FanPost

Where To Find the Jays' 2015 Closer?

With the signing of Martin and the trades for Donaldson and Saunders, many writers feel that the greatest area of need for the Jays is the bullpen. And in the bullpen, the first priority is likely a closer.

The Jays have several options:

1. Sign a FA established closer

David Robertson is reported to be looking for 4/$50m. A lot of money for 60 innings per year, but those are 60 important innings. And paying big bucks for closers, even good ones, is dangerous (can you say Papelbon? Or Ryan?)

There are other FAs available with closing experience, but they all come with caveats. Sergio Romo gives up a lot of fly balls, not ideal in the Rogers Launching Pad, and he is projected to be looking for a 3/$21m deal. Francisco Rodriguez can likely be had for 2/$14m, but he is coming of a 23% HR/FB and 1.85 HR/9 season in 2014 – neither of which bode well for Toronto. And while Rafael Soriano may have upside (first half FIP of 2.48) and should be the cheapest of the three, he is also an extreme flyball pitcher and his second half (4.05 FIP) is troubling.

2. Trade for a closer or top setup man

There are no top-tier closers that are obvious trade candidates – at least, not at less-than-extortionate prices. There are some top setup men potentially available, however, who could well be turned into closers. Now that Miller is signed, perhaps the best option would be Tyler Clippard of the Nats. Clippard has excellent stats as a setup man (2.75 FIP in 2014, with 10.5 K/9 and a HR/9 of 0.64). And Clippard has closing experience – he saved 32 games in 2012. 2015 is his last year of arbitration eligibility, and he is projected to make ~$9 million, which might be a bit rich for a Washington team which already has a strong bullpen. But – even at $9 mil – he will not come cheaply.

3. Convert an existing bullpen arm

The logical choice to be promoted to closer would be Brett Cecil. Coming off an exceptional 2014 where he had a 2.34 FIP with a K/9 of 12.8, Cecil was lights-out against RHB (FIP of 1.75) and good against LHB (FIP of 3.28). The issues with Cecil are first that he has never closed before. A contending team might not have the luxury of gambling on such a key role. And second, he is already a contributing member of the bullpen, so converting him to closer just moves the problem from one area to another.

4. Promote a rookie

Arik Sikula had a 2.55 FIP and a K/9 of 12 in AA ball in 2014 at the age of 25. He was voted best reliever in the Florida State League by Baseball America, and followed that up with a 2.61 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. Could he be ready? Alternatively, Aaron Sanchez had a 2.80 FIP in 33 innings for the Jays in 2014. There are some who believe that easing a young pitcher into the bigs through the bullpen is a good idea (citing pitchers like Sale, Wainwright, and Garret Richards).

What do you think? Which way do you think the Jays should go to fill the closer position n 2015?



Editor's Note: This is a FanPost written by a reader and member of Bluebird Banter. It was not commissioned by the editors and is not necessarily reflective of the opinions of Bluebird Banter or SB Nation.