March 7, 2014

Houston Astros – The Astros enter 2014 with one of the most wide open bullpens in all of baseball.  After stumbling to the finish line in 2013 with one of the worst cadre of relievers in recent memory, Houston picked up Chad Qualls, Matt Albers, and Jesse Crain to bolster the back end of their bullpen.  Josh Fields, Chia-Jen Lo, Josh Zeid, and Kevin Chapman are among those likely to fill out the bullpen, and depending how it shakes out, nearly any of those guys could conceivably be the closer by the end of April.  We like Qualls out of the gate, as manager Bo Porter said in February that he values Qualls’s previous experience.  Fields finished the season as closer last year, and has said openly that he wants the job, so he could be Qualls’s early competition.  Crain would likely be challenging for the position as well, were he not a little bit nicked up.  And though Zeid finished last season strong, we’ll give the 2nd in line spot to Albers, based on his tenure.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Chad Qualls, Set-up – Josh Fields (Jesse Crain injured), 2nd in line – Matt Albers.

.
Los Angeles Angels – Despite some rocky stretches last year, Ernesto Frieri enters 2014 as the unquestioned closer for the Angels.  The first man behind him should be Joe Smith, who got a big offseason contract, while Kevin Jepsen and Dane de la Rosa figure to feature prominently in the 7th inning.  Mike Scioscia has always liked Kevin Jepsen, who the Angels hope will return to form after an injury-plagued 2013.  De la Rosa finished last year strong, but we’ll give a slight edge to Jepsen, who manager Mike Scioscia has always liked.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Ernesto Frieri, Set-up – Joe Smith, 2nd in line – Kevin Jepsen.

.
Oakland A’s – The A’s brought Jim Johnson in to be their new stopper, and gave him a contract big enough to ensure his early-season job security.  Not much else to see here, as Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook will likely share 8th inning duties again.  Cook has been recovering from some tendinitis, but is confident he’ll be ready for the season.  If he can’t go, the newly-acquired Luke Gregerson will slide up into his spot.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Jim Johnson, Set-up – Sean Doolittle, 2nd in line – Ryan Cook.  

.
Seattle Mariners – Danny Farquhar spent much of 2013 putting up phenomenal peripherals that the Mariners just didn’t trust for some reason, waiting until August to hand him the closer job.  Well, not much has changed — the Mariners still don’t trust Farquhar, and scooped up the enigmatic Fernando Rodney to be their 9th inning man.  If Rodney puts up 2012 numbers, then obviously Farquhar will never sniff the job.  If Rodney puts up 2013 numbers, then Farquhar could win it pretty quickly.  Tom Wilhelmsen is lurking as well, and starts the season in our 2nd in line position, while Stephen Pryor is still seen as the closer of the future in Seattle, and continues to work his way back from injury.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Fernando Rodney, Set-up – Danny Farquhar, 2nd in line – Tom Wilhelmsen.

.
Texas Rangers – The Rangers have said this is an open competition.  But they’ve also suggested that they want Neftali Feliz to win the job, and yesterday, Feliz gave them reason to think that he will.  So for now, we like him to beat out Joakim Soria for the job.  Tanner Scheppers and Robbie Ross, both among the best middle relievers in baseball last year, both reportedly have their eye on the 5th starter job.  They’re probably both too valuable to demote if they can’t crack the rotation, so one of them could get shuttled back to the bullpen by the end of spring training.  Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Neftali Feliz, Set-up – Joakim Soria, 2nd in line – Tanner Scheppers. 

.