This week, I take a look at the closer situations in the National League. As I did last week, I rank the closer situations roughly in order of how secure they are in their jobs, with a little discussion of who else might be in line for saves for good measure. An alternative interpretation is that I rank the relievers in order of self-confidence. Either way, the National League has a good deal of uncertainty at the closer spot this year.
SECURE
New York Mets -- Billy Wagner
Wagner is a risk to get hurt, as usual, but Wagner is about as effective as they come when healthy. He'll be counted on a lot with a team that can hit but may not get a lot of starting pitching. Duaner Sanchez is the best bet in case of injury, if he is recovered.
Washington Nationals -- Chad Cordero
Cordero lost some velocity last year, and his team didn't get him many save chances, but he's still the only viable option for saves. The only danger is the outside chance that he gets traded into a setup role at some point, but he's young and economical so he's likely to stay.
San Diego Padres -- Trevor Hoffman
He just rolls on and on. Scott Linebrink could be very good in the case of an injury.
Colorado Rockies -- Brian Fuentes
It always seems kind of strange to list a Rockie pitcher near the top in anything good, but Fuentes has had two straight solid seasons and has no obvious challenger. In case of injury, LaTroy Hawkins is probably the guy.
PRETTY SECURE
Philadelphia Phillies -- Tom Gordon
Gordon won't lose his job due to ineffectiveness. He might lose it due to injury though, as overuse in New York seems to be catching up with him. Geoff Geary was a workhorse last year, but Ryan Madson is the best bet to take over.
Los Angeles Dodgers -- Takashi Saito
Saito was highly effective as a rookie in his late thirties, but he may not be as successful the second time around. Nonetheless, he's a good bet to stay ahead of Jonathan Broxton this year.
St. Louis Cardinals -- Jason Isringhausen
Isringhausen showed signs of a regression last year, though it may have been injury related. Nonetheless, his job should be pretty secure, particularly if Adam Wainwright is able to secure a rotation spot.
Milwaukee Brewers -- Francisco Cordero
What a difference a year makes. Derrick Turnbow is buried in the Brewers pen, and Cordero should get a pretty long rope. He struggled in Texas and lost the job early last year, but he was highly effective the first time through the National League.
Houston Astros -- Brad Lidge
Lidge is a great example of how fragile closer situations can be. One big home run by Albert Pujols, and Lidge went from two years at the top of the game to an ERA over 5.00. He should be able to bounce back, but the presence of Dan Wheeler as a viable alternative makes this a situation that could change even absent an injury to Lidge.
Atlanta Braves -- Bob Wickman
After some time messing with the likes of Chris Reitsma, the Braves addressed the bullpen in a big way over the offseason. Wickman is the closer, but the acquisition of Mike Gonzalez and Rafael Soriano makes this a very deep and interesting bullpen.
INSECURE
San Francisco Giants -- Armando Benitez
Benitez has been largely ineffective since his brilliant 2004 campaign. He's also been hurt a lot. Chances are that Brian Wilson will be the closer at some point this year for one reason or another.
Arizona Diamondbacks -- Jose Valverde
Valverde and Jorge Julio passed the job back and forth last year. Valverde is the better bet this year, but chances are this will continue to be a fluid situation.
Pittsburgh Pirates -- Salomon Torres
Torres has been an effective setup man as well as a decent closer when Gonzalez got hurt last year. However, he is 34 and has thrown more than 90 innings three years in a row. Sounds like we may see Matt Capps this year.
Chicago Cubs -- Ryan Dempster
Lou Piniella said he's going with the incumbent, so I have no choice but to believe him. Dempster has always allowed a boatload of baserunners, even when he was saving every game in sight in 2005. Kerry Wood has a lot of fantasy buzz to take over, but I like Bob Howry, who has been retiring batters at closer levels for a couple of years now.
Cincinnati Reds -- David Weathers
Interesting that the Reds came back to Weathers after working so hard to replace him during the season last year. He could turn into a Todd Jones-type, working as a baffling change of pace to harder throwers assigned to the middle innings. Or, he could just give way to Todd Coffey. Mike Stanton should also be in the mix, after demonstrating that he could get righties out with the game on the line late last year.
Florida Marlins -- Kevin Gregg
Taylor Tankersley was probably the favorite here until he hurt his shoulder. At this point, it appears to be Gregg's job to lose. Don't draft anyone else until the situation clears, unless you're in a twenty-team NL only league that carries 40 man rosters.