Week 12 Relief Rankings

For now, there's no closer in Seattle, which is why you'll only see 29 names in bold.  We'll see if Wilhelmsen can regain his job or if Capps or Perez can steal it from him, but I see it as a wide-open competition right now.  Long-term Pryor is my favorite, but it's still unknown when he can return.

I've been under-valuing newer closers like Grilli because of their lack of experience, but sometimes it's important to just ride the hot-hand with closers.  As long as Grilli is pitching like this, he's one of the best closers in baseball.

1. Craig Kimbrel, Atl 
2. Aroldis Chapman, Cin
3. Mariano Rivera, NYY
4. Joe Nathan, Tex
5. Jonathan Papelbon, Phi
6. David Robertson, NYY
7. Kenley Jansen, LAD
8. Rafael Soriano, Was
9. Jason Grilli, Pit
10. Grant Balfour, Oak
11. Andrew Bailey, Bos
12. Addison Reed, CWS
13. Sergio Romo, SF
14. Luke Gregerson, SD
15. Mark Melancon, Pit
16. Glen Perkins, Min
17. Greg Holland, KC
18. Casey Janssen, Tor
19. Ernesto Frieri, LAA
20. Jim Johnson, Bal
21. Rex Brothers, Col
22. Edward Mujica, Stl
23. Jared Burton, Min
24. Fernando Rodney, TB
25. Huston Street, SD
26. Tyler Clippard, Was
27. Trevor Rosenthal, Stl
28. Jesse Crain, CWS
29. Joaquin Benoit, Det
30. Vinnie Pestano, Cle
31. Tanner Scheppers, Tex
32. Jim Henderson, Mil
33. Bobby Parnell, NYM
34. Koji Uehara, Bos
35. David Hernandez, Ari
36. Tom Wilhelmsen, Sea
37. Ryan Cook, Oak
38. Jose Veras, Hou
39. Mike Adams, Phi
40. Kelvin Herrera, KC
41. Joel Peralta, TB
42. Kevin Gregg, ChC
43. Steve Cishek, Mia
44. Jake McGee, TB
45. Francisco Rodriguez, Mil
46. Darren O'Day, Bal
47. Sean Doolittle, Oak
48. Heath Bell, Ari
49. Drew Storen, Was
50. Junichi Tazawa, Bos
51. Jose Valverde, Det
52. Carter Capps, Sea
53. Robbie Ross, Tex
54. Dale Thayer, SD
55. Oliver Perez, Sea
56. Brandon League, LAD
57. Aaron Crow, KC
58. Tommy Hunter, Bal
59. John Axford, Mil
60. Jeremy Affeldt, SF
61. Matt Belisle, Col
62. Tim Collins, KC
63. Matt Thornton, CWS
64. Brad Ziegler, Ari
65. Joe Smith, Cle
66. Jordan Walden, Atl
67. Antonio Bastardo, Phi
68. Luis Avilan, Atl
69. Hector Ambriz, Hou
70. Mike Dunn, Mia
71. James Russell, ChC
72. Jerry Blevins, Oak
73. Craig Breslow, Bos
74. Sam LeCure, Cin
75. Brett Cecil, Tor

On the bubble:  David Aardsma (NYM), Cody Allen (Cle), Joba Chamberlain (NYY), Jose Cisnero (Hou), Steve Delabar (Tor), Scott Downs (LAA), Mike Gonzalez (Mil), J.P. Howell (LAD), Kevin Jepsen (LAA), Matt Lindstron (CWS), Aaron Loup (Tor), Brandon Lyon (NYM), Brian Matusz (Bal), Alfredo Simon (Cin), Drew Smyly (Det), Justin Wilson (Pit)

 

Top 10 Inactive Pitchers (expected return in parenthesis)

1. Rafael Betancourt (late June)
2. J.J. Putz, Ari (late June)
3. Chris Perez, Cle (late June)
4. Stephen Pryor, Sea (July)
5. Sean Marshall, Cin (July)
6. Ryan Madson, LAA (July)
7. Sergio Santos, Tor (late July)
8. Santiago Casilla, SF (late July)
9. Joakim Soria, Tex (late July)
10. Frank Francisco, NYM (unknown)