And now, the closers!
This list includes both players who were closers all year and those who moved in or out of that role for a significant part of the year.
Our usual practices prevail: bold for top 3 and italics for bottom 3. Pitchers with below 162 IP aren’t included in the top/bottom markers.
#S Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | SFS | Rod Beck | 24 | 4-4 | 4.88 | 56 | 1.00 | 41 Sv; 1 H .215 BABIP 1.7 BB/9 5.4 K/BB |
| NL | BRK | Eric Gagne | 27 | 3-3 | 3.00 | 56 | 1.13 | 39 Sv .205 BA 0.8 HR/9 10.7 K/9 2.99 FIP |
These were the dominant closers all year, with Eric Gagne being the better of the 2, but only barely. And some would argue that Rod Beck, by virtue of being 3 years younger, holds more value.
#A Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL | PHI | Bob Howry | 34 | 4-1 | 3.18 | 38 | 0.91 | 25 Sv .221 BABIP 0.9 BB/9 8.8 K/BB |
| NL | KCM | Craig Kimbrel | 25 | 5-5 | 3.40 | 49 | 1.13 | 15 Sv; 11 H .182 BA |
| NL | HOM | Josh Lindblom | 31 | 8-4 | 3.40 | 56 | 1.28 | 35 Sv 0.8 HR/9 |
An interesting group. Bob Howry, much maligned last season, bounced back in a big way despite an injury, while Josh Lindblom was just effective all year, perhaps the only truly dependable arm on Homestead’s staff.
And then there’s Craig Kimbrel, who was essentially unhittable after being moved into the closer spot for Kansas City, where he’ll start next season.
#B Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | NYY | Goose Gossage | 23 | 4-5 | 4.04 | 58 | 1.17 | 20 Sv; 8 H |
| NL | NYG | Brian Wilson | 28 | 2-2 | 3.03 | 36 | 1.32 | 22 Sv 10.3 K/9 3.47 FIP |
| NL | BBB | Harley Young | 26 | 1-0 | 2.29 | 46 | 1.02 | 15 Sv; 6 H .210 BA 0.5 HR/9 2.92 FIP |
Brian Wilson and Harley Young could belong a tier or 2 above, but Wilson missed a fair bit of the season due to injury while Young wasn’t named the closer for Birmingham until well into the year. Goose Gossage was effective after being made the Black Yankees’ closer, but if you compare him to Young, Young clearly had the better year.
#C Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | CLE | Terry Adams | 23 | 1-6 | 4.69 | 45 | 1.31 | 23 Sv; 2 H |
| AL | BAL | Buddy Groom | 37 | 1-4 | 5.32 | 46 | 1.27 | 18 Sv; 5 H 3.2 HR/9 5.9 K/9 7.17 FIP |
| AL | MEM/ MCG | Jonathan Papelbon | 31 | 3-6 | 4.50 | 60 | 1.27 | 28 Sv; 5 H |
These are either useful arms at the end of the bullpen (Terry Adams, Jonathan Papelbon) or a surprising success in a limited time as a closer (Buddy Groom). Groom’s peripherals indicate this may be a mirage, but he was the best closer the Black Sox had all season.
#D Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | BAL/ KCM | Joe Beggs | 34 | 2-8 | 5.68 | 45 | 1.32 | 18 Sv; 1 H 5.3 K/9 |
| NL | IND | Rob Dibble | 27 | 3-4 | 4.87 | 48 | 1.49 | 24 Sv; 1 H 5.9 BB/9 |
| NL | OTT | Tom Henke | 31 | 2-3 | 5.73 | 42 | 1.27 | 23 Sv .214 BABIP 3.8 HR/9 7.39 FIP |
| AL | DET | Mike Henneman | 28 | 4-3 | 4.10 | 43 | 1.42 | 26 Sv .327 BABIP 10.4 K/9 |
| — | NYY/ HOU | Sparky Lyle | 29 | 2-5 | 4.90 | 55 | 1.29 | 10 Sv; 11 H 2.2 BB/9 3.7 K/BB |
| NL | HOU | Tug McGraw | 27 | 5-5 | 3.92 | 41 | 1.31 | 12 Sv; 8 H |
| AL | CAG | AJ Minter | 25 | 5-4 | 5.54 | 54 | 1.37 | 17 Sv; 2 H 4.6 K/9 1.2 K/BB |
| AL | LAA/ SFS | Joe Nathan | 31 | 5-6 | 5.43 | 57 | 1.47 | 22 Sv; 6 H |
Everyone has some issues here, from Tom Henke‘s tendency to give up the longball to Mike Henneman‘s injury absence, to the inability of Sparky Lyle and Tug McGraw to really gel in Houston. But none of these are in danger of being forced out of the league, and many of them will return as closers next season.
#F Tier
| Lg | Tm | Name | Age | W-L | ERA | G | WHIP | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL | NYY | Aroldis Chapman | 27 | 5-4 | 5.47 | 58 | 1.49 | 18 Sv; 8 H 4.8 BB/9 1.6 K/BB |
| AL | POR | Trevor Hoffman | 34 | 3-7 | 5.36 | 45 | 1.43 | 15 Sv; 8 H |
| AL | MCG | Ricky Nolasco | 31 | 7-6 | 5.50 | 54 | 1.52 | 26 Sv; 4 H .294 BA 3.2 HR/9 7.08 FIP |
| NL | KCM | Jeff Pfeffer | 24 | 1-4 | 6.16 | 43 | 1.53 | 16 Sv; 1 H .303 BA .338 BABIP |
| NL | BBB | Juan Rincón | 27 | 3-3 | 8.47 | 36 | 1.85 | 12 Sv; 1 H .338 BA .371 BABIP |
| AL | LAA | Francisco Rodríguez | 25 | 3-5 | 6.87 | 53 | 1.63 | 8 Sv; 12 H 5.4 BB/9 1.6 K/BB |
This group struggled, but are on a variety of paths: Francisco Rodríguez may actually start next season as the Angels’ closer and Trevor Hoffman will get another shot in Portland. But Jeff Pfeffer is likely done as a closer, and Juan Rincón pitched himself right out of the league. Aroldis Chapman remains an elite power arm, but without a little more control is probably destined to bounce around a bit.