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Detroit Tigers
The Tigers closer situation is fairly settled, though not exactly awe-inspiring. Joe Nathan is currently set to lock down the ninth inning, with Joakim Soria and Al Alburquerque backing him up. The 40-year-old Nathan is a far cry from the perennial All Star that used to close for the Twins in the 2000s, and I have little faith in him after a questionable 2014 season. An abysmal ERA (4.81) and WHIP (1.534) were not masked by the 35 saves he did manage to secure. You can’t forget about the human fireball Bruce Rondon making his return this year after missing 2014 with Tommy John surgery, either.
There really is nothing to like about Nathan heading into your fantasy draft. He does have the closer’s job to start the season, so he will likely gather a few saves given the opportunities that a potent Tigers squad should afford. However, with Soria lurking in the setup role, I don’t see Nathan’s leash being very long. I think he’s three blown saves away from losing the job for good, and I don’t feel comfortable investing in an aging veteran coming off what truly was a terrible season.
Chicago White Sox
David Robertson rode a solid season closing out ballgames for the Yankees in 2014 to a big payday on the open market. He will be given the nod in the ninth for the ChiSox to start the 2015 season, and shouldn’t have any trouble holding onto the role. Jake Petricka is second in line, but it will take a major meltdown on Robertson’s part for a change to be made.
Robertson closed out 39 of 44 save chances in 2014, posting 13.4 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9, which are exactly the kinds of numbers you’re looking for in a closer. But Robertson is not without a few bugaboos, the most significant of which were the declining ground ball rate and increasing fly ball rate, which led to a somewhat startling 15.6% HR/FB. U.S. Cellular Field is not Yankee Stadium, but it also isn’t a pitcher’s paradise. Robertson should still be one of the first ten closers off the board, but don’t be surprised if he implodes a few times over the year, courtesy of the long ball.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins have a stable closer in Glen Perkins, who finished with 34 saves in 2014. The two-time All Star did suffer a forearm injury in September, but he didn’t require surgery and should be locked-in as the ninth inning option for Minnesota in 2015.
There’s nothing outstanding about Perkins’s peripheral stats. He put up a fairly pedestrian 9.6 K/9 in 2014, and a similarly pedestrian 1.18 WHIP. However, he is typically consistent as far as saves are concerned, and that’s why you’re drafting him. You’re going to get 35-39 saves, a decent ERA and about a strikeout per inning. I don’t see any way he breaks 40 saves, as the Twins simply aren’t good enough yet to give him enough opportunities. He'll still be a solid second closer in any format.
Kansas City Royals
Nothing to see here, folks. Greg Holland is the guy in Kansas City, and is among the game’s elite, behind only Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman. His numbers in 2014 were positively outstanding, as he logged 46 saves in 48 chances. He struck out an absurd 12.99 batters per nine innings, and posted a 1.44 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 62.1 IP. He’s in his prime at the age of 29, and I expect him to continue his dominance in 2015.
Don’t get cute while drafting. Holland is one of the safest bets in baseball, and should only be behind the aforementioned Kimbrel and Chapman on draft day. A case could even be made to take him ahead of Kimbrel, as the Braves are poised to be positively awful in 2015, and likely won’t provide Kimbrel with anywhere near the same save opportunities as Holland will get from the defending AL champs.
Cleveland Indians
Cody Allen will dominate the ninth for the Tribe in 2015, and should provide stability for their bullpen and your fantasy teams. While he didn't take over the closer’s role until the end of May in 2014, he held on tight from that point forward, posting a 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 for the season. He should have a fairly long leash, as I don’t expect Bryan Shaw or Scott Atchison to threaten Allen's job at any point.
Allen should provide top ten closer numbers in 2015. The Indians will be in most ballgames, and they should provide him with plenty of save opportunities. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him break 40 saves, and he’ll notch plenty of strikeouts along the way. Draft him with confidence, but don’t reach.
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