February 27, 2017
Baltimore Orioles – The Orioles once again project to have one of the best bullpens in baseball thanks to dominant closer Zach Britton, who dealt with oblique soreness last week. You may see the O’s practice a little caution with Darren O’Day, who spent time on the DL last season, but he will once again be a top setup guy. Brad Brach, who is already 1-0 against AL East opponents this year, will handle the seventh. Plenty of reliability, at least on paper, for the Baltimore bullpen entering 2017.
Starting 2017 hierarchy: Britton | O’Day | Brach.
Holds candidates: O’Day, Brach.
Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox will once again lean on Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning, but the bridge to him will look a little different than last year. Power is the name of the game for the Sox with Koji Uehara and Brad Ziegler gone. Boston acquired Tyler Thornburg from the Brewers, and he will be the likely setup man despite an ugly spring debut. Converted starter Joe Kelly enters his first full season as a reliever and also can reach 100 on the radar gun. Robbie Ross, Jr., will be the first lefty out of the pen, and don’t forget about Carson Smith, due back sometime this summer following Tommy John surgery.
Starting 2017 hierarchy: Kimbrel | Thornburg | Kelly.
Holds candidates: Thornburg, Kelly, Ross Jr.
New York Yankees — Aroldis Chapman is back with the Yankees after winning a World Series with the Cubs. That means that Dellin Betances will slide back to an eighth-inning role. As for the seventh? Tyler Clippard is the frontrunner to start the season.
Starting 2017 hierarchy: Chapman | Betances | Clippard.
Holds candidates: Betances, Clippard.
Tampa Bay Rays — Alex Colome will resume his duties as closer for the Rays, with a crowded group behind him on the depth chart. 2015 closer Brad Boxberger probably has the inside edge for the eighth inning given his experience, but the seventh inning is a different story. Danny Farquhar, lefty Xavier Cedeno and former Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson will all battle for time in the late innings. If everyone remains healthy, Kevin Cash can mix and match in the late innings as he sees fit.
Starting 2017 hierarchy: Colome | Boxberger | Cedeno.
Holds candidates: Boxberger, Cedeno, Farquhar, Tolleson, Tommy Hunter.
Toronto Blue Jays — Roberto Osuna is back for another season as the Jays’ closer, and he should be even stronger this season. Behind him on the depth chart will be 40-year-old Jason Grilli, who will likely have his innings monitored even though he’s not really that tired. Toronto also acquired Joe Smith, who closed a bit last year with the Angels, as well as reliable lefty JP Howell. Those two should fight for holds depending on matchups ahead of Grilli and Osuna.
Starting 2016 hierarchy: Osuna | Grilli | Smith.
Holds candidates: Grilli, Smith, Howell.
