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2015 Fantasy Baseball: Early Closer Rankings

2015 Fantasy Baseball: Early Closer Rankings

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners
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In 2012, Fernando Rodney had possibly the greatest single season in the history of baseball for a closer while with the Tampa Bay Rays. He saved 48 games in 48 opportunities, compiled a 0.60 ERA and came in fifth place in AL Cy Young voting. His WAR that season was 3.8 -- very high for a relief pitcher. He's digressed in Seattle, but that's understandable. See where Kimbo and 19 other closers rank in this February edition of ninth inning men.

20. Aaron Sanchez - Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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20. Aaron Sanchez - Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison are for sure rotation mates in 2015. Marco Estrada, Daniel Norris and possibly Kyle Drabek are pretty decent options battling it out for the fifth spot. There's even rumors the Toronto Blue Jays are looking at signing James Shields. Of course, an early injury could change everything. An ideal setup/closer combination in Toronto would feature Brett Cecil and then Sanchez.

19. Bobby Parnell - New York Mets

St Louis Cardinals v New York Mets
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19. Bobby Parnell - New York Mets

St Louis Cardinals v New York Mets
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Bobby Parnell pitched only one inning in 2014 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in early April. In 2012, he posted a 2.16 ERA and 22 saves in 49 appearances. While Jenrry Mejia filled in admirably during Parnell's absence last year, the 30-year-old right-hander is expected to regain the ninth inning duties. Given his extremely brief 2014, Parnell is probably off a lot of fantasy managers radars, so he could make for a nice sleeper pick.

18. Drew Storen - Washington Nationals

Division Series - Washington Nationals v San Francisco Giants - Game Three
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18. Drew Storen - Washington Nationals

Division Series - Washington Nationals v San Francisco Giants - Game Three
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Rafael Soriano had an incredible first half to last season, but tailed off after the All-Star break. He's currently a free agent and Tyler Clippard is in Oakland now. Dating back to 2011, Drew Storen saved 43 games for the Washington Nationals in a full time closer role and had a 2.75 ERA. His 11 saves and 1.12 ERA in 56.1 IP last season was a great showing, so the Casey Janssen signing was merely for insurance and eighth inning duties.

17. Koji Uehara - Boston Red Sox

Tampa Bay Rays v Boston Red Sox
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17. Koji Uehara - Boston Red Sox

Tampa Bay Rays v Boston Red Sox
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Making the jump from Japan to MLB in 2009, it took Koji Uehara one season to figure things out in America, and he hasn't looked back since. Five straight seasons with an ERA under 3.00 and consecutive 20-plus save seasons in 2013 and 2014, the 40-year-old doesn't look like he will slow down any in 2015. Uehara's split finger fastball is the secret to his success. It ranges from 74-87 mph, but MLB opponents have a lifetime BA of .150 against it.

16. Joaquin Benoit - San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres v Minnesota Twins
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16. Joaquin Benoit - San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres v Minnesota Twins
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Another timeless veteran, Joaquin Benoit had a 2.01 ERA in Detroit at 35 years old with 24 saves in 2013. Then at 36, he improved his numbers with the San Diego Padres. Ultimately filling in for Huston Street at closer once he was dealt, Benoit posted 1.49 ERA in 54.1 IP with 11 saves in 2014. Unless he implodes during Spring Training, the Friars will hand the ball to him in save situations.

15. Steve Cishek - Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies
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15. Steve Cishek - Miami Marlins

Miami Marlins v Philadelphia Phillies
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A submariner, Steve Cishek regressed some from his 2013 season. Or did he? His ERA was higher, but he still managed 39 saves in 43 opportunities and improved on his K/9 to 11.6. Maybe he had bad luck and some shoddy fielding behind him, because his FIP in 2013 was 2.52, and it dropped to 2.17 last season.

14. Mark Melancon - Pittsburgh Pirates

Samurai Japan v MLB All Stars - Game 1
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14. Mark Melancon - Pittsburgh Pirates

Samurai Japan v MLB All Stars - Game 1
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Mark Melancon cleaned up for Jason Grilli in 2013 and 2014. He racked up 49 combined saves in those seasons and maintained a sub-2.00 ERA in both instances. He'll have the gig from Opening Day for the first time since 2011 with Houston, and he should be able to run away with success.

13. Santiago Casilla - San Francisco Giants

Division Series - Washington Nationals v San Francisco Giants - Game Four
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13. Santiago Casilla - San Francisco Giants

Division Series - Washington Nationals v San Francisco Giants - Game Four
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Where Sergio Romo failed in 2014, Santiago Casilla excelled. Romo had an inflated ERA of 5.01 when June was over, so Casilla stepped in once July hit and recorded seven saves in as many opportunities that month. He finished the season with 19 total and a 1.70 ERA, and was a stud for the San Francisco Giants in October, allowing zero earned runs in nine appearances.

12. Cody Allen - Cleveland Indians

Texas Rangers v Cleveland Indians
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12. Cody Allen - Cleveland Indians

Texas Rangers v Cleveland Indians
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Cody Allen answered the call from the bullpen in the ninth after John Axford fell apart. Are you starting to see a trend here? Closing ball games is not easy task; it's often a vicious circle of sampling a number of different players until the manager gets one right. Allen was right in 2014 -- he compiled a 1.60 ERA in save situations compared to a 2.50 in non-save situations. In total, he saved 24 games for the Tribe.

11. David Robertson - Chicago White Sox

Los Angeles Angels v New York Yankees
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11. David Robertson - Chicago White Sox

Los Angeles Angels v New York Yankees
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David Robertson cashed in on a 39-save season as the New York Yankees' first full time closer since Mariano Rivera. He bolted for the Windy City and $ 46 million. The price is definitely right for Robertson to be the closer on Opening Day, even if spring ball doesn't go so well.

10. Fernando Rodney - Seattle Mariners

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners
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10. Fernando Rodney - Seattle Mariners

Houston Astros v Seattle Mariners
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Some people dislike the signature bow and arrow I'm sure, but Seattle Mariners skipper Lloyd McClendon will let him celebrate in any way, so long as he continues to be the anchor of MLB's best bullpen from 2014. Fernando Rodney led the league in saves with 48 and is still striking out better than a batter an inning.

9. Trevor Rosenthal - St. Louis Cardinals

NLCS - San Francisco Giants v St Louis Cardinals - Game Two
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9. Trevor Rosenthal - St. Louis Cardinals

NLCS - San Francisco Giants v St Louis Cardinals - Game Two
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Trevor Rosenthal took a slight step backward in the ERA department from 2013, but 2014 was still mighty kind to him. He posted the fourth most saved in the league and allowed only two home runs all season. He needs to improve his BB/9 rate in 2015.

8. Zach Britton - Baltimore Orioles

Division Series - Detroit Tigers v Baltimore Orioles - Game Two
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8. Zach Britton - Baltimore Orioles

Division Series - Detroit Tigers v Baltimore Orioles - Game Two
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Originally taken to be a mid-rotation starter in the 2006 draft, Zach Britton managed to transfer his pitch-to-contact style to ninth inning success in 2014. Most closers are power pitchers, but like Uehara, he pounds the lower half of the strike zone with a two-seam fastball to induce ground outs. Britton was an All-Star caliber closer last year, with the fourth lowest ERA (1.65) of any player with at least 35 saves.

7. Jonathan Papelbon - Philadelphia Phillies

San Francisco Giants v Philadelphia Phillies
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7. Jonathan Papelbon - Philadelphia Phillies

San Francisco Giants v Philadelphia Phillies
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Even if he ends up being traded, Jonathan Papelbon is sure to be a closer wherever he ends up. He has the third most career saves of any active pitcher and a career ERA of 2.37. A fiery competitor, Papelbon has relished his ninth inning duties for the better part of the last decade now.

6. Dellin Betances - New York Yankees

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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6. Dellin Betances - New York Yankees

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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Joe Girardi would throw the league its biggest curveball on Opening Day if Dellini Betances isn't named the closer. Remember Rodney's 3.8 WAR season in 2011? Betances posted a 3.7 WAR last season and was only a setup man. He fanned 135 would-be hitters in 90 IP while riding a 1.40 ERA into the offseason. The New York Yankees signed Andrew Miller, but Betances can't be ignored at 6-foot-8, 260 pounds. He needs to close out ball games in the Bronx.

5. Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers
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5. Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks v Los Angeles Dodgers
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Like the Beast of Brooklyn one spot before him, Kenley Jansen strikes out batters. He finished with the sixth most K's of any reliever in 2014, and set a personal best for saves with 44. Jansen is a borderline Tier 1 closer.

4. Huston Street - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Minnesota Twins
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4. Huston Street - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Minnesota Twins
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The San Diego Padres' bullpen was so good in 2014, a closer with a 1.09 ERA and 24 saves was expendable for them. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim needed him bad, too. Huston Street's strong second half could be viewed as the catalyst for the Angels' late summer run when they overtook the Oakland Athletics for the division lead. Street is fifth all-time on the active players saves list.

3. Aroldis Chapman - Cincinnati Reds

Colorado Rockies v Cincinnati Reds
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3. Aroldis Chapman - Cincinnati Reds

Colorado Rockies v Cincinnati Reds
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Aroldis Chapmans' accident last spring was very unfortunate, but it didn't seem to phase him. The Cuban Missile recorded his third straight 36-plus save campaign, was named an All-Star for the third consecutive season, and led all closers with an unfair K/9 of 17.7.

2. Greg Holland - Kansas City Royals

ALCS - Baltimore Orioles v Kansas City Royals - Game Four
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2. Greg Holland - Kansas City Royals

ALCS - Baltimore Orioles v Kansas City Royals - Game Four
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Greg Holland was the Kansas City Royals' x-factor in the postseason, saving seven games and allowing only one earned run in 11 IP. He's been pretty dandy in the regular season, too. Since 2011, he has a 1.86 ERA and 113 saves. Holland is basically automatic in the ninth.

1. Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves

Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves
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1. Craig Kimbrel - Atlanta Braves

Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves
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If any active relief pitcher can be a considered a franchise player and the cornerstone of an organization, Craig Kimbrel is that man. Only 26 years old and already with 186 saves in the bank, a healthy Kimbrel could flirt with Mariano Rivera's all-time saves record. He has recorded three straight seasons with an ERA below 1.62 and four straight with 40-plus saves. This guy needs a nickname for when he reaches Cooperstown.

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