Sharing the Load: Mets to Use Closer-by-Committee Approach

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Mickey Callaway is getting his first shot at a managerial job this year, taking the helm of the Mets after seven seasons of Terry Collins leading the way. Callaway made a name for himself, and earned widespread respect from around the league, for the way he developed and handled the Indians’ pitching staff as the Tribe’s pitching coach from 2013-2017.

Now, he could be changing the game by bringing with him a facet of bullpen utilization that he employed while in Cleveland.

Callaway told MLB.com’s Jon Morosi on Friday that he will use a closer-by-committee approach to begin the season. Specifically, the 42-year-old skipper said "I don't think we're going to name a closer to start the season. We want to make sure everyone is pitching when they have the best chance to be successful." It’s a strategy that worked wonders for the Indians, and frustrated many fantasy owners, when they split the closing duties between Cody Allen and Andrew Miller depending on matchups in the ninth inning.

From a real baseball perspective, it makes a ton of sense. Getting the final three outs of a ballgame, when beginning the ninth inning with a clean slate and no one on base, aren’t always the highest-leverage or most important outs to get in a ballgame. It’s a much more difficult spot for example, to come on in the eighth inning with a runner on second base and only one out, and to record two outs while stranding that runner.

In this mold, some forward-thinking coaches and organizations, tend to use their best relievers in those situations, rather than in the traditional closer’s role. While many managers have said in the past that they’ll utilize their bullpens in a similar manner, most don’t end up following through. It will be interesting to see if the first-time skipper sticks to his guns and rides it out for the entire season.

If that’s indeed the case, it hurts the fantasy value of Jeurys Familia, who was the most likely candidate to win the ninth-inning gig to start the season. As of Friday, his average draft position in NFBC leagues sat at 168, putting him 18th among closers. I expect that number to fall in the coming weeks based on Callaway’s declaration.

On the flip side, it should boost the fantasy stock of A.J. Ramos, as he’s the most likely to share the closer’s gig with Familia. Ramos has an early ADP of 368, a number that should jump considerably now that he’s going to be seeing occasional save chances. In 15-team leagues, saves are an extremely valuable commodity, and any shot at getting them is worth taking.

As if the waters weren’t muddied up enough though, Callaway went even further to say that Anthony Swarzak and Jerry Blevins could also get the ball with the game on the line. To me, that sounds more like coach speak, and a guy wanting to let his bullpen know that he trusts and believes in each and every member. In reality, I expect Familia and Ramos to handle most of the chances, perhaps with one of them running away with the job if the demonstrate success early in the season.