Central Division Bullpen Report

As the calendar flips to March, Spring Training injuries are on the rise. Expected closers have yet to be afflicted, but it's only a matter of time. If and when the injury bug inevitably bites, Greg Holland is still panhandling for a job. In the west, Tim Lincecum is now one of five relievers vying for a piece of the Rangers ninth inning role.

It's time to continue our division-by-division bullpen reviews. If you prefer a zoomed out version of this article, click over to the All Bullpen Review. Over the last three weeks, we evaluated the NL East, AL East and NL Central. It's time to peek in at the AL Central.



Cleveland Indians

Cody Allen
Andrew Miller
Nick Goody
Dan Otero
Zach McAllister
Tyler Olson

The AL Central is a division of weak bullpens. The Indians are the obvious exception. The Allen-Miller dynamic duo may be the best late-inning pairing. Both closers are capable of pitching multiple innings when needed while recording strikeouts at will. Despite occasional early-season slumps, Allen has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in five straight seasons. Entering his age 29 campaign, I'm a tad concerned about his workload. He's thrown the third most relief innings since the start of 2013. He's a free agent after 2018 so the Indians will ask him to leave everything on the field. If he fails, Miller is arguably the better reliever anyway.

Allen combines an above average quality fastball with a frequently thrown elite curve ball. Over 50 percent of swings against his breaking ball don't make contact – not even a foul tip. When batters do put it in play, it's feeble. Last year, he allowed a .174 batting average and zero extra base hits with the curve. His fastball is ordinary by comparison. Batters hit .249 with a .480 slugging percentage. Miller is sort of a left-handed version of Allen. He throws his unhittable slider 57 percent of the time. Once again, hitters can't do anything against it. Last season, he allowed an .099 average and .152 slugging percentage with the slider.

After the elite back end, the Indians have a slew of solid volume arms. Of the options, Goody most closely resembles a late-inning reliever. He splits his offerings between a workable fastball and a double-plus slider. His heater is an extreme fly ball pitch which can work in most of the AL Central venues. His slider features near-elite whiff rates. Overall, he recorded 11.85 K/9 and 3.29 BB/9 – both numbers I think he can repeat.

Olson was used as a typical lefty specialist. Notably, he didn't show any platoon splits in a 20 inning sample. He also didn't allow a single run. Expect that number to increase. He may earn easy holds in very deep leagues. Otero is a ground ball specialist the Indians like to use to get out of jams and absorb multiple innings. He rarely earns holds. McAllister, a past favorite of mine, never got around to developing a breaking ball. His fastball alone is good enough for middle relief duties.

Excess from the rotation – either Josh Tomlin, Danny Salazar, or Ryan Merritt – are the odds on favorites to earn the final spot in the bullpen. Salazar may even find his way to high leverage scenarios. Tomlin and Merritt would only fill long relief roles.

Cleveland also has some high quality non-roster invitees. Matt Belisle is a serviceable middle reliever who briefly held his own as the Twins closer late last season. Since the start of 2013, Carlos Torres has paced Allen on the innings pitched front. He's often better than the average reliever. Alexi Ogando and Evan Marshall were once considered future closers. Now they're looking to get their respective careers back on track.

Minnesota Twins

Fernando Rodney
Addison Reed
Trevor Hildenberger
Zach Duke
Taylor Rogers
Ryan Pressly

A trio of free agent signings may have saved the Twins bullpen from oblivion. Rodney is often frustrating for his fantasy owners, mixing long scoreless streaks with Nero-esque conflagrations. He has one of the top changeups in baseball. The pitch performs comparably to Allen's vaunted curve ball. Rodney's four seamer and sinker are firmly above average too. Things go sideways when he loses command on the strike zone.

If the 40-year-old Rodney falters, the Twins can plug Reed right into the equation. The righty broke out upon joining the Mets in 2015. Technically speaking, the adjustments were made while with the Diamondbacks, but they mistakenly gave up on him too soon. He features an above average fastball and slider combo. He could probably stand to throw more sliders. Expect about a strikeout per inning with a low walk rate and sub-3.00 ERA.

Hildenberger earned respect in deep leagues via 9.43 K/9, 1.29 BB/9, and a 3.21 ERA. While I see some analysts refer to him as a potential closer, he first needs to improve the results on his sinker. He allowed a .328 average and .500 slugging percentage with the pitch. It's his primary fastball. At least he induces a high ground ball rate with it. He also frequently threw a double-plus changeup. That's where all the strikeouts originate. Without a better performing fastball, he's no more than a setup reliever.

Duke was the third free agent acquisition. The lefty specialist basically missed the last two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery. At his best, he induced high strikeout and ground ball rates. In a brief return last season, he only showed off the ground ball stuff (5.89 K/9). Bulk holds could be forthcoming. Rogers may also be in the mix as a LOOGY.

The rest of the bullpen will probably be some combination of Pressly and spare starting pitchers. Pressly has a 95 mph fastball and a potentially double-plus curve ball. The fastball was killed last season (.295 average, .543 slugging percentage). He's not quite a finished product. Tyler Duffey, Adalberto Mejia, and Phil Hughes are all candidates for a long relief role.

Chicago White Sox

Joakim Soria
Nate Jones
Juan Minaya
Luis Avilan

The White Sox are taking the ol' “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” approach to bullpen building. They snagged Soria in a three-team trade to serve as a consistent guy to hold leads. He hasn't technically been named the closer, although it would be a shock if Jones or Minaya opened the season with the role. Soria scaled back his breaking ball usage in 2017. He mostly focused on his fastball and changeup. Both are difficult-to-hit offerings.

Jones, if he's ever healthy, has the potential to post a gaudy strikeout rate. He fires 97 mph fastballs. The real show stopper is his primary pitch – a premium slider. The breaking ball allows him to hunt for strikeouts at will. It also may explaining his recurring elbow issues. He missed most of the 2014 and 2015 seasons for Tommy John surgery then proceeded to sit out nearly all of 2017 with elbow discomfort. Jones is a lovely speculation pick. Just don't be surprised if the elbow explodes again.

Minaya finished the season as the White Sox closer. On the plus side, he recorded 10.51 K/9. That came with a luck neutral 4.53 ERA, 4.12 BB/9, and a high fly ball rate. With Guaranteed Rate Park as his home venue, a fly ball approach is not ideal. Minaya has the raw ingredients of a late-inning reliever. The fastball, curve, and slider are all good pitches when he hits his spots. Therein lies the rub – his below average command needs to step forward at least two grades. Avoid for now.

The LOOGY of the day in Chicago is Avilan. As always, lefty specialists make for solid streaming options in holds leagues. Danny Farquhar and Gregory Infante are standard middle relievers.

The NRI list is packed with names you probably remember. Jeanmar Gomez used to be the worst closer in baseball. Bruce Rondon was supposed to be a closer. Hector Santiago is in camp as a starter. A long relief role is possible. Chris Volstad and TJ House could also vie for that multi-inning reliever job.

Kansas City Royals

Kelvin Herrera
Brandon Maurer
Wily Peralta

I'll say this about the Royals bullpen, they're probably going to find some interesting relievers. They have a long track record of uncovering bullpen gold. For the nonce, it's a very thin unit. Herrera is obvious trade bait, but they may want him to improve upon the 4.25 ERA he posted last season. Home runs were a problem early in the season. I noted at the time that his homeritis was merely bad luck. After June 10, he allowed just two home runs in 35 innings (0.51 HR/9). Strangely, he dropped a solid curve ball from his repertoire. His slider was crushed. He's always preferred to use his fastball and changeup, but the combination doesn't induce many strikeouts. Don't be surprised with another sub-9.00 K/9.

Maurer has a little Rodney in him. He'll steamroll the competition for a span then completely melt. Last year, he had one of the best 6.52 ERA seasons in recent memory. I know, that's a weird statement. Despite looking the part of a high leverage reliever, he may be better cast in a middle-innings role. If and when Herrera is traded, Maurer is currently first in line to close games.

The Royals will experiment with Peralta in the bullpen. The Brewers tried this last season. He allowed an 11.94 ERA in 17.1 innings. Peralta's job is far from secure. Fantasy owners should be wary. Jesse Hahn and Sam Gaviglio appear to be the sixth and seventh starters. They may land in the bullpen, especially Hahn who I believe is out of options. Veteran righties Blaine Boyer and Seth Maness are in camp as non-roster invitees. Rule 5 pick Burch Smith has the inside track at a job.

Detroit Tigers

Shane Greene
Alex Wilson
Drew VerHagen
Joe Jimenez

Greene is the apparent closer in Detroit after recording nine saves last season. Run estimators believe his 2.66 ERA to have been extremely lucky, pegging him for closer to a 4.00 ERA going forward. In this Tigers bullpen, that might be enough to hold the job. Greene is a sinker-slider guy. He'll also mix in some cutters. Both fastballs are merely adequate. The slider holds some promise, especially if he uses it more often. He only threw the pitch 28 percent of the time last year. Buffing that to 40 percent could coincide with over 10.00 K/9. Command remains an issue which might prevent him from throwing more sliders.

After the nominal closer is a whole heap of nothing. VerHagen is an unexceptional ground ball specialist. Wilson is flat out unexceptional. He doesn't have a gimmick. Jimenez was supposed to be the heir apparent before falling on his face last year. Now he's a post-hype sleeper. Hard contact haunted Jimenez last season. His fastball (.396 average, .642 slugging percentage) and slider (.345 average, 552 slugging percentage) were hammered.

Travis Wood, Francisco Liriano, and Buck Farmer may find their way into the bullpen as starting pitcher depth. Wood is a non-roster invitee. Southpaws Daniel Stumpf and Blaine Boyer could wind up with a lefty specialist role. Overall, this bullpen isn't going hold many leads – not that the offense or rotation will supply many. Go elsewhere for holds. Greene should be among the cheapest closers available.

Otani Oh My

Probably more than any other player, baseball fans – and fantasy owners – have been anxious to get a look at Shohei Ohtani this spring. The Japanese two-way star debuted as a pitcher on Saturday. On Monday it was his time for his debut as a hitter.

Batting second and serving as the Angels’ designated hitter against the Padres, Ohtani reached base in all three plate appearances. He battled back from an 0-2 count against Jordan Lyles in his first trip to the dish to draw a walk and also reached base on a walk versus Buddy Baumann in his second try. In the fifth inning, Ohtani slapped the first pitch he saw from Michael Mariot up the middle for an RBI single. He was then lifted for a pinch-runner.

"I was able to see a lot of pitches and that was really good,'' Ohtani said. "I just want to keep it going. I'm seeing the ball pretty well right now. Hopefully, I can have better at-bats. I think this goes for almost every player, but my hitting is always ahead of my pitching at this point in the year. It's just like any other year."

Ohtani’s primary value to the Angels is almost surely going to come as a pitcher, as the 23-year-old is viewed as a potential No. 1 starter. The club plans to utilize a six-man rotation this season in part so that Ohtani can continue to pitch primarily on five days’ rest as he did in Japan.

How Ohtani is used and ultimately fares as a hitter is viewed as more of a question mark. He put up big numbers at the plate overseas – including a .332/.403/.540 line over 231 plate appearances in his last season with the Nippon Ham Fighters – and has big raw power. However, the feeling is that the hitting talent is behind the power. The Angels have said Ohtani won’t play the outfield this season and instead will be used only in the DH spot when he’s in the lineup. How often he’s penciled into that lineup is yet to be determined.

Ohtani is changing the fantasy game and could be a game-changing talent on the field, as well. His next start – on the mound – will come on Friday.

Martinez Officially Joins Red Sox

It took a lot longer than expected, but J.D. Martinez is finally a member of the Boston Red Sox.

After an offseason filled with flirtation and rumors connecting the two sides, Martinez and the Red Sox agreed to terms on a five-year, $110 million contract last Monday. However, the pact didn’t become official for another week, as language in the deal had to re-worked to protect the team in the event Martinez aggravates an old foot injury. He was introduced at a press conference Monday.

"It's been a long process, and I'm happy to put everything behind me and be here today and finally go out and just play baseball," said Martinez. "I'm excited for the task at hand. I know this is a historic franchise and for this organization, winning is No. 1 and bringing a championship back to Boston is the ultimate goal. And I'm happy to now be part of it."

The Red Sox made the postseason last year but were a club largely lacking power, having finished at the bottom of the American League in home runs. Martinez provides pop in spades, as he slugged a whopping 45 bombs over just 489 plate appearances in 2017 and posted a ridiculous .690 slugging percentage. He’s surely not going to go deep once every 10.87 plate appearances again, but he’ll find the seats plenty as long as he stays healthy.

Seven hundred of Martinez’s 735 career starts have come in the outfield, but with Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley and Mookie Betts around, he’ll function primarily as the Red Sox’ designated hitter in 2018. Keeping Martinez largely away from the defensive aspect of the game is a good thing not only because he’s a poor defender, but it should also help him stay healthy. That’s big for a guy who has missed significant time with injury in three of the last four seasons.

Martinez – who has opt outs in his new contract after the second, third and fourth years – will either bat third or fourth for the Red Sox, manager Alex Cora said Monday. There will be plenty of opportunities for him to drive in runs and he enters the season firmly as a top-10 fantasy outfielder.

With Martinez occupying the DH spot, Hanley Ramirez will now be used regularly at first base, a position he wasn’t really able to play last season because of shoulder issues. He’s healthy now, though, and Cora mentioned before the Martinez signing was official that he planned to hit Ramirez third. Ramirez has been frustratingly inconsistent during his time in Boston, having put up a big 2016 season sandwiched in between two disappointing seasons in 2015 and 2017. The 34-year-old could bounce back now that he’s healthy, but he’s no safe bet and also has to fend off Mitch Moreland for playing time.


Quick Hits: Felix Hernandez left Monday’s start against the Cubs when he was hit in the right forearm with a line drive, but X-rays came back negative … MLB.com's Jon Morosi has reported that the Angels "would consider" Greg Holland at the right price … The Blue Jays announced their deal with Seung Hwan Oh on Monday and designated Ezequiel Carrera for assignment in a corresponding move … Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Aaron Judge (shoulder) will likely make his spring debut on Wednesday … Scott Kingery went 3-for-3 with a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Monday’s loss to the Yankees … Miguel Andujar had an RBI double and walk-off solo home run Monday versus the Phillies … Noah Syndergaard was perfect for two innings Monday against an Astros, regularly hitting 100 mph on the radar gun … Michael Kopech struck out three batters over two shutout innings Monday and hit triple digits on the radar gun … Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Monday that the MRI on Dominic Smith's left quad came back "OK" … Odubel Herrera has been slowed by a sore right shoulder early on in Phillies camp, but he and the team say it’s minor … Francisco Mejia hit a two-run homer in the Indians' Cactus League loss to the Brewers on Monday … Yuli Gurriel was scratched from Monday's lineup with left wrist discomfort … Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Matt Chapman (hand) will resume hitting in a few days … The Mets signed A.J. Griffin to a minor league contract Monday … Franchy Cordero went 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run in the Padres' Cactus League loss to the Angels on Monday … Whit Merrifield doubled and homered in the Royals' Cactus League win over the Giants on Monday … Paul Goldschmidt went 2-for-2 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the Diamondbacks' win over the Rockies on Monday … Clint Frazier has been diagnosed with a concussion … Yuli Gurriel was scratched from Monday's lineup with left wrist discomfort … Kyle Tucker went 2-for-2 and hit a two-run homer to lead an Astros split-squad past the Mets … White Sox third base prospect Jake Burger suffered a left Achilles injury Monday versus the A’s … Kevin Gausman suffered a cut near his left eye in a collision with Jeimer Candelario Monday. Candelario was diagnosed with a bruised left knee … Luiz Gohara (groin) threw a bullpen session with no issues Monday … Andrew Bailey announced his retirement from baseball Monday …

LoMo finds a home, in Minny

Vacation is over. It’s back to the grind for Logan Morrison.

Morrison’s period of fun-employment ended Sunday when the 30-year-old put his John Hancock on a one-year, $6.5 million deal with Minnesota. The contract includes a vesting option for 2019, which could boost the deal’s overall value to $16.5 million. That’s more than enough cheddar for the average human being, but Lo-Mo has to be feeling shortchanged after belting a career-high 38 round-trippers for the Rays in 2017. That total tied for eighth in the majors. Morrison was especially prolific during the first half, swatting 24 jacks before the All-Star break. His rate of one home run every 13.5 at-bats topped perennial All-Stars Paul Goldschmidt (15.5), Nolan Arenado (16.6) and Manny Machado (19.1), among others.

Before finding a home in Minnesota, Morrison drew varying degrees of interest from the Angels, Mets, Red Sox and Royals. He also turned down a two-year, $20 million offer from the Indians, who later pivoted to former A’s All-Star Yonder Alonso. Morrison never came close to landing the long-term deal he was coveting and it’s easy to see why his market was slow to develop. Morrison’s power plays anywhere but he’s not exactly a five-category talent. The 30-year-old has gained a reputation as a subpar defender, doesn’t hit for average (.245 lifetime) and had only topped 20 homers once in his career prior to last season. He’s spent much of his career as a platoon player (though his lefty/righty splits aren’t as drastic as you’d expect) and struck out in 29.1 percent of his at-bats last season. Coming off a year that saw a major-league record 6,105 homers, the league certainly isn’t at a loss for power hitters. For a one-trick pony like Morrison, an Eric Hosmer-esque mega-deal just wasn’t in the cards. On the bright side, it’s still a noticeable raise from the $2.5 million Morrison brought in last season.

Morrison’s team-friendly deal falls in line with MLB’s recent trend toward reduced spending. Fiscal responsibility has taken the league by storm as teams have begun treating the luxury tax threshold (set at $197 million for 2018) as the equivalent of a hard salary cap. With teams increasingly reluctant to hand out blank checks, stars like J.D. Martinez and Yu Darvish have waited longer than ever to cash in while a number of prevalent free agents including Jake Arrieta, Carlos Gonzalez and Mike Moustakas remain unsigned. Maybe we’re seeing a market correction after a decade-plus of overspending, or perhaps teams are conserving their resources to make a run at next year’s free agent class, which includes the likes of Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson.

Regardless, the Twins have themselves a new DH, and a pretty good one at that. The Twins were a surprise Wild Card team last year and there’s nothing to suggest they won’t make it back in 2018. Adding a power bat in Morrison could be a sign Minnesota is expecting to be without Miguel Sano, who could be facing a suspension following a sexual assault claim made by a former team photographer. Though no one would ever confuse him for a Gold Glover, Morrison can also spell Joe Mauer at first base in a pinch. It’s a small sample size but Morrison has fared well in Minnesota throughout his career, batting an impressive .387 with six homers over 31 lifetime at-bats at Target Field.

Nola Gets the Nod

If you’re tossing and turning at night wondering who the Phillies will select as their Opening Day starter, rest easy. The choice has already been made. Aaron Nola will take the hill in Atlanta for the Phillies’ season opener on March 29.

Giving the ball to Nola was a no-brainer for first-year manager Gabe Kapler. Nola enjoyed a breakout year in 2017, finishing among the league leaders in strikeouts (9.86 K/9) while settling in as the Phillies’ ace. The right-hander was especially dominant at home, cruising to a 2.98 ERA over 93 2/3 innings at Citizen’s Bank Park. Nola, well-known for his elite curveball, was also an innings eater last year, logging seven-plus frames in 12 of his 27 starts. If nothing else, Nola is a substantial upgrade on Jeremy Hellickson, who served as the Phillies’ Opening Day starter in each of the previous two seasons.

The 24-year-old Nola will be Philadelphia’s youngest Opening Day starter since 1964. However, the Phillies may reconsider slotting Nola first if they’re able to reel in former Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, who continues to wait for the right opportunity. There’s risk involved with Arrieta—he’s almost 32 (his birthday is March 6), walk-prone (handed out 55 free passes last year) and represented by stare-down artist Scott Boras. With that said, the push-up enthusiast and author of two no-hitters was brilliant down the stretch for Chicago in 2017, contributing a picturesque 2.09 ERA over his final 14 starts including the postseason. Arrieta has ties to the Phillies’ front office—he crossed paths with GM Matt Klentak and Director of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail during his time in Baltimore—but surely his decision will come down to which team offers him the most money. If the Phillies want to bolster their rotation but are unwilling to meet Arrieta’s lofty salary demands, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn would both be strong fallback options.

AL Quick Hits: The Blue Jays have reached an agreement with ex-Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh, pending a physical. Oh had a deal in place with the Rangers earlier this month but Texas backed out after he was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation. If Oh does join the Blue Jays, he’ll work in a setup role ahead of closer Roberto Osuna … The Red Sox are expected to officially introduce J.D. Martinez in a press conference on Monday. Martinez agreed to a five-year, $110 million pact with Boston last week but the signing was delayed after a foot injury was discovered during his physical. Martinez is expected to DH for the Red Sox with Hanley Ramirez and Mitch Moreland splitting time at first base … Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted Steven Wright is a long shot for Opening Day. The knuckleballer is still recovering from knee surgery. With Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) also on the shelf, the Red Sox could look to Brian Johnson or Hector Velazquez to fill out their starting rotation … Orioles skipper Buck Showalter plans to start Colby Rasmus against right-handers this season. Rasmus joined the Orioles on a minor league deal last week … Pedro Alvarez will return to the Orioles on a minor league contract. The deal includes an invitation to spring training. El Toro scattered 10 hits over 32 major league at-bats last season while spending most of the year at Triple-A Norfolk … Gerrit Cole delivered a pair of scoreless innings in his Astros debut Sunday versus the Cardinals. The Pirates traded the right-hander this offseason as part of the team’s recent rebuilding effort … Daniel Vogelbach was seen in a walking boot after taking a pitch off his right foot in Friday’s Cactus League opener against the Padres, but was able to escape with just a bruise. Acquired from the Cubs in 2016, Vogelbach slugged two homers in 16 appearances for the Mariners last season … Michael Brantley has struggled decelerating while running but Indians manager Terry Francona is still encouraged by the progress he’s made in his recovery from offseason ankle surgery. It’s unclear if Brantley will be ready for Opening Day.

NL Quick Hits: Injuries are already piling up for the Mets and it’s not even March. Dominic Smith is dealing with a strained right quad and will head for an MRI on Monday while Juan Lagares is day-to-day with a strained left hamstring. Jay Bruce is battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot but has classified the injury as a “non-issue.” Smith’s injury won’t help his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster, which were already slim with Adrian Gonzalez blocking his path to playing time at first base … Ben Revere signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati on Sunday and will join the Reds for spring training. A prodigious base-stealer, the 29-year-old swiped 21 bags for the Angels last season … Joe Musgrove returned to the mound Sunday following a brief bout of shoulder discomfort. The right-hander, who was acquired from Houston last month, is still not ready to throw breaking pitches … Phillies third baseman Will Middlebrooks is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left fibula in Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against Baltimore. The 29-year-old hit just .211 with 14 strikeouts in 38 major league at-bats for the Rangers last season … Buster Posey returned to action Sunday after sitting out Saturday’s game with a minor ankle injury. He chipped in with a two-run double in San Francisco’s 12-10 loss to the Cubs … Nationals manager Dave Martinez will reportedly give Trea Turner “free rein” on the base paths this year even though he’ll likely be hitting in front of Bryce Harper. Turner finished third in the majors with 46 steals last season despite missing 64 games.

Dickerson gets to play with Pirates

When Corey Dickerson was designated for assignment by the Rays, there was likely a small bit of relief in getting out of an organization that has all but given up on contending in 2018.

On Thursday, Dickerson was traded to the Pirates.

Out of the frying pan, and into the ... other frying pan.

The Bucs, despite having waived something of a white flag themselves in dealing Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole in recent months, picked up Dickerson from the Rays for reliever Daniel Hudson, minor league infielder Tristan Gray and cash considerations. The team almost immediately installed the 28-year-old as their starting left fielder.

"Corey Dickerson adds a quality power threat to our lineup, as evidenced by his 60-plus extra-base hits and 20-plus home runs each of the last two seasons," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "Corey is a driven player who will also add a quality presence to our clubhouse."

Dickerson batted .282/.325/.490 with 27 homers last year, making the American League All-Star team, but fell apart in the second half, hitting .241/.282/.408.

"We look forward to finding out how we can help him get closer to where he was in the first half," Huntington said. "Overall, a very productive player the last few years in the big leagues."

Dickerson's progress will be interesting to watch, and if he can regain a prior form, hitting in a lineup anchored by Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell is an upgrade from the Rays group he's leaving.

For the Rays, it's the latest in a string of moves deconstructing a team that projection systems thought might have a chance to make some noise this year, despite their place among the AL East power brokers. The team has already traded away Jake Odorizzi and Steven Souza as well, and closer Alex Colome and ace Chris Archer are assumed available for the right price.

The signing of Carlos Gomez and the trade for C.J. Cron fill some holes, but the Souza deal and now shedding Dickerson appears to further extend the opportunity to Mallex Smith to find fantasy value. Smith was a topic of discussion in the recent catcher/outfield rankings edition of the Rotoworld Baseball Podcast.

Honeywell diagnosed with forearm strain

Hope springs eternal, but it was a different kind of hope for Rays general manager Erik Neander Thursday after top pitching prospect Brent Honeywell cut short his throwing of a live batting practice session with what the team is initially calling a right forearm strain.

"A lot of fingers crossed," Neander said as the team now awaits further testing.

Honeywell had faced just two batters before he ended the session, "throwing his glove down and cursing loudly twice," per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "He was quickly checked by assistant athletic trainer Mike Sandoval, then walked off the mound and to the clubhouse."

There's no guarantee, but too often forearm strains are precursors to Tommy John surgery, a procedure that would cost the 22-year-old the entire 2018 season and would likely cut into his 2019 campaign as well. If healthy, Honeywell is expected to contribute to the big league club in some capacity this year.

The season-ending surgery blow would be a huge one for Honeywell's development, after a terrific 2017 season catapulted him even closer the top of prospect lists this spring. After appearing on most major lists ahead of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Honeywell was a consensus top-15 prospect on the heels of a year in which he went 13-9 with a 3.49 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 136 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A.

No timetable was known Thursday regarding further information on the right-hander's outlook. Stay tuned.

Ohtani Debut Set For Saturday

The wait for Shohei Ohtani's Angels debut will soon be over.

The right-hander is expected to make his Cactus League debut as a pitcher on Saturday in a matchup with the Brewers at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona. Ohtani is anticipated to pitch two innings in the outing.

Quick Hits: Matt Chapman left Athletics camp on Thursday to undergo a precautionary MRI on his right hand back in Oakland. It's not believed to be a serious issue, but Chapman began experiencing some mild soreness in the palm of his right hand this week in Arizona and the A's want to be sure that he is safe to continue with his normal spring training regimen. The 24-year-old third baseman is set to meet with orthopedic hand surgeon Dr. Steven Shin, who will review the MRI results and recommend a treatment plan. More should be known in the coming days ... Elvis Andrus (back) is aiming to return to workouts in Rangers camp on Friday. Andrus has been resting for the last couple of days after coming down with back spasms ... Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Thursday that he might not name a closer before the end of spring training. "That’s not a goal at all," Matheny told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It will define itself in time. It’s completely different this year, where we have a number of different guys. Having a number of guys that could finish a game would be great." Luke Gregerson was assumed to be the odds-on favorite for the job, but Tyler Lyons, Dominic Leone and even Bud Norris could be players as well ... Chris Young has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his right calf. Young suffered the injury during a workout earlier this week. He told reporters Wednesday that he only expects to miss 10 days, but calf strains can sometimes take 2-4 weeks to fully recover from, putting his readiness for Opening Day in question ... Jason Kipnis will sit out the Indians' first few Cactus League games due to a sore lower back. It's not a big concern, but one worth monitoring if it persists ... Devon Travis (knee) is a full participant at Blue Jays camp this spring. Travis missed the final 100 games of the 2017 season after requiring surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee, but he has impressed all onlookers so far in Dunedin, Florida. "You watch him move around, and if you didn’t know he’d had an injury, you wouldn’t think anything of it," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told Sportsnet.ca. "Really, he looks that good" ... Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Joe Musgrove (shoulder) should resume throwing in "the coming days." Musgrove skipped a scheduled bullpen session on Sunday after feeling some discomfort in his right shoulder and he hasn't picked up a baseball since, but Tomczyk told reporters on Wednesday that the issue is "minor" and the Pirates are simply taking "precautionary" measures ... Giants manager Bruce Bochy has named Madison Bumgarner his Opening Day starter. Related: the sky is blue.

Tampa squeezes the payroll

Diamondbacks acquired OF Steven Souza from the Rays as part of a three-team trade.

Tampa Bay received second base prospect Nick Solak from the Yankees and left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda plus two players to be named later from the Diamondbacks. Brandon Drury is going to New York. Souza had a career year with the Rays in 2017, posting an .810 OPS with 30 home runs in 148 games, and he should maintain a good amount of fantasy value in Arizona, even with a humidor coming to Chase Field. The 28-year-old outfielder is under control through 2020. He'll make $3.55 million in 2018 -- his first year of arbitration. 

 

 The first question to ask, understandably, is who do the Rays have left?
And, after they Tuesday added 2017 team MVP Steven Souza Jr. to the list of departees that had just included Corey Dickerson and Jake Odorizzi, the next to ask is what do they have left?
Short answer: A lot of questions.
While Rays officials, justifiably, are excited about the tall pile of talented arms they have – and added to by acquiring Diamondbacks prospect Anthony Banda – there are serious gaps in their lineup.
GM Erik Neander said they now would look to replace Souza and add players, taking advantage of the buyer-friendly market, if deals make sense.
But going by what they have now, this is the paragraph where I would normally tell you what the lineup is going to be,


But realistically, it's pretty much a puzzle.
Best guess?
Maybe some like this:

RF Denard Span
3B Matt Duffy
CF Kevin Kiermaier
C Wilson Ramos
DH Brad Miller
1B C.J. Cron
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
2B Daniel Robertson/Joey Wendle
LF Mallex Smith
Or maybe it's more like this:
3B Matt Duffy
CF Kevin Kiermaier
C Wilson Ramos
DH Brad Miller
1B C.J. Cron
RF Denard Span
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
2B Daniel Robertson/Joey Wendle
LF Mallex Smith
Or it could be like this:
LF Mallex Smith
CF Kevin Kiermaier
3B Matt Duffy
DH Brad Miller
C Wilson Ramos
RF Denard Span
1B C.J. Cron
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
2B Daniel Robertson/Joey Wendle

Even before trading Souza, the Rays were talking about adding a right-handed hitting outfielder. Now they pretty much have to. (Jose Bautista, on a small deal that makes the chip on his shoulder bigger?)
Consider that the players who hit 172 of their 228 homers last year – more than 75 percent – are gone. And 472 of their 671 RBIs, about 70 percent.
Plus with Alex Cobb gone as a free agent (though unsigned) and Odorizzi traded among missing pitchers, they have lost 41 of their 80 wins.
The current operating premise is to keep building up for the future while giving the big-league team at the least "a fighting chance."

That may be a battle.

The Free Agents are slowing signing on the dotted line

It only took until mid-February and for spring camps to open all across Florida and Arizona, but finally there has been some movement in the free agent market.

None of those moves over the weekend were bigger than the splash that the Padres made, signing Eric Hosmer to an eight-year, $144 million contract. That deal smashes the record for the largest free agent contract that the Padres have ever given out, previously owned by Wil Myers at $83 million. The contract also includes an opt-out clause for Hosmer after the 2022 season.

The Padres had long been considered one of the favorites to land Hosmer and reportedly had a seven-year deal on the table very early on in the offseason. Eventually, it sounds like it came down to them and the Royals, with the fact that the Padres were willing to add on an eighth year as the final factor that pushed them over the top.

Speaking of Myers, with Hosmer in tow, he’ll be forced to shift back to the outfield while Hosmer becomes the club’s everyday first baseman. It’s worth noting that the only two seasons that Myers has made it through without injury issues have been the two where he was the regular first baseman, so there is some injury risk with his shift back to the outfield.

The move also means there will now be a competition for the final starting spot in the outfield between Hunter Renfroe and Jose Pirela, both of whom had been penciled in for starting roles before the Hosmer signing. Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported late Sunday that the Padres have received increased trade interest in Renfroe following the Hosmer signing, and there’s a chance that he could be dealt to bolster other areas of the team.

Hosmer hit the free agent market at exactly the right time for him, coming off of the finest season of his professional career. He played in all 162 games for the Royals in 2017, slashing .318/.385/.498 with 25 homers, 94 RBI and six stolen bases. While typically a move to Petco Park would be a massive downgrade for any offensive player, coming from Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City actually makes it a pretty lateral move for Hosmer.

While the Padres don’t appear ready to compete for a postseason berth yet, they have plenty of young talent on the roster and could take a major step soon. Since Hosmer is only 28-years-old, they believe that he’ll still be in his prime when the Padres’ window to compete for a championship opens up.

Rays on the Move

The Padres weren’t the only team making headlines over the weekend, as the Rays made a slew of moves on Saturday, some of which left fans scratching their collective heads.

First, they acquired C.J. Cron from the Angels in exchange for a player to be named later. This makes sense, as the 28-year-old is an offensive upgrade to the Rays offense and he’s only set to make $2.3 million in 2018. His signing probably means that the Rays are now out on possibly re-signing Logan Morrison who clubbed 38 home runs for the team in 2017 and is still seeking employment.

The curious part of the move, was afterwards they designated Corey Dickerson for assignment. The 28-year-old was a first-time All-Star for the Rays in 2017 and slashed .282/.325/.490 with 27 homers and 62 RBI in 629 plate appearances. Granted, his production fell off a cliff in the second half, but to just cut ties with him altogether, especially for a team with a sketchy offense, seemed like a questionable move.

Not long after that move came down the pipe, it was announced that the Rays had dealt starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi to the Twins for minor league shortstop Jermaine Palacios. There were also rumblings that Dickerson may have been going to the Twins in that potential deal, which would have made a considerable amount of sense and could have justified why he was DFA’d early in the day.

Once things became official though, there was no Dickerson to be had, it was a straight swap of Odorizzi for Palacios.

The Twins come out as big-time winners in this deal, as Odorizzi helps to add much-needed stability atop a rotation that will be without ace Ervin Santana at the start of the season. They were able to add an impact starter without having to overpay through free agency.

As far as Dickerson goes, it’s hard to imagine that he’ll be out of work for long. It’s just crazy to me, that on the same day that Eric Hosmer inked his $144 million contract with the Padres, coming off the finest season of his career at age-27, that Dickerson, who also was coming off of his best season at age-27 (and posted a higher OPS+ than Hosmer even), gets designated for assignment.

I’m not saying that they’re necessarily comparable players, or that Dickerson deserves the type of deal that Hosmer landed, because I’m not. Simply noting that they had similar offensive seasons, yet one broke the bank with a franchise-record contract while the other was sent packing. Quite the stark difference.

Quick Hits: The Giants signed Tony Watson to a two-year, $7 million contract with a player option for a third season. Incentives could run the total as high as $14 million over two years and $21 million over three seasons… The Red Sox officially re-signed Eduardo Nunez to a one-year, $4 million contract. The deal also includes a $4 million player option for 2019… The Twins signed Anibal Sanchez to a one-year, $2.5 million deal… The Mets officially announced Jason Vargas’ two-year, $16 million contract… The Angels signed Chris Carter to a minor league contract with a spring training invite… The Indians brought back Rajai Davis on a minor league pact.. Joe Mauer indicated that he’d like to continue his career with the Twins after his contract runs out following the 2018 season… The Mets are one of the clubs interested in free agent right-hander Kevin Siegrist… The Tigers watched Chris Tillman throw on Saturday and are one of the teams in the running to sign the veteran hurler with a decision expected soon… Felix Hernandez felt great after his first bullpen session of the spring… Alex Wood was able to throw a bullpen session on Saturday and his sprained ankle isn’t expected to cause problems going forward… The Marlins outrighted Severino Gonzalez to Triple-A… The Braves are closing in on a minor league deal with Peter Moylan… Erasmo Ramirez will be shut down for the next two weeks due to a minor right lat strain… The Rockies have remained in contact with free agent outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

The trickle down effect

The trickle-down effect has begun. Or so we hope.

Just about a week after the Cubs brought in Yu Darvish, we saw two free-agent hurlers put their name to paper on Thursday with Andrew Cashner signing with the Orioles and Jaime Garcia joining the Blue Jays, respectively.

Cashner gets the multi-year deal, signing with Baltimore for a reported two-year, $17 million contract that contains a vesting option if he throws 340 innings in 2018-19. If he’s able to reach 360 innings, that vesting option turns into a player option. Garcia, meanwhile, gets $8 million in 2018 with a $10 million team option that includes a $2 million buyout, with escalators that could pay him another $2 million up to reaching 180 innings pitched.

While both pitchers make their clubs better, it’s tough to get too excited about their future fantasy prospects. Cashner doesn’t miss bats at all, and relies on quality defenses for success. He also isn’t immune to putting hitters on via walk, and his FIP of 4.63 was substantially over his ERA of 3.40, which suggests there was quite a bit of luck in his 2017 campaign. He could be a pitcher you target in specific DFS matchups, but in terms of redraft leagues and dynasty options, you can do better.

Garcia offers a little more upside because he will miss more bats -- 127 strikeouts for Garcia, 64 for Cashner -- but that’s faint praise. He’s also a pitcher who relies on command and defenders making plays behind him, and the command isn’t good enough to call it a strength for the 31-year-old southpaw. He showed flashes of brilliance in 2017, but consistency wasn’t his friend, and it hasn’t been since his impressive rookie campaign back in 2010.

Neither Cashner or Garcia will go high in fantasy drafts -- nor should they -- but they should help eat innings for their clubs, and perhaps more importantly, they could help clear the muck out of the market for options like Lance Lynn, Alex Cobb and Jake Arrieta.

Nunez back with the Sox

In addition to seeing Cashner and Garcia leave the market, we saw one of the better bats pick his new club, too.

The Red Sox are reportedly signing Eduardo Nunez to a one-year deal, pending Nunez passing a physical. There is also reportedly a club option for 2019, but the financial terms haven’t been released as of yet.

Somewhat quietly, Nunez has been one of the better utility players in baseball the last few years, and while utility sometimes has a negative connotation, in this case it’s more speaking to his flexibility. The 30-year-old infielder/outfielder has played six positions over the last three years, and he’s slashed .296/.332/.443 with 32 homers and 72 stolen bases during that time frame.

This is a move that certainly helps the Red Sox in 2018. How much it helps Nunez in terms of his fantasy status is a different -- and more complicated -- question. Reports are that he’ll be able to play second base until Dustin Pedroia returns from injury, which is expected to be around late May or early June. After that, he likely moves to a role that allows him to play all over the field.

Just how much he plays is the question. The Red Sox have Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia in the infield spots that he’s a realistic option, along with Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi in the corner outfield spots. The Red Sox could give Pedroia more days off and some games at designated hitter to keep him healthy and get Nunez into the lineup, but that’s not a lock. You would expect Alex Cora to find a way to get his speed and ability to hit for average in the lineup as much as often, but it’s not a guarantee, and that adds more risk to Nunez’s profile than you might have anticipated.

Quick hits: The Brewers signed LHP Wade Miley to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Reds prospect Nick Senzel has worked out at both second base and shortstop at the Reds' spring training complex … Twins RHP Phil Hughes (shoulder) said he has no restrictions leading into spring training this year … Pirates GM Neal Huntington told reporters that Jordan Luplow, Sean Rodriguez, and Adam Frazier are all battling for the open starting outfield spot … Angels owner Arte Moreno said he's open to the possibility of a contract extension for Mike Trout, though there haven't been any discussions to date … Free agent Tim Lincecum held his throwing session for scouts Thursday, and sources told FanRag's Jon Heyman that he was throwing 90-93 mph … Brewers manager Craig Counsell indicated Thursday that Stephen Vogt isn't necessarily assured a place on the team … Brewers signed INF/OF Nick Franklin to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

I am getting fed up

 

Alex Cobb

It’s been very well-documented how extremely slow this offseason has been in terms of player movement, and if you are a member of any social media website, you’ve almost assuredly seen fans being pissed off with the lack of roster moves by the majority of teams. It’s certainly justifiable, as we’re now under a week from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training, and the overwhelming majority of quality free agents are still on the open market.

I mean WTF is going on !!

So if you’re frustrated, imagine how the players are feeling.

One of those free agents is slugger J.D. Martinez, and according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Martinez has become “fed up” with Boston’s lack of flexibility with their negotiation process. Martinez’s agent -- super agent Scott Boras -- has denied that report, claiming that teams are “acting in good faith” and that any reports to the contrary are inaccurate.

Whether accurate or not, perception is often reality, and the perception is that Boston won’t budge from it’s  reported five-year, $125 million dollar offer, although Boras has declared that offer to be inaccurate as well. While that is understandable frustrated to a player that is widely viewed as the best offensive player in the market, it’s also understandable why the Red Sox would be hesitant to negotiate against itself.

But that could be changing, as recent reports suggest that the Arizona Diamondbacks have stepped up their efforts to acquire the 30-year-old Martinez; presenting him with both a short-term and long-term deal. Jon Heyman of FanRag sports reports that the offers between the two clubs are very similar, so it’s up to Martinez -- assuming he considers either offer worthy of his signature -- to determine which club would be the better fit.

From a fantasy angle, either club would offer significant upside for a hitter that hit 45 homers and slugged .690. If he picks the Red Sox, he not only gets to barrage the Green Monster in Fenway Park with baseballs, he’ll also have a chance to knock in Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia at the top of the Boston lineup. The Diamondbacks don’t have a Betts near the top, but they do have a competent offense on paper, and they have one of the most power-friendly parks; a park that Martinez crushed in 2017 in his 62 games with Arizona.

If this truly does come down to Arizona and Boston, it’s a huge positive for either club, and in turn, it certainly won’t hurt Martinez’s fantasy upside for the 2018 campaign and beyond.

Darvish in the Twin Cities?

Like Martinez, Darvish is another elite player that has yet to find a home, but recent reports from multiple outlets suggest that Darvish now has multiple offers, and according to Darren Wolson of ESPN 1500 in Minneapolis, one of those offers comes from the Twins.

Wolfson reports that the offer is either for four-or-five years, with the Twins reluctant to offer any pitcher -- including Darvish -- a sixth year. There are also no word as to the financial aspect in the deal, but with Ken Rosenthal reporting that Darvish has “several” offers for $100 million, so it’s fair to assume that this is one of them.

A pitcher with Darvish’s ability would make any club better, but the boost he could give the Twins is tough to overstate. This was a playoff team last year; one that features several young players that should continue taking steps forward like Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios and Eddie Rosario, just to name a few. Adding a legitimate ace like the 31-year-old right-hander not only could give them a chance to compete in the AL Central, it could make them among the best teams in the American League. The Twins also recently found out they’ll be without Ervin Santana -- their most consistent starter last season -- for up to three months, so there’s an obvious need to fill at the top of the rotation.

Darvish will be one of the best fantasy starters where he pitches because of his ability to miss bats, but going to a team like Minnesota should allow him to pick up wins on top of the strikeouts and what should be a solid ERA in the process.

 

Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports that Yasiel Puig is no longer represented by the Wasserman Group. Chris Cotillo of SB Nation hears it was the Wasserman Group's choice to terminate the relationship, and that the decision was "behavior-related." … Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Cubs have "barely engaged" in contract talks with free agent starting pitcher Jake Arrieta … ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that the Yankees have acquired Russell Wilson from the Rangers for future considerations …The  Royals signed RHP Blaine Boyer to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training … Zach Britton (Achilles) said Thursday that he thinks a return in May is realistic if his rehab goes exactly as planned … Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong said Thursday that he expects to steal "at least" 20 bases this season.

Assesing the NL East in bullpen

Washington Nationals

Sean Doolittle
Ryan Madson
Brandon Kintzler
Koda Glover
Enny Romero
Shawn Kelley

The Nationals rebuilt their crumbling bullpen with a couple mid-season trades. Doolittle and Madson came as a packaged deal. The lefty-righty combo both performed superbly upon landing in the nation's capital. Doolittle is a unique reliever. He leans on the high heat over 87 percent of the time. The pitch induces whiffs and plenty of easy fly outs. He'll mix in a rare slider, changeup, or splitter to catch hitters off guard. Even with a predictable repertoire, he's able to frequently throw strikes (1.75 BB/9) without any ill effects. He has a history of shoulder injuries so you may want to roster a handcuff.

The handcuff to own is Madson. The former closer out-pitched Doolittle last season despite losing the closer job over the previous winter. Now entering his age 37 season, he combines a high whiff rate and few walks with a 55 percent ground ball rate. Madson has four plus offerings, making him a rare species of reliever. Don't be surprised if the righty squeezes ahead of Doolittle on the depth chart.

Kintzler is an effective ground ball specialist. Although he spent parts of two seasons closing for the Twins, he's best suited to a middle relief role. Once he joined the Nationals, he had some issues with his sinker movement. It's probably why he re-signed so cheaply with Washington this winter. Assuming he gets back on track, he'll be a valuable weapon. Even the lesser version of Kintzler was useful. His low strikeout rate hurts his value in most leagues.

The future of the Nationals bullpen is Glover. His stuff is so visibility delicious, and yet he posted a 5.12 ERA with only 7.91 K/9. I suspect he's working a little to predictably within the strike zone. One thing to watch is his strand rate – in a tiny sample, he's really struggled with runners on base. It could be a fluke or an early warning sign. Much of the damage against Glover occurred against his changeup and curve ball. Both are show-me offerings. His fastball is effective despite a low whiff rate while his slider is flat out unfair. He has some adjustments to make before returning to the late innings.

Romero is a weird left-handed reliever. He stymies right-handed hitters while fellow southpaws tee off. There's no obvious explanation for his reverse splits. Batters crushed his cutter last season. He should strongly consider retiring the pitch. Kelley, a slider specialist, had a disaster of a season. His fastball was destroyed to the tune of a .323 average and .785 slugging percentage. Still, he has a long track record of success. A healthy return could lead to holds with useful rate stats.

Southpaws Matt Grace and Sammy Solis figure to vie for a role – especially since Doolittle is the closer and Romero has those reverse platoon splits. Hard thrower Trevor Gott will eventually receive another chance to deliver on his upside. Don't hold your breath.

New York Mets

Jeurys Familia
A.J. Ramos
Anthony Swarzak
Paul Sewald
Jerry Blevins
Hansel Robles

For the moment, Familia has a loose grasp on the closer role. He missed big chunks of the 2017 season for a domestic violence suspension and a blood clot. When he pitched, he combined his typical velocity, strikeout rate, and bulky ground ball rate. Unfortunately, he also had some issues with walks (5.47 BB/9). The result was a 4.38 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. Not fantasy friendly. Since the rest of his stuff remains present, better command would presage a rebound to his sterling 2015 to 2016 production. He has a chance to massively outperform his ADP.

The Mets have two backup closers just in case Familia falters. Long time readers of the column probably know exactly what I have to say about Ramos. He features a below average quality fastball with a double-plus changeup and plus slider. He'll typically use those offerings as often as his fastball. He tinkered with some alternatives last year, but they performed horrifically. Even without a useful fastball, his offspeed stuff is good enough close. Over his career, he has 99 saves and a 2.88 ERA.

Swarzak was a surprise breakout for the White Sox and Brewers in his age 31 season. He shifted to throwing more sliders than fastballs in 2016. Apparently, it took him a year to adapt to his new pitch usage. Neither of Swarzak's pitches are particularly impressive. Instead, he relies on above average command to keep hitters swinging at offerings outside of the strike zone. He's valuable in holds leagues and could potentially snipe some saves.

Blevins is also useful for holds leagues. The lefty specialist typically produces a high strikeout rate, a sub-3.00 ERA, and appears in over 70 games. He'll only supply about 45 innings because he doesn't face many right-handed hitters. Sewald and Robles will probably open the season in the 'pen. Both are middle relievers. Robles has some small potential for a breakout. I think he needs to scrap the slider for a curve ball.

Rafael Montero is the odds-on favorite to fill a long reliever role. It's also possible the club will need to stash as many as two of Seth Lugo, Zack Wheeler, Robert Gsellman, and Steven Matz in the bullpen.

Philadelphia Phillies

Hector Neris
Pat Neshek
Tommy Hunter
Edubray Ramos
Adam Morgan
Luis Garcia

Over the second half of 2017, the Phillies had one of the top performing bullpens in baseball. Neris was fine during that string of success, but it was the other guys who really shined. Neris will enter 2018 as the presumed closer, although his grip on the job could be more tenuous than we realize. He occasionally loses command of his premium splitter which puts a lot of pressure on an unimpressive fastball. He's good enough to close, but the Phillies are reaching a point in their rebuild where “good enough” won't cut it. Even if he loses the ninth inning job, he'll still pitch the late innings.

Philadelphia turned to free agency to re-sign Pat Neshek and add Tommy Hunter. The pair should provide consistency to an otherwise talented but volatile unit. Neshek is widely considered to be one of the best command relievers in the game. Coupled with his funky delivery, he's a tough opponent. His managers usually try to hide him from left-handed hitters. He throws more sliders than fastballs. As for Hunter, he began using a cutter more aggressively last season, leading to a spike in his strikeout rate. He ought to consider abandoning his sinker in favor of more cutters.

Ramos scuffled early in 2017. After a demotion and subsequent return on August 3, he posted a 2.70 ERA (1.55 FIP) on the strength of 12.49 K/9 and 2.03 BB/9. Command was an issue before the demotion (6.39 BB/9). Assuming he can maintain the improved walk rate, he could challenge Neris for the closer role. He's another guy who throws more sliders than fastball. Opponents couldn't do anything with the pitch. It should be noted that his fastball is probably below average


Morgan, a lefty with a history of big platoon splits, had a similar experience for Ramos. Starting August 2, he turned a corner. He pitched to a 1.69 ERA (1.85 FIP) with 11.14 K/9 and 2.03 BB/9 over his final 26.2 innings. That even includes a three-run mess in his final outing. Not only did Morgan prefer his slider to the heater, he also used his changeup more often. The Phillies used Morgan as a multi-inning guy last year, but he could be converted into late-inning LOOGY duty.

Garcia is a right-handed hard throwing ground ball specialist who can absorb the middle innings in bulk. He combines his above average sinker with a plus slider and a newly minted above average changeup which he uses almost exclusively against left-handed hitters. This is a profile that can find it's way into the late innings. Given the quality stuff, it's a tad surprising he only managed 7.57 K/9 and 3.28 BB/9. Improved command could spark a breakout.

The Phillies have impressive depth. Francisco Rodriguez will make a comeback attempt as a non-roster invitee. Victor Arano posted a sub-2.00 FIP in a brief cup of tea. He's yet another guy who throws more sliders than fastballs. Southpaws Hoby Milner and Zac Curtis could see some work if anything happens to Morgan. Neither is fantasy relevant. Seranthony Dominguez is expected to take a big step forward now that he's been converted to relief. Other current starting pitchers could surge upon transitioning to the 'pen.

Miami Marlins

Brad Ziegler
Kyle Barraclough
Drew Steckenrider
Junichi Tazawa
Jarlin Garcia
Brian Ellington

For now, Ziegler remains the Marlins closer. The 38-year-old relies on a funky delivery and a relentless assault of the infield grass. Of pitchers with at least 600 innings, Ziegler's 66.1 percent ground ball rate in 643.2 career innings is the second highest recorded rate. Only Dennis Springer burned more worms. All those grounders ensures that Ziegler allows few home runs. For that reason, he's a steady if unspectacular reliever. A lack of strikeouts makes him a fringy fantasy asset – especially if/when he's traded into a setup role.

Savvy fantasy owners are already looking beyond Ziegler. It's only a matter of time before a contender discovers a need for a high floor veteran. Barraclough is probably the odds on favorite to jump into the ninth inning job. Last season, he lost one mph on his fastball along with a decline in his strikeout, swinging strike, and ground ball rates. His 3.00 ERA might have been very lucky (4.18 xFIP). Walks remain a huge issue (5.18 BB/9). He either needs to recover his 2016 stuff or cut down on the free passes. His slider is an elite offering. Unlike others fastball-slider specialists around the league, he can struggle to locate it for strikes – hence the high walk rate.

Steckenrider had a successful 34.2 inning debut as a 26-year-old. His fastball was a true weapon, inducing a slider-like whiff rate while allowing very little quality contact. Unfortunately, neither his slider nor changeup showed as even average offerings. Between the small sample of success and the lack of secondary pitches, I'm hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. That said, it wouldn't hurt to take a late round flier in deeper leagues. Since the Marlins don't figure to win many games, it may not make sense to chase holds in this bullpen. You just want to find the next closer.

Tazawa declined in a big way last season to the point where he could be gone from the roster by May. Brian Ellington has interesting 98 mph heat to go with terrible command. His is a name to file away for later. Nick Wittgren is an acceptable middle reliever. Jarlin Garcia and Justin Nicolino may provide some left-handed relief. Neither is impressive. If they opt to shift Sandy Alcantara to the bullpen – a long shot to happen in 2018 – he could quickly climb to a high leverage role.

Atlanta Braves

Arodys Vizcaino
Jose Ramirez
Sam Freeman
A.J. Minter
Chase Whitley

Beyond a whole lot of hard fastballs, there isn't much to see in the Braves bullpen. Vizcaino is the front-line guy. He features arguably the top performing curve ball in baseball. Unfortunately, despite sitting at 98 mph, his fastball is average at best. It can get hit around when his command isn't crisp – a not uncommon issue for Viz. The 27-year-old is also frequently injured. He's pitched just 152 career innings despite debuting in 2011. It's very likely the Braves will need late-innings reinforcements.

Ramirez is another hard thrower. He averaged 97 mph with his fastball. His slider and changeup both flashed plus, although inconsistency and iffy command have prevented him from becoming a true high leverage reliever. The ingredients are there for success if he ever improves the command.

Similarly, Freeman is a southpaw who sits 95 mph with a high ground ball rate. He had an issue with walks against right-handed batters (5.73 BB/9) but otherwise didn't show any platoon splits. Freeman features four quality offerings including a splitter he uses almost exclusively against opposite-handed hitters. His slider is largely reserved for lefty batters. There's some small breakout potential here, but his desire to end at bats quickly eats into the fantasy upside.

Guess what? Minter throws hard. He runs his fastball around 96 mph. He may also be the most likely to step forward as a future closer. Entering his age 24 season after racing through the minor leagues in just two years, Minter evenly mixes four seamers and sliders. Both pitches performed well in a 15 inning sample. Command was a problem at times in the minors so don't expect instant gratification.

The Braves will probably want Whitley around to serve as a long reliever. Don't mind him. A whole slew of other names could get involved in the bullpen. Mauricio Cabrera was briefly a closer in 2016 before it was discovered that he couldn't hit a target. He averaged 100 mph in the big leagues. Daniel Winkler shows potential during the rare occasions he's on the field. Jason Hursh has a healthy ground ball rate with the 95 mph heat the Braves have stockpiled in abundance. Rex Brothers and Jesse Biddle could be 'pen bound to serve as lefty specialists.