2014 AL East bullpen preview

March 11, 2014

Baltimore Orioles – Tommy Hunter has the inside track to the closer role to begin the season after the Orioles traded away Jim Johnson during the offseason. Darren O’Day will be right on his heels however, as will former Marlin Ryan Webb. Webb didn’t wow anyone last year, but he does have a good sinker and can also baffle hitters with a slider and change-up. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Tommy Hunter, Set-up – Darren O’Day, 2nd in line – Ryan Webb.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BALTommy HunterDarren O’DayRyan WebbTommy Hunter3/11/14

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Boston Red Sox – The World Series champs appeared destined for another mess in the bullpen last year until Koji Uehara came in and righted the ship en route to a spectacular season. He’ll start 2014 as the Sox closer, but time will tell if he can maintain the numbers he boasted last year. Waiting in the wings will be former Cardinals closer Edward Mujica, whom the Sox signed in December. He’ll likely begin the year as the primary eighth-inning guy, with reliable lefty Craig Breslow and Junichi Tazawa as seventh-inning options. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Koji Uehara, Set-up – Edward Mujica, 2nd in line – Craig Breslow.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
BOSKoji UeharaEdward MujicaCraig BreslowKoji Uehara3/11/14

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New York Yankees – The ninth inning for the Yankees will look decidedly different in 2014 with the retirement of the legendary Mariano Rivera, and David Robertson will have some giant shoes to fill as the team’s new closer. The rest of the bullpen is full of question marks, with Shawn Kelley seemingly favored by manager Joe Girardi as the eight-inning option. Matt Thornton will be the team’s lefty specialist and will see time in the seventh. Dellin Betances has impressed this spring and Preston Claiborne will also be someone to watch. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – David Robertson, Set-up – Shawn Kelley, 2nd in line – Matt Thornton.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYYDavid RobertsonShawn KelleyMatt ThorntonDavid Robertson3/11/14

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Tampa Bay Rays –Almost an Oriole, Grant Balfour returns to the Rays this season as the team’s closer. He was 38-of-41 in save opportunities last season in Oakland and will replace Fernando Rodney, who departed for Seattle. The Rays feel they have the best bullpen in baseball, and they have plenty of options behind Balfour. Juan Carlos Oviedo, Heath Bell, Joel Peralta and Jake McGee all figure to factor in Joe Maddon’s late-inning plans. Bell struggled last season, but if Peralta struggles Bell may see his more high-leverage time. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Grant Balfour, Set-up – Joel Peralta, 2nd in line – Heath Bell.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TBGrant BalfourJoel PeraltaHeath BellGrant Balfour3/11/14

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Toronto Blue Jays – Casey Janssen finds himself entrenched as the Blue Jays’ closer, and he’ll have a familiar cast of characters behind him. Sergio Santos will begin the season in the set-up role, while righty Steve Delabar should be called upon again in the seventh. Expect the Jays to use Brett Cecil again as a left-handed option out of the pen along with Delabar. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer – Casey Janssen, Set-up – Sergio Santos, 2nd in line – Casey Janssen.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
TORCasey JanssenSergio SantosSteve DelabarCasey Janssen3/11/14

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2014 NL East bullpen preview

March 11, 2014

Atlanta Braves – Craig Kimbrel has been a dominant force for the Braves over the last three years, and Atlanta still has plenty of quality arms surrounding him. Jordan Walden, a competent closer in his own right for the Angels in 2011, should be Kimbrel’s right-hand man, with David Carpenter and lefty Luis Avilan providing valuable late-inning help. Jonny Venters isn’t expected to return from his Tommy John rehab until May or June. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer — Craig Kimbrel; Set-up — Jordan Walden; 2nd in line — David Carpenter.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
ATLCraig KimbrelJordan WaldenDavid CarpenterCraig Kimbrel3/11/14

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Miami Marlins – Steve Cishek pitched admirably down the stretch for a lousy team, and he’ll open 2014 in the closer role. A.J. Ramos and Mike Dunn are the only other sure things in the Fish pen — unless you count the incorrigible Carlos Marmol. We don’t. Mike Redmond isn’t yet sold on Carter Capps, but the ex-Mariner could work his way into a high-leverage role on the other side of the waves. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer — Steve Cishek; Set-up — A.J. Ramos; 2nd in line — Mike Dunn.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
MIASteve CishekA.J. RamosMike DunnSteve Cishek3/11/14

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New York Mets – Pencil a healthy Bobby Parnell into the closer’s role, but after that, things get messy in Flushing. Young Vic Black received a vote of confidence at the end of 2013, but in the offseason, the team signed two aging ex-closers: Jose Valverde and Kyle Farnsworth. Neither veteran is a lock to make the roster out of spring training, but with Terry Collins’s affinity for experience in the late innings, we see Valverde and Francisco with an (undeserved) edge over Black and Gonzalez Germen. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer — Bobby Parnell; Set-up — Kyle Farnsworth; 2nd in line — Jose Valverde.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
NYMBobby ParnellKyle FarnsworthJose ValverdeBobby Parnell3/11/14

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Philadelphia Phillies – This pen will go from bottom-five to top-five if Jonathan Papelbon is to be believed. On Thursday, Mike Adams will face hitters for the first time since his shoulder surgery, and Antonio Bastardo is coming off a 50-game PED suspension, so if the Phils are to see drastic improvement, it will have to start with the likes of B.J. Rosenberg, Justin De Fratus, and Jake Diekman. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer — Jonathan Papelbon; Set-up — B.J. Rosenberg (Mike Adams injured); 2nd in line — Justin De Fratus.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
PHIJonathan PapelbonB.J. RosenbergJustin De FratusJonathan Papelbon3/11/14
Mike Adams (DL)

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Washington Nationals – The Nats enjoy the rare luxury of bringing back every member of an unchanged hierarchy. Starting 2014 hierarchy: Closer — Rafael Soriano; Set-up — Tyler Clippard; 2nd in line — Drew Storen.

.Closer.Set-Up.2nd in line.2014 Closer.Updated
WASRafael SorianoTyler ClippardDrew StorenRafael Soriano3/11/14

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