Projo Fantasy Sports Blog

By Rob Steingall

Monitoring unsettled bullpens each spring is a good way to identify late-round bargains in your fantasy draft. If you’re like me and can’t justify reaching for an “elite” closer in a mixed league, have a look at these shaky closers and potential replacements as scrap-heap gems. Listed below are a few situations in the National League that should be watched closely this spring.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Favorite: Brandon Lyon was announced by Bob Melvin as Arizona's closer in early February. The team hopes he'll replace Jose Valverde's 47 saves from '07. Lyon posted a 2.68 ERA and 1.24 WHIP last season, but faltered badly in his first attempts as a closer in '03 and '05.

Keep an eye on: Tony Pena, who Melvin said would battle Lyon for the job this spring, should be next in line if Lyon reverts back to his old ninth-inning form. Pena posted a 3.27 ERA last season while striking out 63 batters in 85 1/3 innings. Juan Cruz's power arsenal
(87 strikeouts in 61 innings) fits the closer bill, but he starts the year working the seventh inning.

Darkhorse: Chad Qualls, one of the players who came over in the Valverde deal, saved five games for the Astros last season and struck out three times as many as he walked.

Chicago Cubs

Favorite: Lou Pinella indicated early in spring training that Bob Howry was the favorite, despite the thought that Kerry Wood was re-signed this offseason to close. Howry posted a 3.32 ERA last season, striking out 72 in 81.1 innings primarily as a setup man.

Keep an eye on: Carlos Marmol's electric stuff (1.43 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 69.1 IP) should make him a natural fit to close once the above mentioned prove ineffective (Howry) and unreliable (Wood). Marmol was brilliant in the Dominican league playoffs this winter, striking out 19 in 12 innings, helping lead his team to the championship series. He says he wants the job.

Darkhorse: Wood has the arsenal of pitches to be successful as a closer, but his track record indicates he is no lock to pitch an entire year without visiting the DL for an extended period of time.

San Francisco Giants

Favorite: Brian Wilson has always had the stuff to close: mid-90s fastball/power slider combo. But control issues held him back (1.77 WHIP in '06). During the last month of '07, Wilson converted 4 of 5 save opportunities, giving the Giants brass a sense of optimism heading into '08. He finished the year posting a 2.28 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 23.2 innings.

Keep an eye on: Brad Hennessey, who closed for a good portion of '07, could step in if Wilson stumbles out of the gate. Hennessey saved 19 games for the Giants last season. He’ll provide solid veteran leadership and a fallback option in the ninth this year.

Darkhorse: Kelvin Pichardo, who pitched primarily in High A and Double A ball last season, is on the 40-man roster this spring for the Giants. An AL scout who covers the NL West told us this winter that Pichardo has the stuff and attitude to quickly emerge as the Giants closer. Pichardo struck out 87 batters in 67 2/3 innings in the minors last year.

Michael Salfino contributed to this report.

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