MLB Best: Is Craig Kimbrel the Best Reliever in Baseball?
By Ben Fadden
We will be compiling a list of the top three players at each position including designated hitter leading into Spring Training. These MLB best lists are based on career stats/accomplishments, 2018 statistics, and especially their projections going into 2019. Today we continue with Relief Pitchers.
Yesterday I wrote about the best catchers in baseball, and today we move to the mound with the relief pitchers.
Without further ado, there are only three spots on the list, so let’s go through the relievers that were just short:
Just Missed
Blake Treinen (Oakland Athletics)
Blake Treinen had some mediocre years in the nation’s capital with the Nationals, but once got to the West Coast he started to dominate. He helped shut down games for the A’s, getting 38 saves last season with an ERA of 0.78.
The reason I did not put him on the list was he has not been able to pitch well when he was in Washington, so until he is more consistent he will be off my list.
Sean Doolittle (Washington Nationals)
Sean Doolittle was not able to get his ERA down from over 3 when he was in Oakland, but in his first full year as the closer in Washington, he got his ERA down to 1.60. It is the same concept as Treinen, so if he is able to stay consistent, then he will be on the list.
It is ironic that the two relief pitchers that I have listed were traded for each other in a trade, so Treinen went to Oakland because he was not working out, and Doolittle went to Washington.
Aroldis Chapman (New York Yankees)
Aroldis Chapman is still able to hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun whenever he wants, but over the years has slowed down a little bit, with his fastball now at around 97 mph.
But now with everyone throwing 95, hitters can adjust to Chapman, so his ERA will keep going up.
Lets get to the list. #3 is in a new home and led the league in saves in 2018…