The Saber's Edge: Closer Roulette at the Deadline

The non-waiver trade deadline has already seen a few closers traded with the Cubs picking up Aroldis Chapman, the Red Sox getting Brad Ziegler and the Marlins getting Fernando Rodney. For many owners, their once-reliable sources of saves are gone and they must scramble with other owners to find new sources. Additionally, some keeper-league teams lost their source of saves for 2016, and also for future seasons.

This week, I am going to do a quick look at each team and possibly find some relievers who could be gotten now in the hope of closing this season or next.

I will rank the teams by the most likely chance there is a closer shake-up a time or two before the beginning of next season.

1. Rockies - Their bullpen is a disaster at the moment with Carlos Estevez closing. Jake McGee (5.40 ERA, 6.6 K/9) wasn't able to keep the job he was traded for to fill. For the long haul, I would put my money on Adam Ottavino closing, but it might be ugly this season and into the start of next season as players find their roles.

2. Twins - Another situation where the team is just full of unproductive relievers. Brandon Kintzler is the team's closer with a nice 2.05 ERA, but a 3.92 FIP. He isn't even striking out six batters per nine innings. No one else has performed well enough to step into the role if/when Kintzler fails. One person I would keep an eye on is recently called up Buddy Boshers who has a K/9 higher than 10 in both Triple-A and the majors.

3. Reds - The Reds bullpen has been a huge dumpster fire all season. They look to have a darn good reliever in Raisel Iglesias, but Tony Cingrani currently has the job. I could see Iglesias eventually get the role and keep it, but I am also worried he might go back to starting next season. Almost everyone has been given the opportunity to close at some point and failed. One arm to keep an eye on if Iglesias goes back to the bullpen is Michael Lorenzen, who is also making the transitions from starter to reliever.

4. Phillies - Nothing Jeanmar Gomez does points to him being a long-term closer except he has been lucky enough to post 2.70 ERA. Now he could keep the role this season and start with it next season. Or he could struggle and Hector Neris or David Hernandez could step in. Or the Phillies could go and sign a journeyman closer like Fernando Rodney. There are so many ways this bullpen could go. I like to bet on the most talented player getting the job eventually, and, for now, that is Neris.

5. Nationals - Something is going to change in Washington's bullpen with Jonathan Papelbon struggling. First, the Nationals could just go with Shawn Kelley as the closer (he's good enough) and pick up a couple more arms for the sixth to eighth inning. Or the Nats could go get a big name closer. Maybe their best solution is to get a couple of relievers from a team like Milwaukee.

6. Athletics - Another dumpster fire situation with no one having a real edge over anyone else. In all seriousness, the job is Sean Doolittle's when he is healthy. The problem is that he can't stay healthy. John Axford and Ryan Madson aren't typical closers and could have problems keeping the job. Maybe Ryan Dull could move into the role at some point.

7. Angels - Huston Street is the closer, but he has been horrible (4.8 K/9 and BB/9, 4.79 ERA). Joe Smith has always been an OK reliever, but not great. The player I would target is as the Angels' next closer, based on talent, is Cam Bedrosian (10.5 K/9, 0.97 ERA). The issue is Angels manager Mike Scioscia rarely makes the right move and loves to go with proven veterans, so Street and Madson could easily be the closer.

8. Giants - The Giants and Angels are in similar situations with bad experienced closers getting saves with a good young arm waiting to take over. For the Giants, they are holding onto the past performances of Santiago Casilla. Casilla and Sergio Romo are both free agents after the season, so a new closer is a real possibility ... unless one re-signs. Hunter Strickland should be the closer going into 2017 if the Giants don't make a free-agent acquisition.

9. Brewers - Good bullpen on a bad team. I bet at least one of the three will get moved with the possibility of all three going. I think some contenders will shy away from Will Smith because of his recent injury. For this reason, I would grab Smith first over Tyler Thornburg for save chances with the Brewers. Also, if Jeremy Jeffress is traded, he likely will move into a setup role for his new team. The last man standing likely will be the 2017 closer.

10. Padres - After the Fernando Rodney trade, Brandon Maurer moved into the closer's role. While Maurer has the strikeouts (10.3 K/9), he has walked too many (3.6 BB/9) and has a 4.69 ERA. Two suitable replacements, Ryan Buchter and Kevin Quackenbush, are waiting in the wings if Maurer should falter. My money is on Butcher eventually getting the job because he seems to be the most talented.

11. Rangers - The Bullpen situation with the Rangers is unique. It has some good arms, but no great ones. Sam Dyson is the closer, but he has survived by keeping a high LOB% (83 percent) to go with his low strikeout rate (6.6 K/9). Matt Bush, Jake Diekman, Keone Kela and Shawn Tolleson are still in the mix. Overall, I like Jake Diekman's potential and could see him take over when Dyson hits a rough patch. I am also not ruling out the Rangers picking up a top closer, like Wade Davis, to put a nice anchor at the end of their games.

12. Diamondbacks - This bullpen has already taken a hit with Brad Ziegler leaving for Boston. Besides Ziegler, Daniel Hudson and Tyler Clippard could be on the move. If a deep league owner wants to take a chance and pick up Jake Barrett, who is averaging more than a strikeout per inning and has a .272 ERA, feel free.

13. Yankees - A non-zero chance exists that the Yankees could move Andrew Miller and thereby make Dellin Betances, who should already be owned, the closer. For 2017, I see the closer after the trade deadline keeping the job.

14. Mariners - Seattle has a surprising stable situation for this season and next since Steve Cishek has been a competent closer after a horrible 2015 season. Cishek is signed for 2017 and barring injury, he should be the Mariners' closer.

15. Tigers - Detroit always seems to be in need of bullpen arms, but this season it is better with Francisco Rodriguez pulling off his normal closer magic and Justin Wilson and Shane Greene providing some nice setup support. A shakeup could occur it Detroit bolsters its bullpen with a trade. Also, Rodriguez has an $8M option the Tigers may not pick up. In deeper leagues, I am looking at picking up Justin Wilson for some possible 2017 Saves.

16. Astros - I am not sure what to think about the Houston situation. The problem with trying to figure out the Astros' closer situation is that they have four good relievers (Michael Feliz, Ken Giles, Luke Gregerson, Will Harris) and not one sticks out as being the undeniable best. It seems like if the closer struggles for just a bit, like Giles and Gregerson have this season, one of the other three can fill in and be productive. Truthfully, I likely will just stay away from this situation.

17. Pirates - The Pirates have just a good enough record so they can't afford to sell and don't really need any bullpen help. They are set for this year, but this offseason, closer Mark Melancon and setup man Neftali Feliz will be free agents. Tony Watson should step in and be a serviceable, but not great, closer. I am not sure who would also be in the mix, so keep an eye on this bullpen to check for roles at season's end.

18. Cardinals - I don't have a read on how this closer situation will go. The more I look, it some like just two possibilities, Trevor Rosenthal or Seund Hwan Oh will be the Cardinals' closer for this year or next. Oh is good enough to close, so he will keep the role until Rosenthal comes back. Once Rosenthal returns from the DL, his talent level will need to be determined and then he may move back into the closer role.

19. Rays - If the Rays have the opportunity to trade Alex Colome to a contender, I think they will. The bullpen might seem to open up, but Brad Boxberger could take the job once off the DL. If an owner wants to speculate on a handful of saves between Boxberger's return and a Colome trade, pick up Xavier Cedeno.

20. Cubs - With the recent addition of Aroldis Chapman, Hector Rondon moves to the eighth-inning setup man. Chapman will be a free agent after this season, so Rondon likely will be the closer again and no one internally seems to be pushing him. The problem is the Cubs believed they needed Chapman, so they might end up bringing in another closer this offseason.

21. Royals - The Cubs already have tried to trade for Wade Davis, and I could see other teams make a move for him. The issue is Davis still has a reasonable option for next season and if not moved in the next few days, he is likely the Royals' 2017 closer. Pick up Kelvin Herrera, who was the closer when Davis was recently on the DL, immediately and see if Davis gets moved. If he doesn't get traded, drop Herrera for someone else.

22. White Sox - The only reason I have the White Sox so high on the list is that I think there is a chance David Robertson gets traded in the next few days. I think the White Sox will need to be blown away, but there is a chance. If Robertson gets moved, it seems like Nate Jones or Zach Duke (lefty) will be the next reliever in line for saves.

23. Blue Jays - Roberto Osuna has been a decent closer for the Blue Jays and I don't see anyone in the organization taking his spot. What I do see is the Blue Jays picking up another better reliever now or in the offseason.

24. Indians - I expect them to make some moves for bullpen help, but it may not be for a closer. But maybe they will bring in a big name. Cody Allen has been the one bright spot in their bullpen and the Indians could use a couple good relievers to set him up.

25. Mets - The Mets are in good shape with Jeurys Familia closing this year and next. The one area I could see the Mets make a move is to add some depth to their bullpen. I don't see them getting one big arm, instead maybe a couple setup men.

26. Marlins - I am not sure what is going to happen with Miami. The bullpen hasn't been lights out, but it has been serviceable. None of their top relievers have a high cost and need to be moved. I think the closer role is A.J. Ramos's for the rest of this season and the start of next season.

27. Braves - Their closer situation sort of secured itself when Arodys Vizcaino went on the DL. He looked to be a nice trade chit for Atlanta, but teams are not interested in broken pitchers. Also, Atlanta is not interested in selling low in him. Atlanta will use some combination of Jim Johnson and Mauricio Cabrera to bridge the gap until Vizcaino returns. I think Atlanta will hold on to him until the 2017 trade deadline.

28. Red Sox - The Red Sox have already made a move to help their bullpen with the addition of Brad Ziegler. He has moved into the closer's role with both Craig Kimbrel and Koji Uehara on the DL. Kimbrel is signed through 2017, so he will be closing next year if healthy.

29. Dodgers - Kenley Jansen is great and with Chapman traded, there is no other reliever the Dodgers could bring in to take his closer role.

30. Baltimore - This bullpen is rock solid and with Baltimore in the playoff hunt, no reliever is going to be traded. Also, if Baltimore does get a player, I expect it to be a starter or position player.