Houston Astros: three choices to be the next lock down closer

Blake Taylor and Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros are worth a look.

A former second round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Blake Taylor came to town this offseason in the trade which saw Jake Marisnick go to the New York Mets.

Taylor has eleven career saves to his name in the minor leagues and prior to this year had not pitched a game in the majors.

Forced into action though because three/fourths the Houston Astros pitchers in summer camp have been sidelined with ailments at one time or another, Taylor has proven he is up to the task. He has thrown 7.1 innings spanning five game and has allowed just four base runners.

Featuring a low 90s fastball and put-a-way slider, this left hander has already shown he can handle high leverage situations.

Framber Valdez has experience out of the bullpen and would be a decent option for a late inning reliever as well. However, since the Josh James implosion happened, Valdez may be more valuable to the team as a starter, or long man mopping up the messes James leaves when exiting in the third inning each game.

Valdez once had trouble finding the strike zone on a regular basis. Now he seems to have corrected his wildness. Were the Astros to decide the final three outs were more important than the first 18 or so Valdez gives them, he could slide into the ninth inning role.