NL Central Closers

STL: Jason Isringhausen
Back-up: Braden Looper

HOU: Brad Lidge
Back-up: Dan Wheeler, Chad Qualls

PIT: Mike Gonzalez
Back-up: Roberto Hernandez, Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte

CHC: Ryan Dempster
Back-up: Bobby Howry

MLW: Derek Turnbow
Back-up: Matt Wise, Jose Capellan

CIN: David Weathers
Back-up: Todd Coffey, Ryan Wagner, Matt Belisle

I remember dealing Brad Lidge a month before the Astros reversed course and dealt Octavio Dotel to the A's and made Lidge one of the best closers in the game.

During the Miguel Tejada "crisis" this winter, Lidge was rumored to be included in a deal to the Orioles for Tejeda. With the Astros previous actions in mind, I did not dimiss the deal because the players rumored to be involved (Lidge, Everett, Lane/Tavares) would have been a no-brainer for the O's to accept, and the fact they did not must mean it was an internet-generated rumor.

Oh no. I am convinced Lidge is available and, if he doesn't quickly rebound from his disastrous season's end, I can see the Astros dealing him just as quickly as they dealt Dotel. Because of this, I would grab Wheeler or Qualls. Wheeler has the slight edge because his strikeouts were better and he was the statistically-better pitcher last year. One caveat though, Wheeler does have more service time, so the Astros may be more inclined to keep the less expensive Qualls instead and deal Wheeler, too!

I have expressed concern about Pittsburgh's Mike Gonzalez, but a look at potential closers in the Pirates' bullpen makes me think his job is safer than his walks would indicate. However, Jim Tracy went through Brazoban and Schmoll before settling on Duaner Sanchez last season with the Dodgers, and the Pirates 'pen looks like it may provide the same "opportunity" for several pitchers to grab saves if Gonzalez struggles.