11
2011
Closer Candidate: Jonathan Broxton
An article by 
Sandy Alderson has been very adamant that he will sign a free agent closer this off-season to fill the void left by Francisco Rodriguez. Who that closer will be is the big question. You can pretty much cross Heath Bell off the list. Francisco Rodriguez is an extreme long shot as well. And that’s not because the Mets wouldn’t be interested in bringing him back. It’s because he will command at least a 3 years deal (Think Soriano/Yankees deal).
The Mets will be looking for more of a stop gap closer. A guy who will take less money to come in and close games. A guy that maybe needs a season to showcase that he can still perform.
Could that guy be Jonathan Broxton?
Broxton fell out of favor for the closers job in LA during their abysmal 2011 season. They are almost certainly not bringing him back in 2012 due to the emergence of pitchers such as Kenley Jansen. Jansen set a MLB record of K/9 in 2011 with a whopping 16.1 average. He is a favorite to get saves in LA heading into the 2012 season.
Broxton saw his ERA jump 1.64 points from 2010 to 2011. This after his ERA jumped from 2.61 in 2009 to 4.04 in 2010. Why is his ERA jumping like this? Very likely its due to his diminishing velocity. If you remember how hard he through in the 2008 playoffs vs. Philadelphia it may paint a nice picture of why his arm in diminishing.
However, the Mets need a cheap option at closer. Money will be very thin this off-season if Reyes is re-signed. And if he isn’t re-signed that money won’t be spread out. There will be more money, yes. But that 20 million isn’t going out on the market necessarily. There’s a very good chance Alderson signs a few experimental guys for the bullpen and heads to Spring Training with a big try-out board on Terry Collins office wall.
I am worried about his ever increasing ERA, however if he comes cheap trying to re-establish himself it could work out for both sides. The fact that he may be willing to take a 1 year deal makes him an attractive option for Sandy Alderson.
About the Author: Benjamin Yoel
Graduate of St. John's University. Majored in Sports Management. Torn on where career will take me next. Considering Baseball Operations, Scouting, and Journalism. Writer for Metsmerized Online & StLucieToFlushing.com. Devout #Mets fan.
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I’d rather get Matt Capps. He isn’t an injury risk, and I think he is younger than most of the other closers available.
..or they can trade David Wright for major league ready starter, free up money, sign Jose and completely alter the flexibility they have this off season.
I’m assuming this post does not take trading Wright into consideration
He probably gets traded the day after they announce that Bay is going to platoon in RF with F Mart.
I find capps intriguing too.
But, Broxton is a viable option.
that, and no matter who they sign to come in as the anointed closer, there should also be a try out board for guys to earn a spot in the pen. Not like there were many holdovers that have a job locked down!
For the scrapheap option of potential candidates, I think I like Nathan a little better, only because I think he’s more of a pitcher and less of a hurler. When said hurler can’t throw as fast, he goes downhill. Quickly. I think that is more the issue with Broxton. As for Nathan, he’s not going to be offered Arb, so no worriers for those who concern themselves with type A/B status stuff. He’s shown he’s healthy again, and would be the perfect opportunity for him to get an incentive laden deal and be the main closer, which he wouldn’t get in Minny.
Nathan will also be 2 years removed from injury.I’d prefer Nathan over Capps or Broxton.
We have enough crappy relief pitchers. There’s enough time to tune up some home grown talent. Although sometimes I think that if God himself was to put on a Met uniform, he’d end up on the DL.
Only for 3 days, though.
Mejia’s my guy. Any news on him ?
If memory serves, he should come back sometime in May or June. I wouldn’t plan on him at the major league level until August.
oh well – that sucks. thanks for the update.
Broxton?!?! Please no, can the bar be a little higher then Broxton!!…Alot of guys that could step up and close have team options that will prob be picked up..Capps is 28 no way he goes cheap or for one year, he might command one of the biggest contract in fact..maybe we can get a 1 yr contract for a vet like FCordero(team option is $12 mill i bet they pass) heres some guys avail..Lidge($12.5mill team option), RMadson, KWood, JValvarde, FRod, JPapelbon, JNathan($12,5 team option), LHawkins, Mike Gonzalez, Capps Broxton and Bell —alotttt of guys they all cant get hugh contracts–knowing Sandy and from what ive heard i think he wants somthing more reliable then Broxton imo,,maybe Mike Gonzalez who is a lefty and has closed recent if not close solid bullpen guy, or Nathan even thou he’s 36 or as i said before FCordero for a year while he figures things out..oh there’s Zumaya also, he shoud be ready for spring i can see the mets trying for him too..
Curious as to what you’ve seen that makes you think Capps is better than Broxton.
If Broxton is healthy, he is waaaaaaay better than Capps in every way imaginable.
Just keep him away from Matt Stairs.
I mean Broxton was the best closer in baseball for awhile, i just dont think he’s healthy, even if he is he’ll never be the same he’s def lost velocity, but i agree if he is healthy enough im cool w Broxton but it would sux to sign him to a contract and get another 14inning season from him..Capps is at an age where i think he’ll want 3-4 year deal, he had 40 saves in 2010 but has shouwn some inconsistency, still think he’ll get a decent 3-4 year contract
rickey, no offense, but it seems every year we have a new “best closer” in the game.. it varies sooo much, i’ll be happy with someone who gets the job done and is consitant,
you point out the reason that, with very few exceptions (OK, Rivera), tying up big years in a closer usually is not a good idea.
subjectively, it seems that each year more closers come out of absolutely nowhere than any other position
imo, the mets won’t go higher than $8 million for a closer.. and most likely it will be a 1 or 2 year deal…
They can probably sign Broxton and Mike Gonzalez for what it would cost to sign one of the better known closer candidates like Papelbon.
If the medicals look good, I’d go that route.
The subtext of this post is:
“Here’s a guy who once was very good. Now he blows, and he’s only going to get worse. Still, let’s give him a try b/c he’s cheap.”
It would only make an iota of sense for the Mets if this guy were to show he really has talent, courage, and ability.
In the absence of evidence, this proposition, to quote the genius Parcells, is “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!”
russell, by NOW you should be used to the idea that whatever scream type A free agent will not be coming to flushing. sandy wants to keep his picks, sign “low risks/high rewards” players, see out of the 15 he signs which 1 or 2 maybe has an ok season, while demoting the rest because according to mets fans “if they’re not on the roster by years end, it doesn’t count”
GET K-ROD back!!!
I say let Acosta do it until someone else shows they can do it better!
If we don’t sign Reyes we really won’t need a closer because there will only be a save situation once every 4 games anyway!
Broxton is a bum. He could not hold down the closer job with the Dodgers. Why bring him here?
I’d bring in Broxton as a 7th or 8th inning bridge guy and hope it motivates him to show the rest of MLB he’s still got the goods to be a closer.Bring in as many arms as possible.I wouldn’t sign him to close though.Not unless he shows he’s got his heater back.