Three Late Round Fantasy Baseball Options For 2010: Closers
Closers are always heavily sought out, especially in the late rounds of your draft. Being able to find saves in the last few rounds (after Round 18) is a huge advantage for any owner. Considering that there are only 23 relief pitchers with an ADP above 216 (Frank Francisco is the last at 201.39), there are a few options that could be available to you late.
Let’s take a look at the three who I’d target:
Octavio Dotel - Pittsburgh Pirates
The main reason his ADP may be so low is due to the fact that he was not in line to close when mock drafts started (though, the highest he’s been taken is 190 according to Mock Draft Central). Now with the Pirates, he’s all but assured the closers role for the long haul (barring a midseason trade or injury).
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He has huge strikeout potential, with a career K/9 of 10.98. Over the past three seasons, he’s actually posted marks of 12.03, 12.36 and 10.83. That’s just an added bonus for those hunting for saves.
It’s easy to point to his control problems from ‘09 (5.20 BB/9), but his career mark is at 4.05 and he was below four in both ‘07 & ‘08. That truly should not be a concern, nor should the idea of him being a closer on a bad team. Closers on bad teams are going to get just as many (if not more) save opportunities because everyone wins games, and how often will bad teams blow anyone out?
Chad Qualls - Arizona Diamondbacks
He was solid in the closers role in 2009, converting 24-of-29 opportunities while posting a 3.63 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Those numbers were actually due to bad luck, with a BABIP of .321.
He has impeccable control, with his worst BB/9 in a season coming back in 2006 when he posted a 2.84. While it’s hard to imagine him maintaining last seasons 1.21, he’s still going to be solid and should be able to maintain a similar WHIP to ‘09.
Qualls doesn’t have the same type of strikeout upside as some other closers, but that doesn’t mean he is not going to contribute there. Over the past three seasons he’s posted marks of 8.49, 8.67, and 7.79. Those are not numbers to sneeze at.
While there is some potential competition in the bullpen, it should be his job to lose. Given his track record (he’s never had an ERA worse than 3.76) he should be safe bet in the later rounds.
Kerry Wood - Cleveland Indians
Wood is probably the last resort among the guys I’m targeting, but that doesn’t make him a terrible option. The control is the main problem, with his BB/9 jumping from 2.44 in ‘08 to 4.58 in ‘09.
He clearly has more than enough strikeout potential, posting marks of 11.40 and 10.31 over the past two seasons. With that type of stuff, as long as he throws strikes he should be able to get the job done. That makes him worth taking the flyer on if you are in need of saves.
What are your thoughts? Would you target any of these options? Who else are you considering in the last few rounds?
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