If you’re in the market for saves, now is the perfect time to start making some speculative closer adds. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than going to add a newly appointed closer who was just picked up. With the non-waiver trading deadline rapidly approaching, here are a few relief pitchers who could be closing by next week:
Brandon League, Seattle Mariners
If you’ve been following the rumor mill, you’ve certainly heard David Aardsma’s name come up a few times. If those rumors come to fruition, expect League to take over as Seattle’s closer. Equipped with a mid-90’s fastball and a hard slider, he has prototypical closer stuff. Although it would be nice if League would strike out more than 6.8 batters per nine innings, he’s still having a nice season. His ERA currently stands at 3.67 and his WHIP is a healthy 1.22.
As for Aardsma, he’ll probably lose all his value if he’s traded as he will likely become a set-up man for a contender.
Drew Storen, Washington Nationals
If Matt Capps is traded, expect Storen and not Tyler Clippard to handle the closers role. While it’s true that Clippard has been the primary set-up guy all year, Storen is clearly the Nationals closer of the future. It would make sense for Washington to let him get his feet wet as closer so he’ll be prepared for the role in 2011. In addition, Clippard hasn’t pitched well recently. Over the past month he has an ERA of 9.00 and a WHIP of 2.00.
Much like Aardsma, Capps likely won’t be closing if he’s traded to a contender.
Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
As good as Evan Meek, Pittsburgh’s lone All-Star representative, has been, expect Joel Hanrahan to take over closing duties if Octavio Dotel is traded. Not only does Hanrahan have closing experience, but he’s having a fine season as Pittsburgh‘s 8th inning guy. He’s improved his walk rate dramatically from last year and he’s striking out more than 12 batters per nine innings. However, keep your eye on Meek as Hanrahan could be traded as well as Dotel.
Now let’s take a look at two more closing situations worth watching.
Chicago White Sox
After another Bobby Jenks implosion, manager Ozzie Guillen declared his team’s closer position wide open. I expect J.J. Putz, and his dazzling 1.50 ERA and 0.78 WHIP, to get the first crack at the job with Matt Thornton getting the occasional save when multiple lefties are due up.
Although Guillen envisions Jenks reclaiming the role once he starts pitching better, I wouldn’t bank on that. Chicago is in the middle of a pennant race and if Putz keeps dominating opposing batters it will be very hard to remove him from the role.
Arizona Diamondbacks
I really don’t want to recommend anyone in this historically bad bullpen but like a starting running back in fantasy football, a closer has to be owned…right? Although manager Kirk Gibson won’t name a closer, Juan Gutierrez has recorded the last two saves, albeit not pretty ones. He has allowed 13 home runs on the season so I would only pick him up if I was desperate for saves.
As for Chad Qualls, he will probably get another chance to close unless he‘s traded before the deadline. However, he can’t seem to pitch a scoreless inning and I would advise keeping him on your bench until he can string together a couple of scoreless outings.
Sam Demel is the sleeper of the group. Since coming over from Oakland, he’s been Arizona’s best relief pitcher and has closing experience in the minors. However, Gibson has refused to give him a chance in the ninth and keeps throwing Gutierrez and Qualls out there.
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