MLB Free Agency: Best Bullpen Options Outside of "Big Three"

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The MLB free agency market for closers is as good as it has been in recent memory. Outside of the three powerhouses, however, still lies talented options to come out of the bullpen.

Any MLB team that is in the market for a closer is in awe this offseason. Though Mark Melancon just signed with the Giants, Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen are still available. Each reliever has the ability to make a huge impact. This season the trio of closers had a combined 130 saves. In 198 innings they combined for a staggering 259 strikeouts. Each one of these guys is a great option, and it is hard to go wrong when choosing to sign any one of them.

Statistically, Melancon is the most dependable of the mix. He had the same amount of saves as Jansen with two less blown saves, and had a better save percentage than both. Melancon threw more innings than both men, and despite having the worst strike out numbers consistently got batters out. Despite not being as dominant of a force, Melancon still used his talent to be the dependable closer that he is.

Aroldis Chapman is the superstar of the mix. Although statistically he did not contribute as much as the others, his 100+ MPH fastballs are a spectacle of their own. His strike-out rate is considerably high and when his control his on he is near unhittable.

Kenley Jansen may be the best of both worlds out of the three men. Jansen shows the consistency of Melancon, only throwing three less innings with two more blown saves. Jansen strikes batters out at a great rate as well, as his cutter has been compared to Mariano Rivera. His ERA is the highest of the bunch, but at 1.83 it is not a concern.

Outside of this power trio however lies very productive bullpen arms. These guys may fly under the radar, but will definitely provide significantly in 2017.

Joe Blanton

Once a struggling starter, Joe Blanton has reignited himself coming out of the bullpen. Known for loving to only throw his slider, Blanton utilizes his short time on the mound to fool batters. Blanton was the Dodgers work horse in 2016. Out of relievers, Blanton ranked sixth in innings pitched with 80, first on the Dodgers. He put together a 7-2 record, which doesn’t mean too much coming out of the bullpen, with 28 holds, 80 strike outs, and a 2.48 ERA. Sure, he had a huge blunder in game one of the NLCS, but his consistent relliance on the slider makes him a reliable option out of the bullpen.

Blanton doesn’t have overpowering stuff by any means. His best role within a team would be to lock down an inning or two in the middle, or to set up a power pitching closer. Having Blanton come out and throw primarily sliders to set up the power throwing Kenley Jansen was very beneficial for the Dodgers. Both men benefited off of each other, so if put in the right situation Blanton likely can thrive further. Once a failed starter, Blanton has found his niche in the MLB and that is being a reliable bullpen option.

Blanton likely may want to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That is where he thrived and he may be afraid to lose his magic if he goes elsewhere. However, Blanton can sign with any team that needs bullpen help. Teams like the Rangers, Giants, and Blue Jays are all potential options for Blanton in 2017. While he might not be a Dodger, he will likely craft the same numbers that he did in Dodger Blue.

Brad Ziegler

The quirky side-armed release of Brad Ziegler produces one of the best bullpen options not only available but in the league.

Last season, in split time between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox, Ziegler posted a 2.25 ERA in 69 appearances. Ziegler threw 68 innings accounting for 58 strike outs, eight holds, and 22 saves. However, Ziegler had a staggering eight blown saves, making his save percentage 73%. While this isn’t bad, teams should be looking to Ziegler to provide seventh and eighth inning magic.

Despite his win-loss record being pretty bad (4-7) Ziegler still provides a great option out of the pen. If managed properly, the right-hander could be put in situations to thrive in and further advance his quality. Without the stress of closing, or facing left-handed batters, Ziegler could become an all-star.

While lefties don’t hit him at a much better rate, .267 opposed to .252, it has been evident in the changing landscape of the game that situational pitching is how to win baseball games. Long gone are the days of power vs. power, and in is the days of right vs. right and left vs. left. If Ziegler could adopt this, and only face left-handed batters when he needs to, he could become a great.

I know, I already mentioned the Dodgers with Blanton but this seems to be a good fit as well. Dave Roberts has thrived in putting pitchers in situations to make them succeed, hence his record-breaking amount of mound visits and having a top 3 bullpen in the game. With Jansen potentially leaving, the Dodgers need all the help they can get. However, realistically I can see Ziegler in Baltimore or St. Louis next season. Both teams have good bullpens that Ziegler can thrive in. Surrounding yourself with greatness often leads to better personal results.

Travis Wood

Surrounded by excellent pitching, Travis Wood seemingly gets left out of the mix as one of the best bullpen arms. The former starter made a permanent switch to the bullpen in 2016, and his performance showed that it was the right choice. Wood, in 77 appearances, crafted a 2.95 ERA with 47 strike outs. Although his strike out rate is pretty low, Wood got the job done.

The weird thing about Wood is that none of his numbers stick out as amazing. His walk rate, ground ball rate, and home run rate is above average, but not amazing. He leaves a good amount of runners on base, 78.2% of runners. Wood isn’t flashy, and he may have just been put in low leverage situations to succeed. However Joe Maddon used him, he used him effectively. Despite Wood potentially wanted to switch back into a starting pitcher, he should remain in the Bullpen and continue his 2016 success.

Wood would need to go to a team that can manage his work load and production. Geniuses such as Bruce Bochy, Terry Francona, and Dusty Baker could all manage Wood in a way that will benefit both sides. However, Wood’s best bet may be to return to the champion Chicago Cubs. With the possibility of losing Aroldis Chapman, the cubs must maintain the bullpen they have and improve on it. Wood has shown he can be very efficient with the Cubs, and instead of taking a risk Chicago should build on what they already know.

Shawn Tolleson

The definite dark horse of the mix, my prediction of Shawn Tolleson could be completely wrong.

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Out of these four arms, Tolleson has by leaps and bounds the worst 2016. Tolleson racked together a 7.68 ERA in 36.1 innings for the Texas Rangers. Being sent to AAA, and suffering a back injury took away from most of Tolleson’s workload in 2016.

The one time closer in Arlington lost his job, and effectively lost a lot of his value to teams this off-season. However, with his price likely being very low, a team could find a hidden gem for their bullpen in 2017.

Although he thrived as a closer initially, Tolleson should not be signed to be a closer next season. Sure, in 2015 he had 35 saves with only 2 blown saves, which is impressive. However, he was able to be put into that situation because of his performance as a middle to late game arm.

If Tolleson can be put back into that position, and pitches smarter, we may see the same results as 2014-15. When he was his best, Tolleson’s most valuable pitch was his slider. In a nutshell, to avoid going too far into advanced sabermetrics, FanGraphs rated Tolleson’s slider as his most valuable pitch in 2015. In 2014 it was his fastball, but as the years went on the fast ball became worse and worse, showing that MLB hitters were adjusting to the young right-hander.

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A team with considerable bullpen depth would be wise to take a chance on Tolleson. Perhaps teams like the Houston Astros or New York Yankees could utilize Tolleson’s talents. Putting him in low pressure situations, and easing him back into big moments could be the turning point of Tolleson’s career.

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