Post-Show Blog for 9/19/08 (Closer Rankings)

Closers, closers, closers.  Aside from the elite guys, there’s a significant amount of turnover here.  This is why I’ll always target a Papelbon/Rivera/Nathan/K-Rod and after that, not worry about the position too much.  Make sure you draft at least two of them with solid job security, but your second one doesn’t have to be a big name.  Soria’s a perfect example.  Sure the Royals don’t win a lot of games, but his peripherals last season were outstanding.  Save opportunities tend to vary quite a bit from year to year, so I’m not at all surprised that he’s emerged as a top tier option.  Don’t panic if you can’t draft a third closer.  Plenty emerge during the season.  As long as you constantly monitor all these developments, being competitive in the saves category shouldn’t be all that difficult.  

    2008                                        2009               

Francisco Rodriguez                 Jonathan Papelbon                                                          Joe Nathan                              Mariano Rivera        
Takashi Saito                           Joe Nathan    
J.J. Putz                                   Francisco Rodriguez   
Billy Wagner                            Joakim Soria          
Mariano Rivera                        Brad Lidge
Jonathan Papelbon                 Jose Valverde
Bobby Jenks                            Kerry Wood
Francisco Cordero                   Brian Fuentes
Jose Valverde                          Francisco Cordero