Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Closer Preseason Preview
Brian Wilson
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He got his ERA down under 3.00 in 2009
and that mixed with an improving Giant's team makes Wilson
one of the better closers coming into 2010. |
8. Brian Wilson - Giants - 2010 Preview:
He is slowly becoming a very good closer. He posted 41 saves in
2008 and 38 in 2009 while he has a career 9.14 K/9-ratio. The Giants
are putting together a solid offense and they have an excellent
starting rotation which includes Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. This
should be a recipe for low-scoring wins for the Giants and 40 plus
saves for Brian Wilson.
2009 Statistics:
38 SV - 5-6 - 2.74 ERA - 83 K's - 72.1 IP
2010 Projection: 41
SV - 3-3 - 2.88 ERA - 82 K's - 71 IP
9. Francisco Cordero - Reds - 2010 Preview:
He has been very consistent when it comes to saves as he has picked
up 30-40 saves in 5 out the last 6 years. In 2009 he converted on
39 of 43 save attempts while posting a stout 2.16 ERA. The only
chink in his armor is his career-low K/9-ratio of 8.20 he posted
in 2009. It is a fair trade off for the low ERA, but maybe he can
put a stronger K/9-ratio with the same low ERA in 2010 and have
a shot to finish in the top-five.
2009 Statistics:
39 SV - 2-6 - 2.16 ERA - 58 K's - 66.2 IP
2010 Projection: 41
SV - 3-4 - 2.71 ERA - 67 K's -68 IP
10. (tie) José Valverde - Tigers - 2010
Preview:
The Tigers are starting to build a potentially good starting rotation
which includes Justin Verlander and young prospects Armando Galarraga,
Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer. Combine that with the Tiger offense
and wins and save opportunities should come. Enter José Valverde
and his 91 saves from 2007 to 2008 and another 25 in a 2009 season
where he missed nearly two months with a calf injury. The free agent
signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Tigers, so he is
being paid to be a stud closer.
2009 Statistics:
25 SV - 4-2 - 2.33 ERA - 56 K's - 54 IP
2010 Projection: 40
SV - 2-3 - 2.88 ERA - 77 K's - 70 IP
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10. (tie) Brian Fuentes - Angel - 2010 Preview:
With Fuentes it is more about the team he plays for than the ability
of Fuentes. Not that he isn't a solid closer, it is just that any
Angel closer is likely going to get more save chances than any other
closer in the league. First, the Angels are winners. Second, manager
Mike Scioscia plays small-ball. This style of management leads to
low-scoring, close games. Remember Francisco Rodriguez posted a
Major League record 62 saves in 2008 and now Fuentes lead the league
with 48 out of 55 saves. His ERA and K/9-ratio leaves a lot to be
desired, but his save totals do not. There should be a little concern
that the Angels signed right-hander Fernando Rodney, who recorded
37 saves for the Tigers in 2009, to back up Fuentes.
2009 Statistics:
48 SV - 1-5 - 3.93 ERA - 46 K's - 55 IP
2010 Projection: 46
SV - 2-4 - 3.02 ERA - 51 K's - 60 IP
Best of the Rest
Andrew Bailey - Athletics
He dominated as a rookie going 6-4, converting 26 of 30 save opportunities
with a ERA of 1.84 and a K/9-ratio of 9.86. He is a gamble because
of his lack of experience but he could become fantasy gold.
Carlos Marmol - Cubs
He finally got his crack at the closing job for the Cubs and while
he didn't dominate, he was solid and will keep the job going into
2010. His 11.31 K/9-ratio gives him the mojo it takes to be a top-ten
closer.
Bobby Jenks - White Sox
A definite off-year for Jenks who missed the end of the season with
an injury and finished with just 29 saves and a 3.71 ERA. Couple
that with a below-closer-average 8.31 K/9-ratio and 2009 wasn't
his best. Expect the White Sox to win a lot more games in 2010 and
a healthy Jenks could get 40 saves.
Huston Street - Rockies
The still somewhat underrated-closer nailed 35 of 37 save opportunities
with a 3.06 ERA. 40 saves could be on the horizon if the Rockies
keep winning in 2010.
David Aardsma - Mariners
He came out of nowhere to get the Mariners closer's job and ended
up being a top fantasy closer. He converted 38 of 42 save opportunities
with a 2.52 ERA and a 10.13 K/9-ratio. He has never pitched like
that before, so the fluke-watch is on, but you can't argue with
what he did in 2009.
Bargain Veteran:
Billy Wagner - Braves
