We’ve reached the end of the 2015 TOC top ten countdown, and will be closing things out by looking at the best bullpens in baseball. Dominant bullpens are nothing new in the game, but after the 2014 Postseason, more and more teams seem to be emphasizing power relievers and effectively turn games into five or six inning affairs. You need a lot more than a lights out bullpen to make a World Series run, but having a lights out pen can significantly help matters.
1. Royals. If you’re questioning this ranking, I’m wondering if you even watched the Postseason this fall. Kansas City’s bullpen was lights out in the fall, and was a major part of their World Series run. The Royals also bring back all of those key relievers that were so critical to their playoff run. Wade Davis and his 1.00 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 72 innings is back. Set-up man Kelvin Herrera and his 1.41 ERA returns. Closer Greg Holland, his 1.44 ERA, his 46 saves, and his 90 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings will once again be closing things out for the Royals. Hell, even Jason Frasor (1.53 ERA over 17 2/3 innings) is back! Throw in talented players like Luke Hochevar (who didn’t pitch in 2014 because of Tommy John surgery), Tim Collins (a bullpen mainstay that spent most of the year in AAA), Louis Coleman (who struggled in 2014, but allowed two runs in 29 2/3 innings in 2013), and Brandon Finnegan (a playoff hero whose 2015 role is unknown), and the Royals bullpen looks like it’ll be just as good in 2015 as it was in 2014.
2. Yankees. There won’t be much to like in the Bronx this season, but the Yankees bullpen will be ferocious. The only two key relievers that return from a year ago are dominant set-up man (now closer) Dellin Betances and Adam Warren. Betances had a 1.40 ERA in 90 innings, somehow striking out 135 in the process. Warren only had a 2.97 ERA over 78 2/3 innings, but still added 76 strikeouts of his own. Brian Cashman added several new faces to the pen as well, led by former Red Sox and Orioles reliever Andrew Miller. In 2014, Miller threw just 62 1/3 innings, but struck out 103 and only walked 17. That’s just fearsome. Cashman also brought in ex-Braves David Carpenter and Chasen Shreve, who had varying levels of success last year. Carpenter struck out 67 in 61 innings, while Shreve struck out 102 and walked just 15 in 76 1/3 innings over three levels. And just for the hell of it, the Yankees brought Justin Wilson in from the Pirates after he struck out 61 in 60 innings (though he did have a 4.20 ERA and 30 walks). Furthermore, Miller, Shreve, and Wilson are all lefties, giving Joe Girardi plenty of matchup options. These guys might get more work than expected if the Yankees rotation struggles in 2015, but if they’re used properly, it’s going to be hard to come back against New York this season.
3. Red Sox. Ben Cherington blew up several parts of the Red Sox this winter, but kept their bullpen largely together. The end-game Japanese duo of Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa returns a year after combining for 144 strikeouts and just 25 walks in 127 1/3 innings. Edward Mujica and his 3.90 2014 ERA also returns, as does Craig Breslow, who struggled to a 5.96 ERA last season. Three quality new faces will also join Boston’s pen. Former Brave Anthony Varvaro joins the Red Sox after the best season of his career, in which he struck out 50 and walked 13 in 54 2/3 innings. A pair of Rangers will also be moving up to Boston. Alexi Ogando threw just 25 innings in 2014 while recovering from sprained UCL, but has three successful years as both a starter and reliever in Texas from 2011-13. Swingman Robbie Ross will also join the Sox, and while he did have an ugly 6.20 ERA last season, he was quite effective in both 2012 and 2013. There are questions about the Sox bullpen, but it’s looking like quite a good one.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 5: Brad Boxberger #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays during the game against the Baltimore Orioles on September 5, 2014 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
4. Rays. This is perhaps an optimistic ranking, based mainly on potential than performance. And the Rays will be without closer Jake McGee, who had a 1.89 ERA in 71 1/3 innings last season, for at least the first month of the season following offseason elbow surgery. But the Rays still have a solid-looking group of relievers in the bullpen, albeit a group that has been up and done in the past. Brad Boxberger had a great year in 2014, striking out 104 in 64 2/3 innings. He’ll be back. Jeff Beliveau only pitched 24 innings in the majors, but he did strike out 28 while walking only seven. He’ll be back. Kirby Yates struck out 42 in 36 innings. He’ll be back. Former Angel Kevin Jepsen was acquired for Cesar Ramos, and struck out 75 in 65 innings. He’s here. Tampa Bay will also gamble on erratic ex-Angels closer Ernesto Frieri, and hope and pray that Grant Balfour has a better year in 2015 than he did in 2014. Put all of those pieces in one bullpen, and you’ve got the makings of quite a talented group.
5. Mariners. Seattle brings back all of the key components from their bullpen last year. Closer Fernando Rodney saved 48 games, had a 2.85 ERA, and struck out 76 in 66 1/3 innings. His top set-up man was Danny Farquhar, who was arguably better than Rodney. In 71 innings, Farquahar had a 2.66 ERA, 81 strikeouts, and 22 walks. Yoervis Medina and his 2.68 ERA in 57 innings is also back to set Rodney up for saves, as is former closer Tom Wilhelmsen and his 2.03 ERA over 75 1/3 innings. Throw in Dominic Leone (2.17 ERA over 66 1/3 innings) and Charlie Furbush (3.61 ERA over 42 1/3 innings), and Seattle has a bullpen to match their excellent rotation. Runs are going to be at a premium for teams playing the Mariners.
6. Athletics. I initially had the A’s ranked a couple of spots higher, but the uncertainty about Sean Doolittle’s rotator cuff has been worried. Doolittle was one of the best relievers in baseball last season, punching out 89 hitters and walking just eight over 62 2/3 innings. If he’s out for a significant amount of time, Oakland’s bullpen will be vastly different this season. But even without Doolittle, the A’s will have a good relief corps. Newly acquired Tyler Clippard was brilliant in his six seasons as a National, and can easily serve as either Oakland’s closer or top set-up man. The A’s will bring back every other crucial member of their bullpen from last year, including Fernando Abad, Ryan Cook, Eric O’Flaherty, Dan Otero, and Evan Scribner (the worst of the bunch). Cook and O’Flaherty both missed time last year, and if the pair is healthy this season, the A’s should be in fine shape overall.
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 11: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on October 11, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
7. Orioles. Like the A’s ahead of them, the Orioles bring back all but one key member of their bullpen for the 2015 season. Unfortunately for Baltimore, that one member is an important one – trade deadline acquisition Andrew Miller, who pitched 20 innings for the Orioles in the second half, allowed three runs, struck out 34, and walked four. He’ll be a huge loss, especially considering he’s going to the division rival Yankees. But Baltimore brings back all of the other crucial members of their pen, and they hope there won’t be much of a drop off. Converted starter Zach Britton will reprise his role in the ninth inning following a season in which he had a 1.65 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings. The rubber-armed Darren O’Day is also back, fresh off of a year in which he struck out 73 and pitched to a 1.70 ERA in 68 2/3 innings. The flamethrowing Tommy Hunter is back. Ex-Padre Brad Brach is back. Brian Matusz, another converted starter, has thrived in the bullpen, and will once again take up resident in the back of the bullpen. Baltimore’s relief corps is so loaded that 2015 stalwarts Ryan Webb and T.J. McFarland might not even be guaranteed jobs. This is one hell of a crew, even without Miller doing his thing in front of Britton.
8. Pirates. That common refrain strikes again – all the best names are back. Tony Watson struck out 81 and walked 15 over 77 1/3 innings. Mark Melancon saved 33 games, struck out 71, and walked 11 in 71 innings. Jared Hughes only struck out 36 and walked 19, but did throw 64 1/3 innings. All three of those guys had an ERA under 2.00, and they’re all back in the gold this season. John Holdzkom was a revelation down the stretch for Pittsburgh, striking out 14 and walking two over nine September innings, and he’ll be in the fold for a full year. One of the new names with the club is former Phillie Antonio Bastardo, who struck out 81 in 64 innings last year and will serve as the team’s primary middle innings lefty. The two remaining spots are up for grabs, though one is expected to go to former Orioles prospect Radhames Liz, who struggled in the minors with the Blue Jays last season but held his own in the hitter-friendly KBO in the three years prior to that. Pittsburgh has a great group of relievers, and that will help them immensely in the NL Central.
9. Braves. Atlanta looked at their 2014 bullpen, one of the team’s few bright spots, and blew it up. David Carpenter, Chasen Shreve, Anthony Varvaro, and Jordan Walden were all traded. The only player left guaranteed a spot is Craig Kimbrel, baseball’s best closer and a pitcher coming off of a 1.61 ERA, 95 strikeout, 47 save campaign. I’d assume lefty James Russell will also have a spot considering the Braves already settled with him in arbitration. In 20 1/3 innings after his trade from the Cubs last year, Russell had a 2.66 ERA 12 strikeouts, and three walks. Several new veteran faces will take up residence in the Braves bullpen, including ex-closers Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson. Johnson was brutal in 2014, but Grilli was pretty good, striking out 36 and walking ten in 33 2/3 innings after he was traded from the Pirates to the Angels. The other spots in Atlanta’s bullpen will go to a blend of veteran non-roster invitees and young pitchers looking to make an impact – Shae Simmons, Arodys Vizcaino, Juan Jaime, Matt Capps, and Jose Veras are just some of those guys. Needless to say, Atlanta has options, but they’re not all that bad. When you’re looking for auxiliary relievers as opposed to key bullpen pieces, you’re in a pretty decent spot.
10. Indians. Cleveland’s bullpen had a sneaky good 2014, and it was largely ignored because of how good the Tribe’s rotation was. Closer Cody Allen struck out 91 and walked 26 in 69 2/3 innings. Top set-up man Bryan Shaw struck out 64 in 76 1/3 innings. Nick Hagadone finally broke through, punching out 27 hitters over 23 1/3 innings. LOOGY Mark Rzepczynski threw 46 innings over 73 games, and struck out 46. Scott Atchison had a 2.75 ERA over 72 innings. In 30 innings, Kyle Crockett punched out 28. Zach McAllister struck out 14 and walked two over 13 innings once he converted to the bullpen. Oh, and all seven of those players had ERAs under 3.00, and they’ll all be back in 2015. Good luck, AL Central.
Honorable mentions: Cardinals, Marlins, Nationals
