2011 Spring Training Closer Breakdown and Depth Chart

Spring training is upon us my friends and that means warmer weather, fantasy baseball and numerous questions about who might close games for the Rays.  As pitchers and catchers have had their chance to get some work in this spring, let’s get started in figuring out which closers we should target this season and which we should avoid like a plague. 

So, we’ve ranked all the positions players, began running our cheat sheets, gave out our deep sleepers and have scouted some of the top prospects in baseball.  Now it is time to focus in on the closers and all that has happened since we left them last October.  Here is a brief rundown of what transpired this offseason as far as closers and premier relief pitchers are concerned. 

Traded – Frank Francisco (Toronto), Matt Lindstrom (Colorado), Jeremy Jeffress (Kansas City)

Signed With New Team – Jon Rauch (Toronto), Joel Peralta (Tampa Bay), J.J. Putz (Arizona), Kevin Gregg (Baltimore), Bobby Jenks (Red Sox), Kerry Wood (Cubs), Joaquin Benoit (Detroit), Scott Downs (LA Angels), Takashi Saito (Milwaukee), Octavio Dotel (Toronto)

Retired – Trevor Hoffman

The following is a complete rundown of how the closer situations are currently stacked up with all 30 MLB teams.  For each situation I have established the front line closer, the next in line and a sleeper candidate to pay close attention to in spring training and during the regular season.  We will be updating each and every closer situation all season long right here on Fantasy Alarm, but the best way to stay up to date is with our Fantasy Alarm fantasy baseball direct email and text message service.  This service will notify you every time your closer blows a save and when a change in the bullpen depth chart is made. 

Team	Closer	Next in line	Sleeper
Arizona	J.J. Putz	Juan Gutierrez	Sam Demel
Atlanta	Craig Kimbrel	Jonny Venters	George Sherrill
Baltimore	Kevin Gregg	Koji Uehara	Mike Gonzalez
Boston	Jonathen Papelbon	Daniel Bard	Bobby Jenks
Cubs	Carlos Marmol	Kerry Wood	Andrew Cashner
White Sox	Matt Thornton	Chris Sale	Sergio Santos
Cincinnati	Fran. Cordero	Aroldis Chapman	Logan Ondrusek
Cleveland	Chris Perez	Rafael Perez	Tony Sipp
Colorado	Huston Street	Matt Lindstrom	Matt Belisle
Detroit	Jose Valverde	Joaquin Benoit	Ryan Perry
Florida	Leo Nunez	Clay Hensley	Ryan Webb
Houston	Brandon Lyon	Wilton Lopez	Jeff Fulchino
Kansas City	Joakim Soria	Jeremy Jeffress	Blake Wood
Angels	Fernando Rodney	Scott Downs	Jordan Walden
Dodgers	Jonathan Broxton	Hong-Chih Kuo	Matt Guerrier
Milwaukee	John Axford	Takashi Saito	Zach Braddock
Minnesota	Joe Nathan	Matt Capps	Pat Neshek
Mets	Fran. Rodriguez	Manny Acosta	Bobby Parnell
Yankees	Mariano Rivera	Rafael Soriano	Andrew Brackman
Oakland	Andrew Bailey	Brian Fuentes	Grant Balfour
Philadelphia	Brad Lidge	Ryan Madson	Jose Contreras
Pittsburgh	Joel Hanrahan	Evan Meek	Chris Resop
St. Louis	Ryan Franklin	Jason Motte	Trever Miller
San Diego	Heath Bell	Mike Adams	Luke Gregerson
San Francisco	Brian Wilson	Sergio Romo	Santiago Casilla
Seattle	David Aardsma	Brandon League	Josh Lueke
Tampa Bay	Kyle Farnsworth	Joel Peralta	Jake McGee
Texas	Neftali Feliz	Darren O'Day	Alexi Ogando
Toronto	Frank Francisco	Octavio Dotel	Jon Rauch
Washington	Drew Storen	Tyler Clippard	Sean Burnett

Check out our Fantasy Alarm Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit 2011 for everything you need to know including real time cheatsheets, projected rotations of starting pitchers, expert mock drafts, injury updates and hot prospect scouting reports.  Remember to keep Fantasy Alarm with you all season long by signing up for our breaking player news and starting lineup email and text message service. 

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