Jonathan Loaisiga, Zack Britton, and Chad Green – New York Yankees
Loaisiga has been one of the best stories among pitchers in the Bronx and gives the Yankees multiple options while Aroldis Chapman recovers from shoulder inflammation.
Next Man Up Adds
Craig Kimbrel (CHW) – He should not have been dropped but if he was add him. Kimbrel is expected to get some saves opportunities.
Michael Fulmer (DET)
Collin McHugh (TB)
Joe Barlow (TEX)
Brad Hand (TOR)
Lucas Sims (CIN)
Anthony Bender (MIA)
