Good closers come to those who wait, so don’t reach in early rounds
Closers were a bit more stable in 2016 but not enough to warrant a change in strategy. Don’t get caught up in the closer runs that tend to take place in the late single-digit rounds. Instead, look to draft closers from the teams that favor stability over hot hands in the bullpen. The Cardinals, Red Sox, Orioles, Royals, Cubs, Blue Jays and White Sox tend to stick with their closers through thick and thin. After the better closers are gone, look for strikeout skills and pitchers with a chance to close later in the season.
CODY ALLEN,
He’s closing out games for one of the best teams in the league. The bad thing Andrew Miller is lurking, so manager Terry Francona could decide to flip the switch and turn to Miller for the closer’s role. Allen is still a top-12 closer because of opportunity. but his job is anything but safe, as we project 22 saves for Allen and 18 for Miller. 2014 2014 2016 2015 2016 2016 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016
GGWWLDELLIN BETANCES,
Betances got his chance to close once Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller left town and he didn’t disappoint. His strikeout rate was up and he nudged the walk rate down a bit as well. A .353 BABIP probably explains most of the mediocre 3.08 ERA. He’s back in a setup role with Chapman’s return, but Betances still carries considerable value in all formats. 2014 2015 53 54.1 67 65.1 51 48 70 74 90 84 4 2 1.49 .77 10.6 4.6 6 5 2.34 .90 8.7 2.7 3 1 2.81 1.27 9.8 2.2
L5 0 1.40 .78 13.5 5.6 6 4 1.50 1.01 14.0 3.3 2.3 11 1 16 .203 3.2 2 4 28 .182 4.5 1 3 18 .262 2.4 4.3 1 9 4 22 .241 4 28 .257