Six Internal Closer Options for the 2025 Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox will need a closer now that it is apparent that Kenley Jansen will seek other opportunities. Jansen's late-season departure provided a mini-drama, but Jansen's leaving was similar to that of principal owner John Henry, who avoided PR responsibilities as though they carried Ebola.

The Red Sox tossed $32 million to Jansen in 2023, and if pigs really do fly, they may do the same for another closer. So what do they do? You can view the free-agent possibilities on MLB Trade Rumors, which will generate little excitement unless you sincerely wish for Daniel Bard to saunter back to Beantown.

The Red Sox's big push is Liam Hendriks, who was one of the best until his arm blew out with the White Sox in 2023. What if Hendriks is a shadow of his former self?

Boston does have a cache of arms out of its bullpen, which offers possibilities since it finished fourth in the American League bullpen rankings. Impressive, not! So much for prima facie; in the second half, they were dead last.

So, there is an in-house solution, like finding that last shrimp on a sharded fisherman's platter. Let's look, knowing that the "talent" available will diminish the number of sides. First, of course, is Hendricks.

Liam Hendriks

The closer-in-waiting was one of the best in baseball until his arm surrendered to Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox signed Hendriks to a two-year deal, anticipating a seamless transition from Jansen to Hendricks. Hendriks was paid handsomely to recover, like James Paxton in 2022.

Hendriks may have gotten pitching antsy and rushed his recovery He was shut down after five innings at Worcester. Is that a bad sign? The medical evaluation states this is a blip in the 34-year-old right-hander's recovery.

Hendriks became a baseball late in life (30) closer at Oakland and later the White Sox. Hendricks has three All-Star nods and some Cy Young award respect. From 2019-22, he bagged 114 saves, had a 1.7 BB%, and a near 40 K%.

During that stretch, Hendriks used a fastball and slider as his primary pitches, with an occasional curve thrown in to keep the hitters guessing. The results were noticeable, and Hendriks was one of the best, if not the best, as a closer.

Will that translate to 2025? Hendriks will then be 35 years old, coming off significant surgery, and finished 2024 on a low note. If he's ready and solid in spring training, the job is his until proven otherwise.

What happens if it blows up?

Garrett Whitlock

Garrett Whitlock is familiar with two things in baseball: the injured list and the closer spot. In 2024, Whitlock was supposed to be a solid addition to the rotation, and the early results (1-0, 1.96) showed that until his elbow blew out.

Whitlock has occasionally closed in three seasons, with Boston recording nine saves against six blown saves. Not inspiring saves numbers, but the 28-year-old is no novice.

Whitlock has two attributes that play well in the closing role: a career of 1.9 BB% and 9.4 K%. His 44.4 GB% is slightly above the league average, and his pitching toolbox has four basic options with particular emphasis on his slider and change.

The Red Sox need a strong return on investment on Whitlock's four-year contract, and a closer could be it — no need to pace like a starter and keep it simple with his pitch variety. The real issue is his arm might be like a bowl of mashed potatoes, but if healthy, he could provide a Jonathan Papelbon-like performance.

Greg Weissert

What I remember about Greg Weissert is his MLB debut, when he hit a batter with his first pitch, committed a balk, hit another batter, and then walked a few. That was with the Yankees, and Weissert was part of the Alex Verdugo trade and did a respectable job in Boston.

The 29-year-old right-hander appeared in 62 games, tossed 63.1 innings, pitched to a 3.13 ERA/3.72 FIP, and a 2.8 BB% with an 8.2 K%. The number looks good until you deeply dive into his closing stats for 2024. I start to have nightmares of John "Way Back" Wasdin.

In 11 save situations, the 1.151 OPS against Weissert looks like Aaron Judge was perpetually hitting against Weissert. The .517 BAbip is a remarkable achievement. Somehow, Weissert managed a save to go with his four-blown saves.

The atrocious save numbers impacted his overall numbers, as when Weissert was in a non-knee-knocking save situation, his .646 OPS and .291 BAbip.

Weissert was in the right spot at the right time for his career. Weissert did an excellent job out of the bullpen for a staff ravaged by injuries. Weissert failed at closing but remains a solid option for the 'pen in 2025.

Zack Kelly

Zack Kelly went undrafted and was eventually signed by the recently departed Oakland Athletics. Kelly was then dumped by the A's and rescued by the Angels, only to be jettisoned again and salvaged by the Red Sox. At 29 years old, Kelly is a real baseball survivor, having spent seven years in the minors and three different organizations.

Kelly switched between Worcester and Boston but did appear in 49 games (three starts) and went 6-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 4.84 FIP for the season. Kelly had a brief fling with the Big Club in the two previous seasons, but only enough to be a legit roster contender once it all fell apart.

Kelly has a nice heater (96.5v) and a slider that checks in at 82.2v - a good spread on speed. The downside for closing is a 4.3 BB% and a 3.97 ERA/4.84 FIP. Kelly blew one save opportunity, but it seems everyone had a save opportunity in 2024.

Some of the names that filtered through in 2024: Brad Keller, Cam Booser, Trey Wingenter, and many more, including Kelly, but Kelly showed promise. Kelly as a closer is a 100/1 shot and probably higher, but with Kelly on the roster in 2025, the odds drop as he is a keeper.

Josh Winckowski

Josh Winckowski has done it all on the hill for three seasons with Boston — closed, started, and relieved, all with accompanying frustration for the fans and probably the evaluators.

Winckowski has a boatload of pitches, can touch the mid-90s, throws a "heavy" fastball, and is the model of inconsistency. A career 9.6 H/9 jumps right out. In 2024, it was a typical line as Winckowski finished 4-2 with a 4.14 ERA/4.48 FIP. In closing, Winckowski had two saves and one save miscue. For Winckowski's career, he is 50/50 with five saves and five blown.

Toronto originally drafted the 26-year-old righty and eventually came to Boston when Andrew Benintendi was traded. Since then, Winckowski has teetered on the cusp, showing shutdown talent or being a hitting punching bag.

The closing numbers for Winckowski's career are well into the just OK category. In 33 save-related games, Winckowski is 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA. In his saves (5), he allowed just one run. What I see is what most fans see, and that is just what you are going to get. The last thing you want is to see a game with a good chance of evaporating when a closer comes in. That's Winckowski.

Justin Slaten

December 6th, 2023, was a busy day for Justin Slaten, who the Mets scooped up from the Rangers via Rule 5 and then traded the righty to Boston. Slaten's life improved with the change in scenery; he made Boston's roster and could be in line to close in 2025.

Slaten carries four solid pitches and a fastball that can touch the high nineties. The negative for closing is his 33% (2/6) in 2024. Other attributes could put Slaten into a very opportunistic position in the big picture. Slaten's 1.5 BB% was not quite Chris Martin's territory, but it was a solid point in not allowing baserunners in a crucial role.

Sometimes, a punch out is needed, and Slaten produced that with a 9.4 K%. He kept the ball in the yard with a 0.7 HR/9. He appeared in 44 games overall and scored 6-2. Traditional numbers showed a 2.97 ERA/2.61 FIP and a 1.012 WHIP added by a 7.6 H/9.

Slaten is 27 years old and was a surprise out of the pen. Is he a one-year wonder? Was Slaten a success story for pitching coach Andrew Bailey? The test will be in 2025, and Slaten could be a solid internal choice for closer.

6 internal options the Red Sox could use as closer in 2025