RADIO
Sometimes, it's nice to take a break, kick your feet up, and just have a relatively quiet bullpen week. This was one of those weeks, and only the second one this season that didn't have some kind of huge news from at least one team's bullpen. There were still blown saves, confusing committees, and injuries though. So don't worry, there will always be something to talk about when discussing bullpens around the league.
The newest member of a team's bullpen may be quickly turning into its most important. A guy who was good in small doses last year may be getting another chance to turn into more of an extended release capsule this year. At least two teams that have been working with committees almost all year may finally be settling into some kind of ninth inning pattern. See? Still plenty to talk about.
Be sure to keep an eye on our RotoBaller Closers and Saves Bullpen Depth Charts. They're updated daily, or sometimes even more often in this wild 2021 baseball season. With that being said, here are the closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups to consider for Week 11 - June 7 through June 13.
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Bullpen News For The Week
Baltimore Orioles
We all knew the Orioles were demoting Cesar Valdez after his great start turned quickly into an extended rough stretch. What we didn't know was who they would choose for their ninth inning opportunities. Coachspeak made us all think that Paul Fry would be the top choice, and he still might end up being that, but the first chance went to Cole Sulser. Sulser was solid as a closer last season for a bit until he hit a slump of his own. He may get the first few chances and an opportunity to establish himself, but it seems more likely that Baltimore will use a committee mixing Fry, Sulser, and even Valdez for saves.
Risers: Cole Sulser, Paul Fry (?)
Fallers: Cesar Valdez
Tampa Bay Rays
At this point, other teams should be calling the Rays, seeing what players they are interested in, and then making sure to keep those exact players. The Brewers and Rays made an out-of-nowhere trade that sent (among others) J.P. Feyereisen to Tampa Bay. He made his Rays debut in a sixth inning role, but has seen four straight ninth inning appearances since then, converting three saves. It's the Rays, so no one is going to say Feyereisen is the closer, but his usage makes it clear that he's at least the head of the committee right now. On a team that's going to win plenty of games, that makes him a guy that should be rostered in all formats.
Risers: J.P. Feyereisen
Fallers: Diego Castillo, Peter Fairbanks
Seattle Mariners
While most other closer committees have some clear form of hierarchy, the Mariners committee may be the truest committee in the league right now. There doesn't seem to be any preference between Rafael Montero and Keynan Middleton, who have basically swapped save chances each time. Erik Swanson also mixed in and picked up a save this week, just in case anyone thought there were only two guys in this race. Whenever Kendall Graveman comes back, he should resume duties as head of the committee, but he's been out long enough to make that less than a sure thing. This could just be a messy bullpen going forward, with "who saves tonight's game if there's a chance?" generating a different answer every time.
Risers: Anyone who can sneak into the mind of Scott Servais
Fallers: Anyone who appreciates consistency
Short Relief
-the Twins bullpen is starting to pitch a lot better collectively, but it's still a committee in Minnesota. Taylor Rogers, Hansel Robles, and the re-emerging Alex Colome are mixing in to get them through the late innings.
-is Tejay Antone finally taking over in the Reds bullpen? Probably not, but he did reward his fantasy managers with a save. He'll continue to be used in the highest leverage situations, and those won't always be save chances. If anything, it looks like Lucas Sims is finally emerging as the closer in Cincinnati. We've thought that before though, so keep an eye on this pen.
-Greg Holland looked like "the guy" in the Royals pen now that Josh Staumont (knee) is on the injured list, with manager Mike Matheny going with the veteran the first chance he got. That made many people think it would be Holland's job, but Scott Barlow earned a two-inning save on Thursday, so maybe for seemingly the first time in Matheny's managerial career, we have a committee?
-the Giants have a committee going as well, but Tyler Rogers has a larger share than Jake McGee. McGee should still mix in for saves here and there, but Rogers is the guy to roster from this pen.
-Yimi Garcia's predictable regression might be here earlier than expected. Dylan Floro would logically be the next guy up, but Don Mattingly may choose to go with Anthony Bass for reasons no one can explain and that he himself can't defend.
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