Pitching is the name of the game

[corkedbat]

A 1 or 2 year deal with Madsen is fine by me. Always a chance by then someone else in the bullpen or farm system emerges. No reason to sign a long contract with a closer.

MLBTR has a blurb saying he (and Boras) may have reached a point where they will consider a 1yr/deal. I'd give him 2yrs./$20M

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

There is another piece a little further down that says Wei-Yin Chen is looking at around 4yrs/$20M. What I've heard of him haven't been bad. Anybody here know much about him? If they were to deal Homer and create a hole in the roatation would he be worth a look?

[corkedbat]

A 1 or 2 year deal with Madsen is fine by me. Always a chance by then someone else in the bullpen or farm system emerges. No reason to sign a long contract with a closer.

As for Closers in waiting, I guess Christiani and Josh Smith are next in line. I would say, going by past performance, we can expect them to take at least a couple of college closers in the first 10-12 rounds of June's draft that they think they can fast track.

[Mario-Rijo]

As for Closers in waiting, I guess Christiani and Josh Smith are next in line. I would say, going by past performance, we can expect them to take at least a couple of college closers in the first 10-12 rounds of June's draft that they think they can fast track.

I still like Donnie Joseph to bounce back at some point as well. Not sure he is a closer but a potential impact high leverage arm no doubt.

[mth123]

I still like Donnie Joseph to bounce back at some point as well. Not sure he is a closer but a potential impact high leverage arm no doubt.

If a closer comes from within at some point, I'm guessing it will be one of the starters converting. I'm guessing Sulbaran or Crabbe might end-up there at some point. The rotation will likely be full when they are ready and there may not be room for either let alone both.

Of course, I still suspect Chapman may yet end up there. If Chapman sticks in the rotation, I'm guessing Sulbaran or Crabbe.

[Roy Tucker]

As for Closers in waiting, I guess Christiani and Josh Smith are next in line. I would say, going by past performance, we can expect them to take at least a couple of college closers in the first 10-12 rounds of June's draft that they think they can fast track.

Just no more Ryan Wagners.

[MikeS21]

Speaking of pitching, anyone remember this picture in the Cincinnati Enquirer a couple years back?



Here's the link to the article:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...young-pitchers

[dougdirt]

If a closer comes from within at some point, I'm guessing it will be one of the starters converting. I'm guessing Sulbaran or Crabbe might end-up there at some point. The rotation will likely be full when they are ready and there may not be room for either let alone both.

Of course, I still suspect Chapman may yet end up there. If Chapman sticks in the rotation, I'm guessing Sulbaran or Crabbe.

While I get the feeling Chapman will wind up being that guy, I think Crabbe or maybe even Cingrani could be guys they may try to fast track there if they get antsy about it. Both guys have two well above average pitches.

Josh Smith, even as a reliever, isn't a closer. I like him as a reliever, but he is more of a 7th inning type of guy. Christiani probably doesn't have the stuff for closing. Sulbaran is someone I see them sticking with at starter. Joseph is a wild card. If he can throw his slider for strikes, he can close. He hasn't been able to throw his slider for strikes with any kind of consistency though.

[Scrap Irony]

Judy has closed in the minors. He may be that guy eventually. Brackman has the stuff (or used to) and the intimidation factor.