Red Sox Feel Safe With Koji Uehara, Anyone Better?
Sep 25, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Koji Uehara (19) at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington made it a priority to re-sign closer Koji Uehara to a two-year, $18 million contract, this offseason. Even with new bullpen help from Alexi Ogando, Anthony Varvaro, Robbie Ross, and Zeke Spruill, look for Uehara to continue closing out games for the Red Sox in 2015.
Yet, the man is going to be 40 years old, this season. As much as pitchers can last that long, if not longer, especially if they are excellent closers, should Boston be preparing a ‘Plan B’? Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston stated recently that “only a handful of closers have recorded 30 or more saves past the age of 40,” and mentions the names on that list (ESPN.Go.com). How does Uehara stack up against those other elder statesmen of the ninth inning?
Let’s take a look at the slideshow and have your say to who is the best reliever after the age of 40:
** For the Edes article, click the following link: