February 26, 2018
Chicago White Sox – The White Sox have a few different options for closer to start the season. Veteran closer Joakim Soria was signed this offseason and would be happy to accept the job. Juan Minaya finished last year as the closer, including converting all six of his save chances in September. Nate Jones was stellar in 2016, but missed most of last season with injuries. Jones says that he will be ready for opening day, and should challenge for the role if healthy. We think Soria gets the first shot at closing, but one long shot to keep an eye out for is Thyago Vieira, who can touch 102 with his fastball.
Starting 2018 hierarchy: Soria | Minaya | Jones.
Holds candidates: Minaya, Jones, Luis Avilan.
Cleveland Indians – The Indians will bring back closer Cody Allen and ace reliever Andrew Miller in 2018. However, they lost Brian Shaw, who was a workhorse out of the bullpen last year, and Joe Smith, who was a key contributor after he was acquired midseason. The Indians re-signed Dan Otero and he could step into the seventh-inning role. Lefty Tyler Olson should also see time in the later innings, after he posted a 0.00 ERA in 30 games last year for the Tribe.
Starting 2018 hierarchy: Allen | Miller | Otero.
Holds candidates: Miller, Otero, Olson.
Detroit Tigers — Shane Greene finished last year as the closer and it’s his job to lose heading into spring training. Behind Greene, the Tigers have a lot of question marks. Alex Wilson should fill a role in the back end of the bullpen, but he is also fighting for a spot in the rotation this spring. Lefty Daniel Stumpf joins Greene and Wilson as established members of the bullpen, but Joe Jimenez is more exciting from a fantasy perspective. Jimenez has stellar numbers in Triple-A, and although he struggled in the majors last year, he is hoping his off-season work will pay off this year.
Starting 2018 hierarchy: Greene | Wilson | Stumpf.
Holds candidates: Wilson, Stumpf.
Kansas City Royals – The Royals’ bullpen, which was a major strength during their World Series runs, will be a big question mark going into 2018. Kelvin Herrera started 2017 as closer, but finished the year with the highest ERA of his career and was removed from the role late in the season. Still, Herrera is probably the best bet to start 2018 as the closer after the Royals lost Mike Minor and Joakim Soria in the off-season — if Herrera doesn’t get traded. Brandon Maurer will also be an option to close after recording 22 saves last year between the Padres and Royals. Don’t let the save numbers fool you on Maurer, though; he finished last year with an ERA over 6.50 — it was over 8 in his 26 games with the Royals. Wily Peralta will be a guy to keep an eye on as the Royals could try to convert him from a starter into a late-inning guy like they did with Wade Davis and Luke Hochevar.
Starting 2018 hierarchy: Herrera | Maurer | Peralta.
Holds candidates: Maurer, Peralta.
Minnesota Twins — The Twins have revamped their bullpen for 2018. Fernando Rodney is the closer, while Addison Reed will fill an important role at the back end of the bullpen. Trevor Hildenberger pitched well for the Twins last year, and he should split seventh-inning duties with newly acquired lefty Zach Duke.
Starting 2018 hierarchy: Rodney | Reed | Hildenberger.
Holds candidates: Reed, Hildenberg, Zach Duke.
