The Closer Report – Week 16

Here is a look at the fantasy baseball closer report for week 16. It contains all of the most recent closer news, plus the current closers and the current handcuffs.

Kevin Gregg may have picked a bad time to struggle for the Toronto Blue Jays but it may help him keep his job as closer by reducing his trade value. Gregg almost blew a save on Saturday but was pulled after allowing three walks, but did blow the save on Monday night, allowing two runs in 2/3 of an innings. He has converted 21 of 25 saves on the season, but outside of a stellar April, his numbers were bad in May (5.11 ERA, 1.95 WHIP) and worse in June (8.10, 2.25).

It presents an interesting dilemma in Toronto where Gregg, Jason Frasor (4.54 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) and Scott Downs (2.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) are all in the last year of their contract and have been mentioned in trade rumors. If Gregg is moved, Frasor or Downs would figure to get first shot as closer although neither one has a good historical save percentage. Shawn Camp who picked up the save after replacing Gregg could figure into the mix as well with a 2.44 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, although at 34-years-old is not a long term solution.

Kerry Wood going to the disabled list in Cleveland opens up the door for Chris Perez to take over ninth inning duties. After a rough start in April, Perez has been a little better each month of the season and posted a 2.13 ERA with a 0.71 WHIP in June. His walk rate still poses a problem as he has allowed seven free passes in 5 1/3 innings in July, but if you are looking for saves, he might be out on the waiver wire in your league. Wood is likely to be traded at some point when he returns so Perez should have some value as closer for the remainder of the season.

Mike Gonzalez will be activated from the disabled list this week by the Baltimore Orioles and is expected to eventually reclaim the role as closer from Alfredo Simon. He had two Triple-A outings, working a scoreless inning in one of them and allowing two runs in 2/3 of an inning in the other. Simon was 7-for-8 in save chances between June and so far in July.

Fantasy baseball owners are going to have a tough decision next year where to rate Carlos Marmol of the Chicago Cubs. Marmol currently leads all closers in strikeouts by more than 23 and his batting average against of .157 is 4th best behind Billy Wagner, Mariano Rivera and Jose Valverde. The downfall for Marmol continues to be his walks, with 33 through 43 1/3 innings. He walked ten in May and June and has walked eight this month including five in his last game. Unless he is able to get his control corrected, it is going to keep him being in the upper tier of closers next season.

Team Closer Handcuff
BAL Alfredo Simon Mike Gonzalez
BOS Jonathan Papelbon Daniel Bard
CHW Bobby Jenks Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz
CLE Chris Perez Kerry Wood (DL)
DET Jose Valverde Eddie Bonine
KC Joakim Soria Kyle Farnsworth
LAA Brian Fuentes Fernando Rodney
MIN Jon Rauch Matt Guerrier
NYY Mariano Rivera Joba Chamberlain
OAK Andrew Bailey Brad Ziegler
SEA David Aardsma Brandon League
TB Rafael Soriano Grant Balfour
TEX Neftali Feliz Frank Francisco
TOR Kevin Gregg Jason Frasor
AZ Aaron Heilman Chad Qualls
ATL Billy Wagner Takashi Saito
CHI Carlos Marmol Andrew Cashner
CIN Francisco Cordero Arthur Rhodes
COL Huston Street Manny Corpas
FLA Leo Nunez Clay Hensley
HOU Matt Lindstrom Brandon Lyon
LAD Jonathan Broxton Ramon Tronosco
MIL John Axford Trevor Hoffman
NYM Francisco Rodriguez Pedro Feliciano
PHI Brad Lidge Jose Contreras
PIT Octavio Dotel Evan Meek
STL Ryan Franklin Jason Motte
SD Heath Bell Luke Gregerson
SF Brian Wilson Sergio Romo
WAS Matt Capps Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen
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