I hadn’t expected to see a lot of changes once we made it through the trading deadline. However, we had two big moves in the closer’s role and some other slipping and sliding in the setup roles. Read along below as we look at the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners bullpen situations in some detail.

New York Mets

Bobby Parnell hit the DL this week with a herniated disk in his neck. He’s received an epidural injection and is scheduled for another one early next week. If the shots, don’t work he could be shut down for the season.

David Aardsma was seen as the heir apparent by many and he did get the chance to take the job while Parnell was out, but not yet on the DL. He failed to do so blowing a save in his first chance. He then entered a tie game the next day and gave up the winning run. Aardsma had back to back 30+ save seasons with the Mariners prior to surgeries for a torn hip labrum and Tommy John reconstruction caused him to miss almost two complete seasons. Aardsma has been solid this season, but remember he’s been released by the Yankees and the Marlins this season so I don’t expect much from him.

LaTroy Hawkins (who Aardsma was traded for back in 2005) has converted his first two opportunities after being given a shot to close over Aardsma. The 40-year old reliever has a couple of seasons of closing experience at the major league level but those were back in the early 2000s. Hawkins sports better control than Aardsma with less strikeout capability. I think Hawkins can continue to succeed in the role and is my choice to keep the closer’s role while Parnell is out.

Scott Rice may get a chance to pick up a matchup save being the top left hander out of the pen. However, the 31-year old rookie walks too many batters to ever be successful over the long term.

Scott Atchison came on in the ninth inning of a tie game Friday night and promptly gave up a walk off home run to Paul Goldschmidt. There is no shame in so doing, but Mr. Atchison likely won’t be called upon in any save situations going forward.

Jenrry Mejia has been very effective as a starter, but there has always been speculation that he may not hold up to the rigors of starting every fifth day. The Mets likely won’t try him this year, but if Parnell’s injury lingers the Mets could move him into the role next season. The likelihood of such a move is less than 10% given Mejia’s early success as a starter this season.

Jeff Walters was a name I did not now until I read this. In further researching Mr. Walters, it seems he was drafted five times before eventually signing in 2010 with the Mets. Walters is 25 years old and has 33 saves as the closer for AA Binghamton. There is probably a reason he’s a 25-year old reliever at AA, but you should be aware of him in case the Mets want to see what they have in Walters when rosters expand in September. He’s not currently on the 40-man roster so a move would have to be made to get him on the roster.

Seattle Mariners

Tom Wilhelmsen is no more. Well, he still exists, but he lost his closer’s job and then his spot on the 25-man roster this week. He’s now at AAA Tacoma to attempt to fix whatever is wrong with him. I didn’t think the M’s would move so quickly, but they did. And who they moved to surprised many.

Danny Farquhar is the closer. Who? Farquhar is a 26-year old right handed reliever who was drafted in the 10th round of the 2008 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was dealt two years later to the A’s as part of a package for Rajai Davis.  The Blue Jays reacquired him less than six months later for David Purcey. The A’s reacquired Farquhar off waivers from A’s in 2012. The Yankees did the same two weeks later and then included him in the package to acquire Ichiro Suzuki from the Mariners a month later.

I believe it’s Farquhar’s job for the rest of the season barring injury. And (with a hat tip to Jason Collette), Wilhelmsen did pick up 15 saves over the last two months of 2012 so they opportunities could be there for Farqhuar. I mentioned this story last week, but it bears repeating. He’s made adjustments based on input from Henry Blanco and the coaching staff and things seem to be working.

Oliver Perez remains the handcuff in the pen though he has hit some speed bumps over the lsat couple of weeks.

Yoervis Medina has also had his share of struggles recently, but remains a potential factor should Farquhar falter.

Carter Capps was recalled this week and is a dark horse in the pen. He was somewhat effective at AAA in his seven appearances over 11 innings He did walk four while striking out nine. I assume the M’s will keep Capps in lower leverage situations to build some confidence.

Stephen Pryor is done for the year after suffering a torn triceps after spending most of the season on the DL with a lat issue.

Houston Astros

This bullpen is a tire fire. There isn’t any reason to attempt to figure out who might be effective in the closer’s role. They have so many terrible bullpen arms that I can’t see anyone in the pen getting any consistent chances. I thought about removing them entirely from the table below, but they are still a major league team so they are included for completeness. Do not speculate in this pen unless you have a 100-man roster. It’s not worth it.

Close Calls

Steve Delabar hit the DL and that moves Sergio Santos (who was activated off the DL on Sunday after his recovery from elbow surgery) into the handcuff role. I think he will push Casey Janssen in 2014 for the closer’s job.

Ryan Madson was released by the Angels this week so he’s no longer an option this season.

Dane De La Rosa picked up the save for the Angels on Friday night and looks like the closer while Ernesto Frieri attempts to find himself.

Jason Grilli is slated to begin playing catch this weekend. If all goes smoothly, he could be back by month end. I still think that timeline is aggressive, but stranger things have happened.

Fernando Rodney blew a save in spectacular fashion on Friday night allowing the Dodgers to complete a comeback from six runs down. The Dodgers won a game in which Brandon League and Carlos Marmol both pitched. You can’t predict baseball.

Jim Johnson was also kind enough to blow the save on Friday night as well. The O’s have a more viable backup in Francisco Rodriguez so Johnson has a shorter leash than when Darren O’Day and Tommy Hunter were the backups. Interestingly, Hunter picked up the save in the tenth inning on Friday night and not K-Rod. Rodriguez was rested as he’s only pitched twice in August so it’s a situation worth watching. Johnson is slowly pitching his way out of Baltimore next season.

Definitions

2013 Closer – The current closer
Handcuff Option – This is the guy who I believe will step into the closer role if the current closer loses his job.
Other Option – Another arm in the pen who could close if the manager chooses to go a different route.
Dark Horse Option – If all hell breaks loose in the pen, this guy could get a shot this year.
2014 Closer – This guy should be in the closer’s role on Opening Day 2014.