How much do you pay for a closer?

Mister_G · 05-02-2014, 10:13 PM

Here's a look at David Robertson (with my scout and scouting on high, 1-10 scale)...

Not bad eh?

He's tied for 2nd in the majors in saves and in pitcher VORP among relievers he is 5th overall (2nd among closers).

Originally I had tried to sign him to an extension very early in the year at around $4mil. He asked for more and drove the price up to about $6 or $7mil until I decided to wait it out. Now he's asking for 5 years, $72mil. Poor decision by me.

Usually I don't pay for relievers, but Robertson has been holding it down and is the only very good pitcher in my bullpen this season, with only two other relievers owning an ERA under 5.25.

Any suggestions? I have money to play with in the off-season, but Alfonso Soriano is asking for $19mil, Carlos Beltran will be out until mid-June with a torn labrum, my rotation is nearly shot (besides Tanaka...although CC has managed to win 20 games with a 4.30 ERA), my bullpen's crap, and my infield leaves something to be desired aside from Teixeira and Brian Roberts who have had comeback seasons.

Cras · 05-02-2014, 11:05 PM

He is 29 years old. It is not really the yearly salary that got my attention but the years. No way would I want to give him a 5 year contract. You may be having a hard time at the moment finding good relief pitching but it isnt gonna be that hard always. If that is what he wants, and he gets it from someone else.....oh well. Take that money and spend it elsewhere, and find someone else to close games for you. A closer may be hard to find but Closers are not 5 years 72 million hard to find.

RchW · 05-02-2014, 11:24 PM

Just like real life relief pitchers are common. It's OK to pay $++ for the best but be ruthless from year to year for any MR who is not dominant.

Mister_G · 05-02-2014, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Just like real life relief pitchers are common. It's OK to pay $++ for the best but be ruthless from year to year for any MR who is not dominant.

Robertson has been pretty dominant.

Though I must say, he might have made the decision for me in the ALDS. Gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 1.1 IP in game one against Tampa. Then, down 2-0, facing elimination with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, I brought him in for Michael Pineda and he managed to walk in the series-winning run...

JCarter93 · 05-03-2014, 01:42 AM

I subscribe to the belief that closing is kind of overrated. I don't know if this is borne out in the game, but your chances of winning with a two or three run lead in the 9th are in the neighborhood of 90% with a good closer and 85% with an average closer, at least according to the metrics guys. I have done well throwing whichever middle reliever is on hand into those situations and just using my best middle reliever in 1-run situations or when the game is about to get out of hand. Either way, I don't pay more than 3 million or so for him. You can also manufacture a decent closer just by finding a middle relief guy with two high-rated pitches.

Avindian · 05-03-2014, 04:44 AM

Five years for a 29 year old closer is a bit expensive. I'd include some options at the backend of that deal, or frontload it. However, remember that relievers are extraordinarily fungible.

fsclb66 · 05-03-2014, 06:52 AM

I dont go over 3 years or more then 9 mil a year for a closer and I have to really like them in order to offer that, but im usually controlling a small to mid market team and imo the bullpen is one of the easier places to save money while still finding effrctive players, if you have a big market team with plenty of cash to spend overpaying for a dominant closer isnt a bad idea

BMD · 05-03-2014, 08:56 AM

Wait, this is the Yankees we are talking about here. Just give him 8 years and 135 million and done with it. It's only money.

r0nster · 05-03-2014, 09:28 AM

I would first suggest you explore around in your league and your farm clubs for any better reliever and at a salary you can afford then see if you can simply trade for that player or sign him in FA if you can wait that long. If you are not able to find one then sign him in hopes that you will discover a better reliever and trade this guy later. Either way hope it work out for you. As for me I would have no problem signing for 5 years with this guy in my world for I have seen a few relievers amazingly go into the 40s and not lose their stuff. However ultimately the choice is yours.

Blue pill keep .....red pill let go or trade.

Raidergoo · 05-03-2014, 09:59 AM

I pay minimum wage. They're closers, thus, they're fungible.

MrWideFrame · 05-03-2014, 01:46 PM

If I have excess cash I'm willing to overpay for a 1 year contract However, relief pitching is so easy to develop and there is usually a plethora of solid relievers you can sign for cheap near the end of free agency.

damientheomen3 · 05-03-2014, 03:29 PM

$14.4 million a year can get you 3 effective relievers and, if you really look closely, you can find a guy or two each year in FA that'll come close to that production at a third of the cost. It's just not worth it to put that much money into one bullpen arm unless the rest of your pen is young and cheap.

conception · 05-03-2014, 03:47 PM

If a guy is an in-house guy that I've had for a while, I will pay a reasonable rate. If I have a vacancy, I tend to try and find bargains on the FA market and sign more than one. There are always some relievers asking top dollar right beside some asking for near minimum. The difference isn't always that much in terms of talent.

Mister_G · 05-03-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrWideFrame

If I have excess cash I'm willing to overpay for a 1 year contract However, relief pitching is so easy to develop and there is usually a plethora of solid relievers you can sign for cheap near the end of free agency.

I seem to have an issue in developing relievers.

Anyway, I had a lot less money in the off-season than I thought I would. Let him go. Made a ton of changes. Signed Hanley Ramirez, Adam Dunn and Torii Hunter in the off-season to fill out my lineup. Traded David Phelps for Joe Kelly. Signed Josh Beckett, Matt Magill and Josh Johnson for around $1mil each to piece together a rotation after losing out on James Shields.

As for the bullpen, signed Chris Perez and John Axford after good years and traded Matt Thornton and a couple prospects for Sean Dolittle and Caleb Gindl. Dolittle has been closing.

2nd in the AL in Bullpen ERA thanks to the minor leaguers I brought up. Perez and Dolittle have really been struggling. Somehow I'm 18-11 with Carlos Beltran still a couple months way form coming back.

smegma · 05-03-2014, 06:03 PM

Shutdown relief pitchers are fungible to the point of personal preference — or at least, they were in OOTP14.

Trawl the waiver wire; two or three starting-caliber bullpen arms pop up each season.

The Rule 5 Draft is positively littered with good young flamethrowers, and you can very easily acquire them via trade if you'd rather.

During the amateur draft in June, be sure to check the pitching stats of all the position players. There are some absolute firemen in there pretending to be shortstops, typically several rounds removed from the annual crop of college closers.

And if nothing else, I feel obligated to tell you that $800,000 and a rookie leaguer is usually enough to pry away anyone's high-ceiling relief prospects.

In this way you can construct a league-best bullpen basically at your own discretion.

frangipard · 05-03-2014, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCarter93

I subscribe to the belief that closing is kind of overrated. I don't know if this is borne out in the game, but your chances of winning with a two or three run lead in the 9th are in the neighborhood of 90% with a good closer and 85% with an average closer, at least according to the metrics guys. I have done well throwing whichever middle reliever is on hand into those situations and just using my best middle reliever in 1-run situations or when the game is about to get out of hand. Either way, I don't pay more than 3 million or so for him. You can also manufacture a decent closer just by finding a middle relief guy with two high-rated pitches.

Exactly. Using your best reliever with a 3 run lead in the ninth because it's a "save situation," while letting him sit during a tie ballgame, is foolishness. I'll also use my best reliever in the 7th or 8th if the best hitters are up, and then let another guy face the bottom of the lineup in the 9th.

Not only is it smart on a tactical level, it makes sense strategically because my best relievers have only 15-20 saves, and so don't demand as much money as a "proven closer."

05-02-2014, 10:13 PM	#1
Mister_G All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 576	How much do you pay for a closer? Here's a look at David Robertson (with my scout and scouting on high, 1-10 scale)... Not bad eh? He's tied for 2nd in the majors in saves and in pitcher VORP among relievers he is 5th overall (2nd among closers). Originally I had tried to sign him to an extension very early in the year at around $4mil. He asked for more and drove the price up to about $6 or $7mil until I decided to wait it out. Now he's asking for 5 years, $72mil. Poor decision by me. Usually I don't pay for relievers, but Robertson has been holding it down and is the only very good pitcher in my bullpen this season, with only two other relievers owning an ERA under 5.25. Any suggestions? I have money to play with in the off-season, but Alfonso Soriano is asking for $19mil, Carlos Beltran will be out until mid-June with a torn labrum, my rotation is nearly shot (besides Tanaka...although CC has managed to win 20 games with a 4.30 ERA), my bullpen's crap, and my infield leaves something to be desired aside from Teixeira and Brian Roberts who have had comeback seasons. __________________ A man doesn't make mistakes, mistakes make the man @MisterG90

05-02-2014, 11:05 PM	#2
Cras Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: LEO Posts: 3,789	He is 29 years old. It is not really the yearly salary that got my attention but the years. No way would I want to give him a 5 year contract. You may be having a hard time at the moment finding good relief pitching but it isnt gonna be that hard always. If that is what he wants, and he gets it from someone else.....oh well. Take that money and spend it elsewhere, and find someone else to close games for you. A closer may be hard to find but Closers are not 5 years 72 million hard to find. __________________ The Chicago White Sox 1906, 1917, 2005 World Series Champions 1900, 1901, 1906, 1917, 1919, 1959, 2005 American League Champions 2000, 2005, 2008 American League Central Division Champions 1983, 1993 American League West Division Champions OOTP \| Orbiter \| SSMS \| FSX \| LoL \| MLP:FIM!

05-02-2014, 11:24 PM	#3
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Toronto ON by way of Glasgow UK Posts: 15,629	Just like real life relief pitchers are common. It's OK to pay $++ for the best but be ruthless from year to year for any MR who is not dominant. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

05-03-2014, 01:42 AM	#5
JCarter93 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 157	I subscribe to the belief that closing is kind of overrated. I don't know if this is borne out in the game, but your chances of winning with a two or three run lead in the 9th are in the neighborhood of 90% with a good closer and 85% with an average closer, at least according to the metrics guys. I have done well throwing whichever middle reliever is on hand into those situations and just using my best middle reliever in 1-run situations or when the game is about to get out of hand. Either way, I don't pay more than 3 million or so for him. You can also manufacture a decent closer just by finding a middle relief guy with two high-rated pitches.

05-03-2014, 04:44 AM	#6
Avindian Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 274	Five years for a 29 year old closer is a bit expensive. I'd include some options at the backend of that deal, or frontload it. However, remember that relievers are extraordinarily fungible.

05-03-2014, 06:52 AM	#7
fsclb66 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 92	I dont go over 3 years or more then 9 mil a year for a closer and I have to really like them in order to offer that, but im usually controlling a small to mid market team and imo the bullpen is one of the easier places to save money while still finding effrctive players, if you have a big market team with plenty of cash to spend overpaying for a dominant closer isnt a bad idea

05-03-2014, 08:56 AM	#8
BMD All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere raising the Jolly Roger Posts: 515	Wait, this is the Yankees we are talking about here. Just give him 8 years and 135 million and done with it. It's only money.

05-03-2014, 09:28 AM	#9
r0nster Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 3,082	I would first suggest you explore around in your league and your farm clubs for any better reliever and at a salary you can afford then see if you can simply trade for that player or sign him in FA if you can wait that long. If you are not able to find one then sign him in hopes that you will discover a better reliever and trade this guy later. Either way hope it work out for you. As for me I would have no problem signing for 5 years with this guy in my world for I have seen a few relievers amazingly go into the 40s and not lose their stuff. However ultimately the choice is yours. Blue pill keep .....red pill let go or trade.

05-03-2014, 09:59 AM	#10
Raidergoo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,005	I pay minimum wage. They're closers, thus, they're fungible.

05-03-2014, 01:46 PM	#11
MrWideFrame Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 224	If I have excess cash I'm willing to overpay for a 1 year contract However, relief pitching is so easy to develop and there is usually a plethora of solid relievers you can sign for cheap near the end of free agency.

05-03-2014, 03:47 PM	#13
conception All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,150	If a guy is an in-house guy that I've had for a while, I will pay a reasonable rate. If I have a vacancy, I tend to try and find bargains on the FA market and sign more than one. There are always some relievers asking top dollar right beside some asking for near minimum. The difference isn't always that much in terms of talent.

05-03-2014, 06:03 PM	#15
smegma Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 20	Shutdown relief pitchers are fungible to the point of personal preference — or at least, they were in OOTP14. Trawl the waiver wire; two or three starting-caliber bullpen arms pop up each season. The Rule 5 Draft is positively littered with good young flamethrowers, and you can very easily acquire them via trade if you'd rather. During the amateur draft in June, be sure to check the pitching stats of all the position players. There are some absolute firemen in there pretending to be shortstops, typically several rounds removed from the annual crop of college closers. And if nothing else, I feel obligated to tell you that $800,000 and a rookie leaguer is usually enough to pry away anyone's high-ceiling relief prospects. In this way you can construct a league-best bullpen basically at your own discretion.