There has been a fair amount of reporting this winter on Greg Holland, the wild card on the closer’s market. While we won’t ever know just how much he’d have earned if his last two seasons had matched the three that came before — which would have made him the fourth top-end reliever available this winter — we will learn before too long just how much an organization is willing to commit to see if he can still return to being one of the game’s best relievers.
Holland is still working back from Tommy John surgery, but figures to be prepared for a full 2017 season, adding to the interest. Last we checked, he was angling for a one-year deal with a player option for a second (or, if you prefer, a two-year deal with an opt-out clause) — essentially, a fairly hefty guarantee with the chance to return to the market if all goes well. That he thinks he can command such a contract speaks to the level of interest.
At last look, the 31-year-old was engaged with the Brewers, Dodgers, Nationals, Rockies, Reds, and Rays, with the Cubs and Royals seemingly having fallen out of the race. If the Brewers finalize their reported push to sign Neftali Feliz, they may also be out of the hunt, though that’s still not certain.
For the time being, those other five organizations are perhaps the most likely suitors. Of the group, the win-now Nationals are in most obvious need of an experienced closer. But the Reds could give Holland the 9th, too, as might the Rockies and even the Rays — in the unlikely event that they strike a deal to move Alex Colome. Only the Dodgers seem clearly set to utilize a different pitcher in the closer’s role, though Los Angeles could certainly stand to boost its setup corps in front of re-signed reliever Kenley Jansen.
It’s still possible that a dark horse could emerge, but it seems reasonable to expect a signing before too long. So, it’s time to get your picks in: who do you expect to sign Holland? (Link for app users.)
Where’s the poll?
Found it
That’s what she said
Royals
We can only hope!!
Yankees!
I think it would be a huge stretch for him to sign with the Dodgers. He wants to close. To prove he’s healthy and can handle it.
Astros?
Ken Giles!
The Angels need a good reliever and closer. Holland is one of them. He’ll be a great addition to our team.
The Angels have Street to close and if he’s injured, Bredosian can move from 8 th to close. They have Alvarez, Bailey and others. The Angels do not need Holland.
I’m just saying that it will be a good addition because he has been great in the past and I feel he would come through with the Halos.
True
Street was actually told he’d be fighting for the closer job this time. And if Holland wants to be a closer then that alone rules it out. Or, he could sign a contract with them to rebuild his value. But I don’t really see it any more than most. There are still plenty of relief options the Angels can turn to. And they have enough bounce back candidates on their staff to begin with.
angels most absolutely need Holland. Street is trash and Bedrosian is pretty much the whole bullpen. Alvarez and Bailey are decent but can be quite shaky at times. Holland would b the perfect leader and could lock down the 9th in order to give Bed and Street to handle the 7th and 8th respectively
If the Angel’s were in a position to contend I’d agree. He’d be a much better option than Street. But unless every starting pitcher the Halos have has a career year it would be a waste of money.
I said the same thing until I saw the fangraphs projection at 85 wins….I didnt think they had that chance. But looking at the depth chart its plausible.
You need to catch up on team evaluations. FanGraphs has a 3 way tie right now for the WC between the Angels, Mariners, and Rangers. That’s because no team in that division is actually in a position to seriously contend for a top seed and are only going to be in the hunt because it’s a weak division. Same goes for the last two seasons. When the Rangers can win that division despite being 13th in the AL in ERA, there is no safe pick. Angels are going to be right in it. Mainly because of that division.
I’ll believe it when I see it.
This reply feed is also posting on the choi yankees feed
When you change from page to page in the app the comments sometimes don’t change, you need to hit back and re open the article
The Nationals make too much sense as the only solid contender in need of a veteran closer. If healthy, Holland has to appeal to Washington as much as the Nationals would appeal to him.
Perhaps a stupid question, but why have I not once seen the Jays mentioned as a potential option for Holland? They should have the money, and certainly have the need for someone like him. Outside of Osuna, Grilli (who knows if he can repeat last year), and Biagini (who knows if he’ll hit that sophomore wall) the bullpen is pretty thin after losing Cecil and Benoit. The only thing that I can really see turning off Holland would be that he’d likely have to settle for a setup role, and that the AL East is of course one of the more brutal divisions to be a pitcher in (except that the Rays were still mentioned as a fit).
We certainly need to shorten games given our lack of SP depth.
Likely too expensive for our remaining budget while still requiring at minimum a backup C and LH relief
I’ll go out on a limb here and say the Cardinals will sign him.
I think he’ll sign to be a closer. He’d be behind Oh. He has a lot to prove. Being in the set up role would only partially prove things.
I like that call. Despite what others say, I don’t think it’s that pivotal he closes…or that he will. Fresh off TJ, it would be silly for a team to immediately supplant him in the 9th. I envision a one year prove you’re healthy deal. I don’t think there’s a question as to if he can close, it’s just if he’s healthy.
Team’s in need of an experienced 9th inning arm will have no reservations about slotting him right into the closer role. The workouts attended by league scouts this past winter was his “proof” of being healthy enough to pitch.
I disagree. Best case scenario is that the Nationals sign him to be “in the mix”, but he will still need to have a strong spring training to close. I don’t believe he’s in the immediate undisputed closer discussion as a Chapman, Jansen, or Melancon is.
Met’s need him, though I’m sure their ownership will be too cheap.
Melancon and Holland would be near enough to the best back-end of a bullpen, just like Mad Bum and Cueto are at the top-end of the rotation. The Giants surely do not want to be burned by the bullpen like they were last year.
Lets see him pitch before anointing him half of the best backend in baseball
I don’t know about the best backend in the game, but the Giants needed more than just Melancon to right the ship in the pen. Say what you want about the recent contributions from Romo and Lopez, but when the Giants had Romo, Affeldt, Lopez and a legitimate closer, they were unbeatable with a lead in the 7th. With no offensive upgrades this season so far, it’s going to be another year of trying to win 2-1, 3-2, etc. That’s a lot to ask from a young bullpen that was terrible late last year.
If holland lingers on the market til spring training and the Pirates havent added another starter and decide to let the young guys fill up the back of the rotation I’d love to see the Bucs try to get him. Hudson, Holland, Watson (if he isnt traded), Rivero, Nicasio and Trevor Williams or Steven Brault as the long relief/swingman would be a very solid bullpen.
that would be a nice bullpen, the pirates need another starter in the rotation, they have been linked to quintana.
nationals
Can’t see how a playoff contender like Washington can be content with Kelley or whoever else they have in house. Might as well finally spend some money this offseason and get a guy with a much better track record,yes with an injury history, but it seems like he’s had plenty of preparation time.
Nats. Nats. Nats.
Braves should spend some money on him. Could be huge rewards at the trade deadline.
Braves have zero real reason to get him. The bullpen is fine enough as it is, especially with battles for the last few roster spots among a number of guys already and people like A.J. Minter and Akeel Morris possibly vying for time in the very near future.
He’s got a lot of potential and he has a high ceiling and might bounce back and then they can sell high and get another pitching prospect with assorted ?s at the deadline.
My first thought was Holland might look like an augmentation move to the Angels…and they can meet his financial terms….Fangraphs seems to like the Angels projection. I’d maybe eliminate cold early environments…Maybe the Dodgers. I dont think the Reds are out there…they took Storen and have been trolling the waters. Wouldn’t rule out KC. Colorado would be a dark horse
Cubs
A veteran starting pitcher should be the Cubs priority, not another right-handed reliever which they have an abundance of with closer Wade Davis and setup men Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Carl Edwards, Jr. An additional starter would also move Mike Montgomery back to the pen where he should be to fill the role of their late inning left-handed reliever.
Angels need him and would solidify a good Bullpen if he’s healthy on a shaky starting rotation.
A real Dark Horse team would be Texas.
I’m pretty surprised to NOT see my Mets involved in the equation. Seeing as how it’s very likely that Jeurys will be suspended for being mentioned in a domestic dispute incident. I know Mets management plan to utilize Zack out of the bullpen in his first stint back from TommyJohn, but I’m not sure they’re going to throw him right into the closer role until Jeurys returns either. Basically, I choose “other”. In other words; Mets.
As weird as this is to type as a D-Back fan, Addison Reed is actually really good, and Hansel Robles isn’t bad either. I agree that they could use a bit more depth, but I think the Mets would be better served to bring back someone like Blevins than go after Holland, particularly if Alderson was being upfront about them being on a “damn, we still have Jay Bruce”-inspired budget
Reed is good, but he’s performed much better as a setup man rather than a closer. I think as a D-Backs fan, you could attest to that. As far as Robles is concerned, he’s far too inconsistent and leaves the fastball out over the middle of the plate too much to slot him into a potential closer role.
I’d love to see Blevins return to Queens, but I think Mets management are keeping their options open for a potentially more affordable lefty relief arm like Breslow. MAYBE De La Rosa.
In the end, if any suspension is handed out to Familia, the Mets could look to fill the role internally given their plethora of quality pitchers. I mean that’s how Familia got the job after Mejia was suspended, but I think the Mets are still a viable possibility to sign Holland. That is, depending on exactly how much he’s looking for.
I am similarly surprised, though it involves spending money so….
Terry Collins is another factor that needs to be considered, as his bullpen management is pretty bad. I’m of the mind to idiot-proof the bullpen by having a bunch of capable guys, instead of Terry running 2-3 guys into the ground.
Dodgers
Nats
Nationals or Padres
Nats
Is holland still asking for the world? A boat load of money guaranteed for this year…a boat load of money guaranteed for next year…but the option to opt out if he has a good season in 2017 but opt in if he has a bad year?
All this after pitching half a season in 2015 and exactly ZERO innings in 2016. <<<< this is what drives fans away
it all starts with the cancer known as borasss
This has “A’s signing” written all over it.
Not at that $20m hook Boras has been rumored to be tossing out there. He throws a pitch and goes back down….he’d have that 2018 player option to exercise.
Royals
Mets have to be considering Holland. Familia is going to be suspended to start the season. Additionally, Familia has not produced when the Mets needed him most in the postseason. Adding Holland gives them another closing option. Also, they have the financial flexibility to offer him 1 year with player option with Grandy, Bruce, Walker, and Duda coming off the books
ha! this is almost exactly what I was about to write.
It takes two to Tango.
Holland still makes more sense for the rival Nationals where he has a chance to be the closer for the entire 2017 season. The Nationals also seem less burdened by spending money despite their flirtation with the luxury tax threshold.
In contrast, every time the Mets reportedly want to take on payroll they first need to shed it from somewhere else. Thus far, their efforts to trade Jay Bruce and lose his $13MM contract have been futile, especially with their additional request of gaining a couple of prospects for him in any deal.
My gut is saying go with the “dark horse” team, for me that dark horse is Seattle, no real reasoning behind it just my first thought. I could also see the Cubs. Most logical place would probably be with Washington but considering they lost out on Melancon, Chapman AND Jansen all ready during the off season, my feeling is Washington will be awarded the “Golden Sombrero” for losing out on relievers with Holland (if their interest is serious).
My bet is he goes to the Reds. They’ll sign him to a one year deal, like he wants, then try and flip him for prospects at the deadline when contenders severely over pay for closers. It’s a win/win situation IF Holland proves to be healthy.
Wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Phillies to pick him up on a 1 year with a mutual option. He’d fill out what has become a potentially very impressive bullpen, and as long as he is healthy and effective, they’d have plenty of buyers at the trade deadline.