Shut the Door: 2011 Fantasy Baseball Top 15 Closer Rankings

Ryan Lester

Jan 26, 2011

Here’s a look at some fantasy baseball players that blew up the box score last year.

1. Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants: Wilson led the majors in saves (48) last year while posting a 1.81 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 93 Ks.

2. Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: His stats read almost identical to Wilson’s. It’s really a preference thing here. I like Wilson because his starting pitching staff is better. Plus, without Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres could struggle to give him leads.

3. Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers: His stuff is filthy. He will get to close right out of the gate. He has a 0.82 WHIP and a .160 BAA in 100 and one-third inning.

4. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals: In the last three years Soria has 115 saves, a 1.84 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He also has 210 Ks in 186 innings.

5. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers: Broxton slipped big time last year, picking up only 22 saves with a 4.04 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and a .270 BAA. His lone bright spot was the 73 Ks in 62 and two-thirds innings. He was electric in 2009 with 36 saves, a 2.61 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, a .165 BAA and 114 Ks in 76 innings, which leads me to believe he can be a top five closer again.

6. Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics: Bailey was limited to 49 innings in 47 appearances last year, but still managed 25 saves, a 1.47 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, a .199 BAA and 42 Ks. In two seasons, he sported a 1.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and a .178 BAA.

7. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs: With 38 saves, a ridiculous 138 Ks, a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and a microscopic .147 BAA, Marmol is a very valuable closer.

8. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox: Papelbon wasn’t nearly as nasty last year posting a 3.90 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP and a .226 BAA. He still managed 37 saves last year. He’s averaged 37.6 saves over the past five years with 77.6 Ks, a 2.18 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.

9. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: It’s not that I think Mo is slipping, but the addition of Rafael Soriano suggests that he will have a lighter load this year. Let’s face it, the Yankees season doesn’t start until the playoffs begin.

10. Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets: I’m more worried about him mentally than physically. Despite his bizarre season, he had 25 saves with a 2.20 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, a .213 BAA and 67 Ks in 57 and one-third inning.

11. Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati Reds: He’ll give you a bunch of saves (39 and 40 in the past two years), but don’t expect a high strikeout total or low WHIP.

12. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: His save total (26) wasn’t great and his ERA (3.00) wasn’t spectacular, but he had a solid 1.16 WHIP and an excellent .184 BAA. He also had 63 Ks in 63 innings.

13. Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins: We know what he was before Tommy John surgery, but how will he respond at 36? He’s too big of a risk to be a No.1 fantasy closer.

14. Huston Street, Colorado Rockies: He can deliver when he’s healthy. He has 55 saves in the past two years for Colorado with a 3.30 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP and 115 Ks in 109 innings.

15. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers: I originally had David Aardsma in this spot, but his hip injury is a little worrisome. Axford shared closer duties with Trevor Hoffman last year and still managed 24 saves, a 2.48 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 76 Ks in 58 innings.