February 24, 2020
Baltimore Orioles — We start with what should be one of the worst bullpens in baseball again in 2020. Baltimore’s relief arms had an AL-worst 5.63 ERA last season (amazingly, only the eventual champion Nationals were worse at 5.66). The Orioles did nothing to improve their relief corps, so we believe Mychal Givens opens the year as the default closer. Givens had 11 saves with a 4.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 12.3 K/9 mark last year, and could become a valuable trade chip if he starts hot, especially given the strikeout rate. A group that includes Richard Bleier, Miguel Castro and former first round pick Hunter Harvey could compete for saves and holds and what should be a muddy situation all season.
Starting 2020 hierarchy: Givens | Bleier | Harvey.
Holds candidates: Bleier, Harvey, Castro, Paul Fry.
Boston Red Sox — Longtime Boston reliever Brandon Workman (10-1, 1.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 13.1 K/9) surprised as an effective closer once he settled into the role during the 2019 season. After a quiet Red Sox offseason, he seemed like a logical bet to open 2020 as the No. 1 option for saves. Interim manager Ron Roenicke confirmed as much to open the spring, saying Workman “deserves that shot.” Other familiar names will round out Roenicke’s late-inning options, including Matt Barnes, Josh Taylor and Heath Hembree.
Starting 2020 hierarchy: Workman | Barnes | Taylor.
Holds candidates: Barnes, Taylor, Hembree, Colten Brewer.
New York Yankees — The Yankees will again field one of the most stable bullpen situations in 2020. In fact, we didn’t adjust the team’s bullpen hierarchy once in all of 2019, a testament to good health, luck, and really, really good pitching. Atop the hierarchy is established closer Aroldis Chapman, who picked up 37 saves last season and is entering his age-32 season. Chapman was extremely effective last year, finishing with a 2.21 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 13.1 K/9. He is set up by bullpen studs Zach Britton and Adam Ottavino, among others.
Starting 2020 hierarchy: Chapman | Britton | Ottavino.
Holds candidates: Britton, Ottavino, Chad Green, Tommy Kahnle.
Tampa Bay Rays — Emilio Pagan appeared to emerge from a crowded field of a quality arms to become Tampa Bay’s best save option in 2019, so of course the Rays elected to keep their closer carousel spinning by trading Pagan to the Padres. What’s left is a group of high-impact relievers who will likely form a committee to start the 2020 campaign. Nick Anderson, acquired late last season, pitched to a 2.11 ERA, 0.656 WHIP, and 17.3 K/9 in 23 games after the trade, and appears to be the head of that committee, along with Diego Castillo and Jose Alvarado.
Starting 2020 hierarchy: *Anderson | Alvarado | Castillo.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Alvarado, Castillo, Chaz Roe, Oliver Drake.
Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays have a young and fun corps of hitters, but the pitching staff is a work in progress. Ken Giles (1.87 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 14.1 K/9, 23 saves) is probably the most stable arm among them and should be the primary option for saves again in 2020. If the Blue Jays fall out of contention as expected, they could deal Giles to a contender, limiting his value if he becomes a setup man. Behind Giles in the Jays’ bullpen are Anthony Bass, who picked up a handful of saves last year with the Mariners, and 32-year-old righty Shun Yamaguchi, joining the big leagues after a lengthy stint in Japan, where he worked as a closer and starter, racking up 112 saves, a 3.33 ERA, and a 1.243 WHIP.
Starting 2020 hierarchy: Giles | Bass | Yamaguchi.
Holds candidates: Bass, Yamaguchi, Sam Gaviglio.
