Fantasy Baseball 2012: 7 Closer Candidates to Watch This Spring

Every spring, fantasy owners agonize over which closers to draft to their teams and when. Closers are notoriously inconsistent and have more turnover during the season than perhaps any other position.

If your strategy this year is to stay away from the top (and probably overvalued) closers in the game and take others towards the end of your draft, here are seven closing candidates to keep an eye on in the later rounds.

Kevin Gregg/Matt Lindstrom, Baltimore Orioles

After taking the job from Kevin Gregg last season, Jim Johnson enters Spring Training as the favorite to be the Orioles' closer. However, Johnson is anything but established, and the team has two experienced closers ready to take over ninth-inning duties should Johnson falter.

Kevin Gregg has 144 career saves, split among time with the O’s, Blue Jays, Cubs, and Marlins. He struggled in 2011, which opened the door for Johnson, but could be a candidate to return as closer if Johnson returns the favor.

Matt Lindstrom is perhaps a stronger candidate to replace Johnson. Acquired from the Rockies as part of a deal for Jeremy Guthrie on February 6, Lindstrom played set up in 2011, but had his best year in the majors pitching in Coors Field.

The three pitchers’ performances in the Grapefruit League will tell us more about who will close on Opening Day, but it’s safe to say that even the winner coming out of Spring Training will be vulnerable if he struggles.

Keep an eye on this competition—I can see one of these guys being a steal late in drafts or off the waiver wire.

Jon Rauch, New York Mets

If there was one area of activity by the Mets during the offseason, it was in the bullpen. The Amazins added Frank Francisco, Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez.

Francisco figures to be the closer on Opening Day, but he has also spent parts of the last three seasons on the disabled list. If Francisco does get sidelined this season, Jon Rauch should take over.

Rauch has closing experience from his time with the Blue Jays, Nationals and Twins.

And remember: Even though the walls have been moved in at Citi Field, it should still be pitcher-friendly, a good omen for any pitcher who closes games for the Mets.

Joel Peralta, Tampa Bay Rays

There’s no doubt about it: The Rays are a good team, which means that there should be a lot of save opportunities for this team’s closer.

Kyle Farnsworth will open the season as the team’s finisher, but there’s a picture of Farnsworth next to the word “inconsistent” in the dictionary.

This writer would not be surprised if Farnsworth struggles at some point and opens the door for Joel Peralta to step in. If that happens, scoop up Peralta immediately; in 67.2 innings last year, he posted a 2.93 ERA with a .916 WHIP and 61 strikeouts.

And let’s not forget that Farnsworth has a history of injuries.

Javy Guerra/Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

Javy Guerra will probably get the first chance to close for the Dodgers based on his 2011 performance, but don't be surprised at all if Kenley Jansen takes over, and soon.

Guerra was great in his rookie season last year, putting up 21 saves and a 2.31 ERA for the Dodgers. However, Guerra has had control issues in the past. Jansen is a more-than-capable backup, so the Dodgers should have a short leash on Guerra if he struggles.

Jansen is much more of a typical closer than Guerra is. The 24-year-old struck out 96 hitters in 56 innings in 2011, for a 16.1 K/9 ratio. He also posted a 1.043 WHIP and 2.85 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched, throwing upwards of 100 miles per hour.

Guerra will likely be the closer at the beginning of the season, but Jansen will close for the Dodgers someday.  Don’t be surprised if it’s very soon.

Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers

John Axford is the Brewers’ closer, there’s no doubt about that. While Rodriguez may get a few save opportunities here and there, his only real chance to take over the role would be if Axford got hurt.

K-Rod could still be worth having in deeper leagues, though. It’s very possible the Brewers will trade K-Rod sometime during the season, since he is only signed to a one-year contract.

The Brewers may not contend this year, having lost Prince Fielder to free agency, but even if they are able to stay in the NL Central race, Rodriguez could be used to acquire a bat.

Don’t be surprised if K-Rod ends up a closer somewhere this year. If he does, you’ll be glad you already had him.

Grant Balfour/Joey Devine/Brian Fuentes, Oakland Athletics

The Athletics’ closer’s role is wide-open. Grant Balfour, Joey Devine and Brian Fuentes all have a shot to close games for a team that will provide its closer with many save opportunities. The A’s will not win a lot of games, but their anemic lineup will ensure that most of the games they do win will be close.

Grant Balfour was solid for Oakland in 2011, posting a 2.47 ERA and 1.032 WHIP in 62 innings in a set-up role. He has no closing experience at the major league level, but he’s been an above-average relief pitcher for a few years now and may be the best option the A’s have.

Joey Devine did not pitch in 2009 or 2010 following Tommy John surgery, but when he came back in 2011, he was solid. His control could have been better, but at only 28 years old, Devine would be a solid choice for a young team looking to groom a closer for 2014 or 2015, when they might actually be a contender.

Brian Fuentes might be the safest choice for Billy Beane to make, given that he has a ton of closing experience (199 career saves). Plus, if he pitches well as a closer, he could be flipped near the trade deadline for a prospect or two.

Whoever wins the job out of Spring Training, pick him up; he will get a lot of saves.

Jonathan Broxton, Kansas City Royals

I’ve got to give it to Royals’ GM Dayton Moore. This was a great signing. He signed an All-Star pitcher in 2009 and 2010 to a one-year, four million dollar deal to set up for Joakim Soria, who struggled mightily last year and was even removed from the closer’s role for a short period.

I expect Soria to return to greatness in 2012, but Jonathan Broxton could very well be a valuable closer for another team at some point. The Royals are still probably a year or two away from contending, so if Broxton pitches well, he will be a valuable trade candidate for a contending team looking for a closer.

Plus, on the off chance that Soria struggles again, gets hurt, or gets traded, Broxton would step in as the Royals' closer.

Keep an eye on these pitchers through Spring Training. Any of those who win closing roles will be valuable late-round picks, and even those who do not could have value later in the season. Good luck, fantasy owners!