AL West Closers

OAK: Huston Street
Back-up: Justin Duchscherer, Kiko Calero

SEA: Eddie Guardado
Back-up: JJ Putz, Rafael Soriano

ANA: Francisco Rodriguez
Back-up: Scot Shields

TEX: Francisco Cordero
Back-up: Akinori Otsuka, Joaquin Benoit

Cordero was shut down earlier this spring with some shoulder tenderness. If anything comes from it, Otsuka would get the first chance to close. However, Joaquin Benoit has the statisitcs that would lead me to think he could successfully relieve and maybe close.

His overall numbers were good - a 3,72 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with nearly a K per inning pitched. But when you look at his numbers as a reliever, you really see piqued curiousity. 42 innings and 42 strikeouts, 20 hits and one HR compared to 45 IP 36 K 49 H and 8 HR as a starter.

Because Otsuka is first in line, Benoit should go for $1. Maybe $2. Grab him!

Scot Shields is no secret as a middle reliever. He has thrown 90+ innings in each of the last three seasons with good ERA and WHIP, and, in the past two, he has won at least 8 games and garnered 4 and 7 saves. He is a better than the majority of SP available. He is easily worth between $5-$10 on performance alone. Because he is the back-up closer, a draft value of $10+ is merited.

In Seattle, Rafael Soriano is the choice of the Rotocommentariat to close after Guardado's contracts ends at the end of this season (or he is dealt.) I would tend to agree except Soriano has not pitched much in the the past two seasons (23 total innings 27 Ks in 2004 and 23.1/33 in 2005), and I wonder if he will ever be healthy for a long enough time to have the role.

Huston Street is locked into the role for a few seasons, but Justin Duchscherer is a quality middle reliever who should be drafted regardless. He could fill a Scot Shields-type role minus the strikeouts. He has won 7 games each of the last two seasons and saved 5 last year. A $5 salary is within reason. Kiko Calero may get a shot as I recall he got a couple save opportunities in StL back in 2004, but Duch looks like a better bet.