2007 Closer Watch

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AL East

Baltimore Orioles
Chris Ray Closer
Paul Shuey 1st in line
Danys Baez 2nd in line (DL)


Boston Red Sox
Jonathan Papelbon Closer
Hideki Okajima 1st in line
Manny Delcarmen 2nd in line


New York Yankees
Mariano Rivera Closer
Kyle Farnsworth 1st in line
Luis Vizcaino 2nd in line


Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Gary Glover Closer
Brian Stokes 1st in line
Al Reyes 2nd in line (DL)

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Toronto Blue Jays
Jeremy Accardo Closer
Casey Janssen 1st in line
Jason Frasor 2nd in Line



AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox
Bobby Jenks Closer
Matt Thornton 1st in line
Mike MacDougal 2nd in line


Cleveland Indians
Joe Borowski Closer
Rafael Betancourt 1st in line
Tom Mastny 2nd in line


Detroit Tigers
Todd Jones Closer
Chad Durbin 1st in line
Fernando Rodney 2nd in line

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Kansas City Royals
Octavio Dotel Closer
Joakim Soria 1st in Line
Zack Greinke 2nd in line


Minnesota Twins
Joe Nathan Closer
Juan Rincon 1st in line
Pat Neshek 2nd in line


AL West
Los Angeles Angels
Francisco Rodriguez Closer
Scot Shields 1st in line
Justin Speier 2nd in line (DL)


Oakland A's
Alan Embree Closer (fill-in)
Santiago Casilla 1st in line
Huston Street 2nd in Line (DL)

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Seattle Mariners
J.J. Putz Closer
Brandon Morrow 1st in line
Chris Reitsma 2nd in line


Texas Rangers
Eric Gagne Closer
Akinori Otsuka 1st in line
Joaquin Benoit 2nd in line


NL East
Atlanta Braves
Bob Wickman Closer
Rafael Soriano 1st in line
Tyler Yates 2nd in line



Florida Marlins
Kevin Gregg Closer
Armando Benitez 1st in line
Matt Lindstrom 2nd in line

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New York Mets
Billy Wagner Closer
Aaron Heilman 1st in line
Guillermo Mota 2nd in line


Philadelphia Phillies
Antonio Alfonseca Closer (fill-in)
Ryan Madson 1st in line
Geoff Geary 2nd in line
Brett Myers (DL)
Tom Gordon (DL)


Washington Nationals
Chad Cordero Closer
Jon Rauch 1st in line
Saul Rivera 2nd in line


NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Bob Howry Closer (Fill-in)
Carlos Marmol 1st in line
Ryan Dempster 2nd in line (DL)

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Cincinnati Reds
David Weathers Closer
Eddie Guardado 2nd in line (DL)
Marcus McBeth 1st in line


Houston Astros
Dan Wheeler Closer
Chad Qualls 1st in line
Brad Lidge 2nd in line (DL)


Milwaukee Brewers
Francisco Cordero Closer
Derrick Turnbow 1st in line
Matt Wise 2nd in line


Pittsburgh Pirates
Matt Capps Closer
Salomon Torres 1st in line (DL)
Shawn Chacon 2nd in line

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St. Louis Cardinals
Jason Isringhausen Closer
Troy Percival 1st in line
Ryan Franklin 2nd in line


NL WEST
Arizona Diamondbacks
Jose Valverde Closer
Tony Pena 1st in line
Brandon Lyon 2nd in line



Colorado Rockies
Manny Corpas Closer
Jorge Julio 1st in line
Brian Fuentes 2nd in line


Los Angeles Dodgers
Takashi Saito Closer
Jonathan Broxton 1st in line
Chin-Hui Tsao 2nd in line

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San Diego Padres
Trevor Hoffman Closer
Scott Linebrink 1st in line
Heath Bell 2nd in line


San Francisco Giants
Brad Hennessey Closer
Kevin Correia 1st in line
Randy Messenger 2nd in line

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Job Stability

High Moderate Low Short Leash

(*) In AAA

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To give you some insite on some of the closers

Boston With Papelbon looking to be headed to the rotation I'm sure the Red Sox don't want to go with Joel Pineiro as there closer though they don't have a better option right now but I would think they will be looking for someone though trade.

Tampa Bay there have been some rumors that Tampa might sign some relivers that might be a better option then Seth McClung.

Cleveland I would expect that Borowski can not be trusted as closer and Foulke will end up as there closer in the long run.

Texas with Gagne injury history and how Akinori Otsuka did for them last season I would expect they will make a change at some point in the season.

Atlanta I would expect Soriano will close as soon as Wickman gets hurt or retires.

Florida Tankersley is closer by default and if they don't find a better option he may be just the first one of many.

Chicago The Cubs job will be up the air any one of them could end up as there closer and the offen injury Wood could also find himself in the mix there if he can stay heathty but you know that could be a big if though.

Cincinnati It is possable that Bray could give a fight for the closer spot.

Houston manager Phil Garner said Lidge would return to the closer role but it is possable that Wheeler could be again if Lidge continues to struggle.

St Louis There are question of Isringhausen heath so that spot might be up in the air.

Los Angeles Saito did a good job last year but he is getting old and there is a chance that Broxton could take over.

San Francisco they are a team that could have some changes at closer this season.

[Goose]

Soriano certainly has the ability to close for Atlanta. The Mariners were grooming him to be our closer until Putz came along and dominated the AL.

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With the Braves acquire Mike Gonzalez in Trade with Pittsburgh who was 24 for 24 in save chances with the Pirates last year becomes 1st in line behind Wickman.

Rafael Soriano moves down the depth cart to 2nd in line.

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What a relief
Meet 2007's closers and closers in waiting

For the most part in fantasy baseball, when we talk about relief pitchers we're referring to closers. If you're in an 8-12 team league, closers usually comprise most of your relief pitching because they are the only ones who can get you saves on a regular basis. But in some leagues, middle relief guys can add some value, especially in head-to-head leagues where holds is a category or in Rotisserie leagues.

Another way to add value to your pitching staff is to utilize relievers, often middle relievers, to maximize your ratios (ERA and WHIP), while adding solid strikeout numbers, not to mention adding the odd win.

SI

[all4phillysportsfan]

I would disagree that Geary is 2nd in line for the closer's role for the Phillies. If Flash gets hurt in Spring Training and we still have Jon Lieber, I would put Myers in the closers role.

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Thanks for the option and you would know better in that case for it's your team. Just remember that the Closer watch is a work in progress and there will be changes as we go along thoughout the season and I like to say I try my best in butting it together though some of it was a guess on my part and some of it was based on old info that might be out of date in some cases and I will update when teams make changes or I come across more updated info.