2009 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Closers

1. Grant Balfour, TB
Of all the sleepers, Balfour is the most likely to start the season as a closer. The Rays current closer, Troy Percival, had back surgery that probably would delay his return by a few weeks. In 2008, Balfour put very respectable numbers last season (6-2 with 158 ERA in 58.1 innings). Add to this the fact that he had the sixth lowest hits per innings (4.32/9) ratio in the history of the game. Could this be an illusion or the "real deal"? That's the question around Tampa. If he come close to those numbers again, Belfour will snatch the closing job away from Percival who is in the back end of his career.

2. Jensen Lewis, CLE
Kerry Woods' injury history (yes he saved 34 games last season and stayed healthy for the whole season) makes Lewis' chances of closing more than a few games better than average. All he did in 2008 was save 13 out of 14 games. He has a great change up and even better fastball. Yes, he had an 0-5 record, but his 3.82 ERA and 52 SO in just 66 innings is very impressive. Only 24 years, Lewis' future appears bright and promising. He would start soon, the only question is when. Bet on this season.

3. Freddy Dolsi, DET
This is just a "gut pick". But could payoff big time. The Tigers were thwarted in the efforts to sign Kerry Woods, so they will go into 2009 with a plethora of unproven pitchers. The leading candidate is Fernando Rodney but he only had thrown in 50 games. Dolsi, who right now is setup as a middle reliever, could hear his name call sooner than expected. Dolsi ran wild through Detroit's farm system where he was a Class A closer in 2008. Good, powerful slider could make him a fixture in Detroit for years.

4. Joel Hanrahan, WAS
A closer by default. Hanrahan is a converted starter who has a 90 plus mph fastball to complement his very nasty slider and equally nasty change up. Could be the next John Smoltz or a complete bust. The talent is there, with his 3.95 ERA in 84.1 innings with 93 SO in 2008, he should nail down the closer job by the opening game. The problem with him is his team. The Nationals figures to be a weak offensive team which will put enormous pressure on Hanrahan to hold every lead. Could produce 30 saves, but the jury will be out until July.

5. Hong Chih Kuo, LAD
Jonathan Broxton's tenure as the team's undisputed closer is tenuous at best. In fact, it took a good second half for Broxton to secure another shot at the role. Yes, Kuo had only one save in 2008. But his 2.14 ERA in 80 innings with 96 Ks could not be ignore. In fact, there's an argument the he has better "stuff" than Broxton. A lefty who can strike out that many batters should be made into a closer. If Brozton struggle early, as was the case last season, Kou could found himself in the 25 to 30 save range.