Baseball’s offseason has moved unusually slow this winter. With just six weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers report, the vast majority of the game’s top free agents are still hanging out in their hometowns wondering where they’ll play this year. Until the dominoes start to fall, let’s take a look at the one position that has already been pillaged in free agency: high-leverage relievers.
These might not be the most headline-worthy signings we’ll see this offseason, but several pitchers trusted with late-inning duties in 2017 have already found new homes. Some of these guys are one injury or meltdown away from joining the closer conversation, with ratios worth rostering in the meantime.
Let’s take a look at how the reliever landscape is unfolding.
Joe Madden wants a better bullpen:
The Cubs moved quickly this offseason to bolster a unit that lost closer Wade Davis to free agency, signing righties Brandon Morrow and Steve Cishek. The 33-year-old Morrow broke out last year for the Dodgers, posting a 2.06 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 50 strikeouts against just nine walks in 43.2 innings. The former #5 overall pick is the favorite for ninth-inning duties in Chicago, but fellow newcomer Cishek re-established his value last year as well, putting up 44.2 innings with a 2.01 ERA and 0.90 WHIP between Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Rox score free agency’s top RP:
Speaking of the former Royals and Cubs closer, Wade Davis is heading to Colorado on a three-year deal. The tall righty continued his dominance last year in Chicago, posting a .230 ERA and 32 saves while striking out 79 in 58.2 innings. Coors Field could scare people off come fantasy draft day, but Greg Holland proved last year that power relievers can thrive in Denver. Davis will be a great value among the second or third tier of closers.
Should he struggle or miss any time — Davis did see two DL stints related to his right arm just two years ago — the newly signed duo of Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw would be in the mix for saves. McGee spent the past two seasons in Colorado where his numbers ticked up from his dominant Tampa days, but last year’s 2.93 FIP tells a slightly better tale than the 3.61 ERA he put up. Shaw’s career 8.0 K/9 won’t land him on many 5×5 rosters, but the veteran has grabbed a save or two in six straight seasons of late-inning work.
Fernando Rodney won’t quit:
People who gave up on Fernando Rodney half a decade ago have missed out on a boatload inexpensive saves. The enigmatic, arrow-slinging closer has defied the odds over the years, like in 2016 when at 39 years old he put up a 5.89 ERA in 36.2 innings in Miami, only to move to San Diego and fire 28.2 dominant innings — just 13 hits allowed and one earned run (0.31 ERA). Rodney followed it up last year, saving 39 games for Arizona while posting a 4.23 ERA backed up by a 3.03 FIP. He’ll be 41 when the regular season starts, but Rodney appears to have the closer role locked down in Minnesota on a one-year deal.
Other setup guys wearing new hats:
Anthony Swarzak, Mets: The former second-round pick found a good time to break out with a 2.33 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 77.1 innings, netting him a $14 million, two-year deal. Swarzak’s 2.2 WAR ranked eighth among relievers last year, and Mets closer Jeurys Familia was less than sharp after returning late in the season from surgery to remove a blood clot in his shoulder.
Pat Neshek, Phillies: Last year, the 36-year-old Neshek bumped his K/9 up to 10.0 for the first time since he was 27. The Phils were pleased enough with the 1.12 ERA they got out of him in 40.1 innings to dole out $16.25 million to keep him for two more.
Joe Smith, Astros: Smith posted a career-high 11.8 K/9 between Toronto and Cleveland last year at age 33, prompting the World Series champs to offer $15 million over two years. Smith joins a group of flamethrowers in Houston who tend to walk too many people.
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