Los Angeles Angels: Closer options for the 2018 season

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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Manager Mike Scioscia /

One of the strengths of the 2017 Los Angeles Angels team was its bullpen. Although the club didn’t have a definitive closer all season. Who could man the closer’s role in 2018?

The Los Angeles Angels weren’t supposed to compete in 2017, but they battled until late September before finally being eliminated from playoff contention. One of the main reasons the Angels stayed in the playoff picture for so long was because of the success of their bullpen.

The Angels injury-riddled starting rotation led to the team’s relievers seeing the field a lot in 2017. Angels relievers pitched 569 innings last season, which ranked eighth most in baseball. Their 3.92 ERA and .240 batting average against both ranked 11th.

Usually, a good bullpen consists of a dominant closer. The Angels didn’t have that in 2017, despite recording 43 saves, ninth most in baseball.

Manager Mike Scioscia ran the ninth inning with more of a closer by committee approach. Eight different relievers recorded a save for the Angels last season. The eight include Bud Norris (19), Blake Parker (9), Cam Bedrosian (6), Yusmeiro Petit (4), Keynan Middleton (3), Jose Alvarez (1), David Hernandez (1) and Eduardo Paredes (1).

Heading into the 2018 season, Parker, Bedrosian, Middleton, Alvarez, and Paredes remain on the team.

Petit, who was one of the most underrated relievers in 2017, hit free agency after the season ended. He signed a two-year, $10 million with the Oakland A’s on Nov. 30.

The Los Angeles Angels also bolstered their bullpen by acquiring Jim Johnson from the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 1.

Assuming Scioscia won’t use a closer by committee role in 2018, let’s look at who could take over as the Angels main closer next season.

Cam Bedrosian

The Los Angeles Angels started the 2017 season with Cam Bedrosian as their closer. The decision came after Bedrosian’s breakout season in 2016.

After struggling in his first two big-league seasons, Bedrosian displayed his potential in 2016. In 40.1 innings pitched, the right-hander posted a 1.12 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 1.091 WHIP and 51 strikeouts. Although he only earned one save in two opportunities.

With Huston Street injured to start the 2017 season, Scioscia opted to hand the ball to Bedrosian in save situations. Bedrosian recorded three saves in April before suffering a groin strain that landed him on the DL.

Bedrosian’s injury kept him off the field until June 17. By the time he returned to the Angels bullpen, Bud Norris had become the closer. Over the remainder of the season, Bedrosian recorded just three more saves.

It was a tale of two halves for Bedrosian. Before the All-Star break, the 26-year-old owned a 1.69 ERA with a .196 batting average against and 21 strikeouts. But after the break, he held an abysmal ERA of 5.97 with a .261 batting average against and 32 strikeouts.

His poor second half could mean that he wasn’t truly healthy while playing. Or it could mean that he regressed back to his 2014-2015 season. Or perhaps Bedrosian is a streaky player.

Bedrosian’s poor second half might make it difficult for Scioscia to name him the closer heading into 2018. But when Bedrosian is at his best, he’s tough to beat. Scioscia could ultimately go with him based on his high upside.

Blake Parker

One of the biggest surprises of the 2017 Los Angeles Angels season was the success of Blake Parker. In December of 2016, the Los Angeles Angels claimed Parker from the Brewers. It turned out to be one of their best moves of the offseason.

The Angels were unsure if Parker would make an impact on the team. By the end of the season, he was one of the best relievers for them. He also emerged as the Angels closer by the end of the season.

Before the 2017 season, Parker had played in MLB for four seasons with three different teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and New York Yankees. In those four seasons, he carried a 3.87 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 1.357 WHIP with 100 total strikeouts.

Parker’s breakout 2017 season included a 2.54 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 0.832 WHIP and 86 strikeouts. In his previous four seasons, Parker pitched 90.2 innings, but with the Angels, he pitched 67.1 innings alone.

A mixture of a depleted rotation and success led to Scioscia handing Parker the ball a lot last season. He had the hot-hand toward the end of the season and converted seven of his eight saves after August 25.

Scioscia could roll with Parker as closer in 2018 because of his dominance all year long and his success at closer when given a chance in 2017.

Jim Johnson

One of the Los Angeles Angels options at closer in 2018 is a player they just recently acquired. Jim Johnson, who the Angels acquired from the Braves on Dec. 1, could emerge as the team’s closer in 2018.

Johnson enters his 13th season in 2018. The right-hander has closed for teams off and on throughout his career. His most successful seasons came with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2012, he recorded 51 saves in 54 attempts. His standout season earned him an All-Star selection. He then recorded 50 saves the following season.

Since the 2013 season, Johnson has recorded 54 saves altogether. He bounced around from the Oakland Athletics to the Detroit Tigers to the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Braves. His 176 saves are far and away the most by any Angels reliever on the roster.

Over the past two seasons with the Braves, Johnson has recorded 20 and 22 saves, respectively. Despite his 22 saves, the 34-year-old struggled in 2017. He posted a 5.56 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 1.482 WHIP with 61 strikeouts.

Although, with his experience as a closer and his veteran presence, Scioscia could easily hand him the ball as the closer to start the 2018 season. Any stumbles or struggles from Johnson, though, and he would lose that role quickly.

Free Agent Relievers

If none of the Los Angeles Angels current relievers satisfy what they are looking for in a closer for the 2018 season, the team could look at the free agent market for the solution. Here are four possible free agent relief pitchers the Angels could sign and use as closer in 2018.

Greg Holland

The former dominant closer for the Kansas City Royals, Greg Holland, bounced back from Tommy John surgery and pitched well as the closer for the Colorado Rockies in 2017.

His 2017 stats included a 3.61 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 1.151 WHIP, 70 strikeouts and 41 saves. His success last season earned him NL Comeback Player of the Year.

Wade Davis

Another part of the Royals strong 2015 World Series bullpen, Wade Davis hit free agency this offseason. The Cubs traded for Davis before the start of the 2017 season.

The starter-turned-reliever posted a 2.30 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.142 WHIP, 79 strikeouts and 32 saves last season.

Brandon Kintzler

More from Call to the Pen

After a great start to the 2017 season, Brandon Kintzler earned himself his first All-Star game selection. The Minnesota Twins traded him to the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline in 2017.

With the Twins, Kintzler worked as the closer, but with the Nationals, he pitched as a setup man. His 2017 stats include 29 saves, a 3.03 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.150 WHIP and 39 strikeouts.

Juan Nicasio

Juan Nicasio pitched for three different teams in 2017, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals. He could be a cheaper alternative to the other three pitchers mentioned above.

In 2017, Nicasio converted six saves in 10 opportunities. He also carried a 2.61 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 1.078 WHIP and 72 strikeouts.

Next: Angels potential options at second base in 2018

No matter whom the Los Angeles Angeles choose, they need to pull the trigger on one of these back-end closers to contend during the 2018 campaign.

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