Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Replacements to Grab for Injured Closers

The 2012 MLB season hasn't begun yet (what Japan series?), and already, closers around the league are dropping like flies.

If you haven't done your fantasy draft yet, you're in luck. That means you can draft a team knowing that Ryan Madson and Joakim Soria are out for the year, which is an advantage all the sorry suckers who drafted their teams in mid-March didn't get to enjoy.

If you haven't drafted a team yet, you'd be wise to pick up the replacements for the injured closers out there. If you've already drafted your team, you'd be wise to do the same.

Here are some names you need to know, some of whom might just end up being fantasy steals this season.

Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez, Washington Nationals

As reported by The Washington Post, Drew Storen will begin the season on the disabled list with a right elbow problem. He's not expected to be out very long, but the Nats will need somebody else to step up and close games in his absence.

Per the Post, Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez are going to share closing duties until Storen comes back. If Storen is out longer than expected, it's safe to assume one of them will win the job for his own.

Lidge is no stranger to closing, as he's saved 223 games in his career. His main problem is health, though he's looked pretty good so far this spring.

Rodriguez is a hard thrower who held opponents to a .218 average with a 9.59 K/9 last season. His biggest problem is control, as he had a BB/9 over 6.00 last season.

Between the two of them, I'd target Lidge just because he's been there and done that in the ninth inning before. But Rodriguez isn't a bad pickup, as he could emerge as a star if Storen is out for longer than expected.

Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves, Boston Red Sox

According to MLB.com, Andrew Bailey has a thumb ailment that has the Red Sox feeling fairly baffled. Sox manager Bobby Valentine doesn't know if Bailey is going to be out for days, weeks or months.

However, Sean McAdam of NECN.com has reported that Bailey could be out for as long as six months if he has to have surgery.

Either way, Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves have been mentioned as the two most logical replacements for Bailey, including by MLB.com. 

Melancon closed games for the Astros last season, saving 20 games in 25 chances. He had a 7.99 K/9, but where he really thrived was in inducing ground balls. His ground-ball rate was near 57 percent. 

Aceves has saved just four games in his career. He was, however, quite good coming out of the pen last year. As a reliever, he had a 2.03 ERA in 2011.

Between the two of them, I'd recommend Aceves first and Melancon second.

UPDATE: Tuesday, April 3 at 7:35 p.m. ET

According to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe, the Red Sox have announced that Bailey does indeed need to have surgery on his thumb. He is expected to miss several months, though no timetable has been determined for his return.

Jonathan Broxton, Kansas City Royals

According to The Kansas City Star, Royals manager Ned Yost hasn't yet decided on who he's going to use in place of Joakim Soria, who is out for the year.

However, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has reported that the Royals are leaning towards Jonathan Broxton.

Makes sense. Broxton used to close games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he was pretty good at it before his health started acting up. The year he saved 36 games in 2009, he had a K/9 well over 13.00.

Broxton has needed a live fastball in the past in order to get by, but at this point in his career, he needs to mix things up. It's a positive sign that he's had a very good spring after missing much of the 2011 season due to injury woes.

Since Soria is out for the year, Broxton is a candidate to emerge as a potential 30-save guy this season. He's definitely worth adding.

Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have known for awhile now that Ryan Madson is done for the season, but Dusty Baker waited until this week to tab Sean Marshall as his closer. MLB.com has the details of the announcement.

There's not a whole lot not to like about Marshall. He has a 2.45 ERA over the last two seasons, not to mention a 1.10 WHIP and a 10.1 K/9. Last season, his FIP was 1.86, which is ridiculous.

Marshall has never closed before, but he's developed a lot as a pitcher over the last two seasons. He's not going to bomb as Cincinnati's closer; I can guarantee that much.

The bigger issue, at least in the short-term, will be getting the ball to Marshall. Even so, I'm putting him down for 30-35 saves this season.