Boston Red Sox: Five potential closer candidates next season

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Brandon Workman #44 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (not pictured) in the sixth inning of Game One of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Brandon Workman #44 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after striking out Gleyber Torres #25 of the New York Yankees (not pictured) in the sixth inning of Game One of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 23: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 23: Matt Barnes #32 of the Boston Red Sox delivers the pitch during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game One of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Five potential closer candidates for the Boston Red Sox going into next season, following a disappointing showing last year.

The Boston Red Sox struggled with closing out baseball games last season, with their relievers blowing a whopping 31 saves on the year. After failing to name a closer last season, the Red Sox struggled through the regular season with securing victories at the end of games.

As a result of their issues closing out victories, Boston found themselves out of playoff contention, only one year after a record-setting season, in which they tallied 108 victories and a World Series championship.

The Red Sox began the season using Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier in a closer-by-committee situation. The duo struggled badly and as a result, both would be removed from the role, with Brasier ultimately being demoted to the minors. They would continue to shift different pitchers into the closer role before ultimately settling on Brandon Workman at the end of the season. While he found success, he still had his share of blown saves.

Learning from last year’s debacle, the Red Sox will look to right the ship and name a definitive closer heading into the 2020 season. They will likely look both inside the organization, as well as outside the team via free agency and trade in an effort to find their closer for the upcoming season.

While a number of key closer options have been signed off of the free-agent market, options still exist for the Red Sox to explore. Obviously, the more proven arms will result in them impacting the salary constraints of the team, which is something the team is trying to be very cognizant of.

The Red Sox will likely be limited in who they can trade for this offseason, as their minor league system has been greatly diminished from what it was a few years ago. As a result, they lack the quantity or quality prospects that would likely be required to acquire big-name closers.

With those items in mind, here are five options that they could consider for the closer role in 2020:

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Brandon Workman #44 and Juan Centeno #68 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 22, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 22: Brandon Workman #44 and Juan Centeno #68 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 22, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

1. Brandon Workman

Brandon Workman was arguably the Boston Red Sox best pitcher last season. As a result, he ended up being the closer for most of the second half and pitched to decent peripherals for the Red Sox. In 2019, Workman would appear in 73 games, pitch 71 2/3 innings, to the tune of a 1.88 earned run average and 1.03 WHIP with 104 strikeouts, 16 saves and 15 holds.

Workman’s 2019 earned run average, WHIP, strikeouts, saves and holds would all be career bests. His innings pitched would be the highest since 2014, when he threw 87 innings. However, Workman would blow six saves on the year, leaving doubt as to whether he is best suited for the closer role.

The K/9 rate of Workman proves that he possesses the ability to get the strikeout in big spots. However, he is not the typical strikeout pitcher in major league baseball. Workman gets most of his strikeouts using softer breaking balls, rather than a blazing fastball. Given that he does not have the high heat to reach back and blow batters away, he may be better suited for a setup role.

That said, the peripherals and track record suggest that Workman could be a capable closer if the Red Sox choose to return him to the role. Boston may ultimately decide that their best option is to turn the ball over to the incumbent at the end of games and make Brandon Workman their closer in 2020.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 04: Darwinzon Hernandez #63 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on September 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 04: Darwinzon Hernandez #63 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park on September 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2. Darwinzon Hernandez

Darwinzon Hernandez came into last season as one of Boston’s top pitching prospects. When he was called up mid-season, he did not fail to live up to the hype. Hernandez showed the ability to pile up strikeouts with his blazing fastball, striking out 57 batters in just 30 1/3 innings.

However, Hernandez did struggle with his control, something that has plagued him throughout his minor league career. The 22-year-old rookie would average just under one walk per inning, walking a total of 26 batters on the year. As a result of his lack of command, he often left pitches over the plate a bit too much, allowing batters to collect 27 hits off of him last season.

Despite a lack of command and a propensity to give up hits, Hernandez did a decent job of limiting the damage allowed to opposing batters, giving up only one home run on the year and pitching to a respectable 4.45 earned run average, despite a bloated 1.75 WHIP.

Hernandez’s numbers are a bit skewed though, as he was roughed up when he was first brought up last season and at the very end of the season when fatigue may have been a factor. In between, he was as dominant as any pitcher on the Red Sox roster and looked every bit the part of a future closer.

Boston has stated that it intends on keeping Hernandez in the bullpen next season. Perhaps he takes a major step forward with his command and takes over the closer role next year. He certainly has the stuff that would suggest he could excel as a closer in the majors. Hernandez presents the Red Sox with a young, affordable, long-term option in the closer role, something that is likely very attractive to the team.

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)
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.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 01: Josh Hader #71 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning in the National League Wild Card game at Nationals Park on October 01, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 01: Josh Hader #71 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning in the National League Wild Card game at Nationals Park on October 01, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

4. Josh Hader

There have been rumors circulating that the Milwaukee Brewers are actively attempting to trade their All-Star closer, Josh Hader. If the rumors are true, the Red Sox could be open to pursuing a trade with the Brewers. Given that Hader is only scheduled to make $4.6 million next season, he provides the Red Sox with a low-cost option at closer who helps them remain within their salary cap conscious state.

In 2017 and 2018, Hader was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball for the Brewers. As a rookie, he struck out 68 batters in 47 2/3 innings, while pitching to a 2.08 earned run average and 0.99 WHIP. He would improve upon those numbers in 2018 by putting together a season that had him mentioned in Cy Young voting, amassing an eye-popping 143 strikeouts in just 81 1/3 innings. In addition, Hader would go 6-1 with 12 saves and have a 2.43 ERA and 0.81 WHIP.

In 2019, Hader would take over the role as the closer for Milwaukee, following injuries to Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress. Hader would pitch 75 2/3 innings, strike out 138 batters, record 38 saves, have an ERA of 2.62 and a WHIP of 0.81. Those numbers are extremely respectable for a closer. However, he would struggle with the home run ball and would serve up 15 homers on the year. Those home runs were the direct result of most of Hader’s seven blown saves on the season.

If the Red Sox feel that the Hader’s homer prone season was an aberration, they may look to trade for him and insert him in the closer role. He certainly has the ability to generate swings-and-misses from opposing batters, while limiting baserunners. Boston could certainly do worse than having someone of the elite caliber of Hader as their closer. Whether the Red Sox have a good enough package of prospects and the desire to part with them will be the primary questions in regards to acquiring him from the Brewers.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Daniel Hudson #44 and Yan Gomes #10 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Daniel Hudson #44 and Yan Gomes #10 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

5. Daniel Hudson

Daniel Hudson presents a less sexy option as the closer for the Red Sox next season. Hudson is coming off arguably one of his best seasons of his 9-year career after he began the year with the Toronto Blue Jays before being traded to the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline.

Hudson had been linked to the Red Sox at the trade deadline, but Dombrowski ultimately decided not to make any moves to add to a weak bullpen. Instead, Hudson would go to Washington, where he would assume the closer’s role at the end of the season and help lead the Nationals to a World Series championship, recording four saves in the postseason.

Hudson does not have high strikeout abilities like the other candidates on this list. Last season he struck out 71 batters over 73 innings. However, he does possess excellent control and the ability to keep the ball in the park, having only given up 27 walks and eight home runs on the season.

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The Red Sox could look at Hudson, who just proved he can close out games in the biggest situations, having just helped lead Washington to a championship and decide that he is the ideal candidate to be the closer for the team next year. He would likely come at an affordable price, something that is appealing to a team trying to get under the cap next season.

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