MLB: Relief Pitchers Who Could Close if Given the Chance

There are only 30 closer spots in the MLB, but that doesn’t mean that there are only 30 pitchers that could finish games. Major League Baseball is filled with quality relief pitchers who are just in need of an opportunity to be the last man between their team and a victory.

Being able to close a game in the ninth inning is something that is very highly valued by teams across the MLB. Now more than ever clubs are paying a premium price for relief pitchers who have the pitching arsenal and production to hold down wins. What the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs had to pay for elite late-inning relievers like Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman just further signals the increase in value that closers have across the majors. Heck, even non-closers are being getting a lot back in trades and are earning a lot on the open market.

Brewers left-hander, Will Smith, was able to fetch the top prospects in the San Francisco Giants farm system in Phil Bickford. They also had to send promoting young catcher Andrew Susac to Milwaukee as well. Jeremy Jeffress was included in a deal that included Jonathan Lucroy and top prospects Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz. Ryan Madson, who was coming off a single season of success with Kansas City, got a three-year, $22 million deal from the Oakland Athletics in free agency. The Red Sox had to trade away some of their best from their farm system in outfielder Manuel Margot and infielder Javier Guerra. Darren O’Day got over $30 million in his mid 30s. The list goes on and on.

However, while relievers have gained increased importance with the uncertainty of injuries with starting pitchers, that doesn’t mean that many teams don’t have multiple potential closing options on their roster. Across the MLB, there are relief pitchers who have the numbers and the stuff to fulfill the role of closer for a ballclub. Let’s breakdown some non-closing relievers who would succeed in the ninth inning if given the chance.

Please note that this list focuses on relievers that would perform well in a closer’s role right now. There are many capable young hurlers that have the potential to be a closer one day, but they may not be ready as of yet.