Boston Red Sox: Five potential closer candidates next season

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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 06: Pitcher Dellin Betances #68 of the New York Yankees pitches during the sixth inning of Game Two of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

3. Dellin Betances

Perhaps the Red Sox decide to do something that former general manager Dave Dombrowski should have done last season and sign a free agent relief pitcher to be their closer. If they do decide to go that route, opting to sign Dellin Betances could provide them with a potential closer candidate while weakening the bullpen of the rival New York Yankees.

Betances, once thought to be the future closer of the Yankees, is a flame-throwing righty who burst onto the scene with New York in 2014 when he racked up 135 strikeouts in 90 innings while pitching to a 1.40 earned run average and a minuscule 0.78 WHIP.

Betances filled in as the closer for the Bronx Bombers in parts of 2014, 2015, and 2016 when Aroldis Chapman was battling both injuries and struggles with blown saves. During that time, he was able to amass 31 saves, but he also blew 11 saves during that same span. As a result, the Yankees would sign or trade for other closer options such as Zack Britton or David Robertson to serve as the back up to Chapman as closer.

Is it possible that a change of scenery could benefit Betances and allow him to fulfill the promise he once had as an elite closer in the majors? If the Red Sox believe that could be the case, they should be in on Betances, as he has some of the best raw stuff in the game. It is not difficult to believe it could translate into him becoming a top closer in MLB.

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