With spring training right around the corner and the focus shifting to the MLB regular season, it’s time to put in the necessary research and preparation. There were some notable changes around the majors but not in the American League East where the division includes some of the best relievers in the game. Here is a breakdown of the outlook for the AL East bullpens based on perceived strength heading in to the 2017 season.
New York Yankees
The Yankees own the strongest bullpen in the AL East with a pair of top-five relievers leading the way in Aroldis Chapman and Delin Betances. Chapman has established himself as one of the top relievers in the game and there isn’t any reason to expect anything less from him after he posted a 1.55 ERA and a 13.97 K/9 last season. Meanwhile, Betances doesn’t post saves but his peripherals are good enough to rank him ahead of some actual closers for fantasy purposes. Betances registered a ridiculous 15.53 K/9 and a 3.45 BB/9 last season to solidify a Yankees bullpen that is among the best in the majors.
The Yankees offense has tapered off in recent years and the pitching staff looks like it is going to have to lead the way to the team’s success in 2017 as well. Hopefully the chemistry between Betances and Chapman – and how they handle their roles – will be a key to the Yankees’ coming season.
Baltimore Orioles
Zach Britton was a Cy Young candidate last season when he posted a 0.54 ERA and 47 saves in 67 innings. His 80-percent ground ball rate and 14.8-percent hard contact rate were among the best in baseball and there is no doubt he was the best closer in the game for fantasy purposes. Darren O’Day, Brad Brach and Mychal Givens make up an excellent relief staff behind Britton to solidify the Orioles bullpen as one of the best in the majors.
Britton struggled as a starting pitcher early on in his career but in the last couple of seasons, he’s been an All-Star caliber closer. He’s one of the strengths of the 2017 Orioles roster.
Boston Red Sox
Craig Kimbrel struggled with injuries and consistency last season when he seemed to fade from an elite closer to an above average closer. He’s still a top-15 closer in terms of fantasy potential but he won’t dominate the way guys like Chapman and Britton will when called upon. Tyler Thornburg is an excellent second option behind Kimbrel and the Red Sox have just enough depth to earn the third spot on this list of the best bullpens in the AL East.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto’s bullpen is clearly a step behind the rest of the division. Roberto Osuna is a quality closer but he is more ordinary than above average as indicated by his 20.5-percent infield fly rate. Meanwhile, the depth behind Osuna isn’t great with 40-year-old Jason Grilli as the team’s best setup man. The Blue Jays have talked about adding one or two arms to the bullpen at some point in spring training, but until something happens they will remain dangerously thin in terms of relief arms.
The Jays have struggled with this exact problem over the last handful of years and appear to be going into the season with shoestring and duck tape once again. We’ll see if the front office decides to address this problem or just ‘hopes for the best’ once again.
Tampa Bay Rays
The fact that the Rays are considering trading the top arm in their bullpen is scary when they already own the worst relief staff in the AL East. Alex Colome ran with the closer role a year ago when Brad Boxberger was injured and he finished last season with a solid 11.28 K/9. However, Tampa Bay has reportedly entertained offers for Colome and that could mean handing the closer role over to Boxberger without any added insurance behind him. Danny Farquhar, Matt Andriese and Shawn Tolleson comprise a decent staff but if the Rays wind up moving Colome they will be extremely thin on the back end.
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