MLB free agency Relief Corps: Greg Holland, Tony Watson, Trevor Rosenthal
All of the attention paid toward relief pitchers this offseason centered on Wade Davis. Though he was not nearly as dominant on the Cubs as he was on the Royals, he still earned a monumental amount of cash. Colorado will figure out whether he’s worth every penny over the next three years.
Still, it’s surprising to see two of the three guys mentioned in the MLB free agency market.
Watson is arguably the only premier left-handed pitcher in free agency. But his depleted numbers may have directed teams elsewhere to acquire a southpaw.
The left-hander was never deemed an elite closer, but he was difficult to hit against. While in Pittsburgh, he compiled a combined 2.68 ERA throughout seven seasons. HIs numbers in Los Angeles were similar as well.
His closing days may be over, but he’s still a good option late in games. Watson upped his strikeout rate during his stint on the Dodgers, and he sported a similar hit ratio compared to his glory days on the Bucs.
Even if he’s not an overpowering closer, he’s a great setup option, especially for teams in dire need of a lefty reliever.
Fans and analysts turned their heads away from Rosenthal and Holland across the past few seasons. Holland replied by accruing a league-high 41 saves. Rosenthal rebounded by posting a career-high strikeout ratio.
Neither might possess a closing job by March, but they offer nearly every team an experienced, electric arm in the pen. Holland is a three-time All-Star, while Rosenthal collected 40-plus saves in two seasons.
Both fell under the radar throughout the past few seasons. Holland missed the entire 2016 campaign, and fans didn’t know if he planned to pitch again. Opposing hitters lit up Rosenthal more often than not in 2016, so he lost his closing job in St. Louis.
Holland is likely the only one to become a ninth-inning fireman immediately. The Rockies offered him a deal, but he rejected. Other teams might want him as a setup guy. Thus he may have to accept it to get some money this season.
On the other hand, teams will probably hand Rosenthal a deal to be a middle reliever. Despite racking up more strikeouts than usual, he still allowed more hits than his career average, leading to a 3.40 ERA.
Most teams would be glad to have either of these three options in their pens. Piecing the three together also gives any relief staff any upgrade, though that won’t happen.