Breaking Down 4 Potential Closer Battles this Spring Training

One of the most intriguing position battles to watch at MLB camps this spring is for the role of closer. There are a handful of teams entering the 2013 season with serious question marks surrounding the position.

Will Carlos Marmol be able to fully regain the trust and admiration of Cubs fans and hold onto his closer’s role? Will Bruce Rondon emerge from the minors and close out games for the 2012 AL Champion Detroit Tigers? Is Jose Veras and his career five saves the answer for the Houston Astros?

These questions and others will be answered before the regular season kicks off at the end of March.

Here are four potential closer battles that could emerge in spring training.

Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Madson vs. Ernesto Frieri

Front-runner:  Ryan Madson

The Los Angeles Angels strengthened the back end of their bullpen during the offseason by signing Ryan Madson to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Madson, 32, missed the entire 2012 season with the Cincinnati Reds after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery last spring. He last pitched in 2011 for the Philadelphia Phillies, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.37 ERA and 32 saves.

Contender: Ernesto Frieri

The incumbent closer for the Angels is the 27-year-old Colombian born Frieri. He assumed the closer’s role for the Angels toward the end of the 2012 season, saving 23 games out of 26 attempts.  

Who Wins this Closer Battle?

The winner of this battle depends heavily on the health of Madson’s elbow. Angels manager Mike Scioscia told the AP via ESPN that he expects Madson to be ready some time in April.  

As long as Madson is able to assume his closer duties, it’s hard to imagine he won’t get first crack at the closer’s role. As for Frieri, he has proven the ability to close games and will add valuable depth to the Angels bullpen. His depth is no more evident than in the fact that he is slated to fill in as closer until Madson is ready to go.

Houston Astros: Jose Veras vs. Plethora of Candidates

Front-runner: Jose Veras

The Houston Astros enter the AL West in 2013 with hopes of returning to their winning ways of years past. One important position that will need to exhibit some sort of consistency is the closer’s role. The Astros tried to address their concerns at closer by signing Jose Veras to a one-year, $2 million contract this past offseason. 

Veras has shown the ability to strike out batters, with a career average of 9.4 K/9, but has only recorded five saves in his entire seven-year career.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Veras can make up to an additional $500,000 in incentives for games finished.

Contenders:  Wesley Wright, Xavier Cedeno, Rhiner Cruz, Josh Fields

The Astros are pretty thin in major league experience in the bullpen.

Rhiner Cruz appeared in 52 games for the Astros last season but pitched to a high 6.05 ERA.

Wesley Wright has been in the Astros 'pen for a few years now and has shown an ability to get outs. His 9.0 K/9 career average is very good and could get the nod to close if Veras doesn’t pan out.

Xavier Cedeno also is a strong young arm in the Astros bullpen who has averaged 9.9 K/9 for his short career.

Another possible candidate could be Rule 5 pickup Josh Fields, who pitched to a combined 2.01 ERA with the Boston Red Sox Double-A and Triple-A affiliates.  

Who Wins this Closer Battle?

The Astros seem to be ready to hand over the closing reins to Veras. They have provided plenty of opportunity for him to secure the position. If he falters, however, they could look to one of the young arms to fill the void.

Veras should leave camp with the job, but don’t be surprised if someone else finishes the season with the role.

Chicago Cubs: Carlos Marmol vs. Kyuji Fujikawa

Front-runner: Carlos Marmol

Carlos Marmol has had a love-hate relationship with Chicago Cubs fans. The 30-year-old longtime Cubs closer was almost dealt to the Los Angeles Angels this past offseason for Dan Haren, but the deal fell through.

“He’s our closer,” said Cubs manager Dale Sveum to the AP via the Washington Post.  

It looks like the Cubs are going to start the spring with Marmol penciled in as closer. Marmol led the NL in 2011 with 10 blown saves. He struggled at times during 2012 and wound up losing his closer role after a well-documented meltdown against the Cincinnati Reds in May. He finished the season on a high note, though, converting 18 of 19 save opportunities.   

Contender:  Kyuji Fujikawa

The Cubs added bullpen insurance by signing the Japanese All-Star closer Fujikawa. The 32-year-old right-hander compiled 202 saves in six seasons with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League. He has proven to have the ability to close games consistently in Japan, but will that experience translate over to the majors?

Who Wins this Closer Battle?

If Sveum is to be believed, Marmol is the odds-on favorite to secure the role heading into the regular season. The question is, however, will he be able to hold onto it?

With Marmol’s track record, it could only be a matter of time until he is dropped out of the closer's role and Fujikawa gets a shot.

Detroit Tigers: Bruce Rondon vs. Several Candidates

Front-runner: Bruce Rondon

The Detroit Tigers' closer's role is up for grabs this spring, as Jose Valverde was not re-signed, and the team seems ready to hand over the proverbial keys to 22-year-old rookie Bruce Rondon.

Rondon excelled in the minors in 2012, posting a combined 1.53 ERA at Class-A Lakeland, Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. His 10.9 K/9 and 29 combined saves in the minors in 2012 has shown he can handle the closer’s duties on the minor league level.   

Contenders: Joaquin Benoit, Al Alburquerque, Octavio Dotel, Phil Coke

If Rondon is not ready to handle the closing duties, there are several capable major league pitchers on the Tigers roster who can rise to the challenge.

Benoit has only 13 career saves and seems to be better suited for the seventh and eighth innings. However, he could be promoted up into the role if needed.

Alburquerque has closing potential (13.5 K/9 career) and could be considered.

Dotel has 109 career saves and has closed in the past.

The real wild card could be Coke, who showed his ability to close in the 2012 playoffs where he recorded two saves and posted a minuscule 0.84 ERA.

Who Wins this Closer Battle?

It seems like Rondon is the odds-on favorite to land the role at this point in time. However, there are several capable relievers in the bullpen who could take over the role if needed.

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