The day before the season started, MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at how each team acquired their Opening Day starter. Let's fast forward to the end of the game, and do the same for each team's current (not necessarily Opening Day) closer…
Trades (10)
- Brandon League, Mariners – Acquired from the Blue Jays with Johermyn Chavez in a December 2009 trade for Brandon Morrow.
- Chris Perez, Indians – Acquired from the Cardinals with Jess Todd in a June 2009 trade for Mark DeRosa.
- Sean Burnett, Nationals – Acquired from the Pirates with Nyjer Morgan in a June 2009 trade for Joel Hanrahan and Lastings Milledge.
- Joel Hanrahan, Pirates – Acquired in the trade that sent Burnett to Washington.
- Huston Street, Rockies – Acquired with Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith from the Athletics for Matt Holliday in November 2008.
- Leo Nunez, Marlins – Acquired from the Royals for Mike Jacobs in October 2008.
- Neftali Feliz, Rangers – Acquired from the Braves with four others in a July 2007 trade for Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay.
- Heath Bell, Padres – Acquired with Royce Ring from the Mets for Jon Adkins and Ben Johnson in November 2006.
- Matt Thornton, White Sox – Acquired from the Mariners for Joe Borchard in March 2006.
- Joe Nathan, Twins – Acquired with Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser from the Giants for A.J. Pierzynski in November 2003. Nathan has since signed a long-term contract extension.
Free Agent Signings (10)
- Francisco Cordero, Reds – Signed a contract worth $46MM over four years in November 2007.
- Francisco Rodriguez, Mets – Signed a contract worth $37MM over three years in December 2008.
- Brandon Lyon, Astros – Signed a contract worth $15MM over three years in December 2009.
- Jose Valverde, Tigers – Signed a contract worth $14MM over two years in January 2010.
- Brian Fuentes, Athletics – Signed a contract worth $10.5MM over two years in January 2011.
- J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks – Signed a contract worth $10MM over two years in December 2010.
- Kevin Gregg, Orioles – Signed a contract worth $10MM over two years in January 2011.
- Jose Contreras, Phillies – Signed a contract worth $5.5MM over two years in November 2010. Originally signed with Philadelphia in January 2010.
- Ryan Franklin, Cardinals – Signed a contract worth $1MM over one year in January 2007. Franklin has since signed two extensions to remain in St. Louis.
- John Axford, Brewers – Signed a minor league contract in March 2008.
Draft Picks (5)
- Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers – Selected in the second round of the 2002 draft.
- Craig Kimbrel, Braves – Selected in the third round of the 2008 draft.
- Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox – Selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.
- Jordan Walden, Angels – Selected in the 12th round of the 2006 draft.
- Brian Wilson, Giants – Selected in the 24th round of the 2003 draft.
International Free Agent Signings (2)
- Carlos Marmol, Cubs – Signed as an amateur free agent in July 1999.
- Mariano Rivera, Yankees – Signed as an amateur free agent in February 1990.
Rule 5 Draft Picks (1)
- Joakim Soria, Royals – Selected from the Padres in December 2006.
A few of these guys are just temporary fill-ins. Andrew Bailey (draft pick), David Aardsma (trade), and Brad Lidge (trade) will take over for Fuentes, League, and Contreras, respectively, once healthy. The Blue Jays haven't had a save opportunity yet, so we don't know for sure who will fill in for the injured Frank Francisco (trade). The Rays haven't had a save opportunity yet either, and we don't know if Joel Peralta (free agent), Kyle Farnsworth (free agent), Jake McGee (draft pick), or someone else will get the call.
The Teixiera trade was the very definition of “trade rape” however, lets not forget how ridiculously one sided the Morrow/Holliday trades were. Those are going to smart coming up
I wouldn’t say the Morrow trade is one-sided, since League is contributing at the Big League level, but the Blue Jays still clearly won the trade.
Fat lady has sung on that one yet. Johermyn Chavez is looking like a beast and is now at AA, so may contribute to the Mariners in the next couple of seasons.
As a Twins fan I never get sick of seeing “Joe Nathan acquired with Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser from the Giants for A.J. Pierzynski in November 2003.”
Sorry San Fran, you got hosed.
Very true. Maybe we knew how great Brian Wilson was gonna be, because we drafted him 4 months before that trade.
I’d say Nathan has still had a completely better career than Wilson.
Well, to be honest I made a joke about the coincidence, but you can’t really compare careers until Brian Wilson gets more years under his belt. He has a good chance to be better. He already has a better season high save total. (only by one to be fair, had to fact check)
don’t forget too nathan was a dud in san fran before he became a closer.
Sean Burnett and Drew Storen are sharing the closer’s job in Washington.
That was really awesome when the Royals drafted Soria from themselves in the rule 5 draft.
Got him from the Dodgers I believe.
Padres, isn’t it?
Yes, it was the Padres.
Says dodgers on his player link. I do know for a fact he was a one time dodger prospect.
The Mark DeRosa trade still makes me sick to my stomach
Glad to have Hanrahan rather than Burnett, for sure.
The Blue Jays have a closer and a fill-in closer. As soon as I posted this Francisco was added. And Rauch got the save tonight.
That Twins trade was fantastic all-around. They received a tremendous closer in Nathan, a front-of-the-rotation guy in Liriano, and (at the time) a mid-rotation starter in Bonser, while also being able to call up Minnesota native Joe Mauer to the big leagues.
All for the great AJ Pierzysnki… who the Giants got rid of the next year.
Not as good as when the Pirates traded Chris Young for Matt Herges in the offseason, and then released Herges before the season started.
It’s the Pirates. What do you expect?
Exactly. It’s one of the better trades we’ve ever done.
Great trade for aj he has a world series ring and mauer, Nathan and lirano have nothing
That has nothing to do with the Twins-Giants trade.
Best part, They got a guy named Boof Bonser. He changed it to Boof, that is crazy.
“Excuse me, Mr. Bonser- ”
“Please, call me Boof”
“…”
To all the trade happy fans out there. Some of your best trades are the ones you don’t make.
sometimes trades are done because a team can’t resign a player. might as well get something before that player walks.
can you believe lincecum almost got traded for alex rios back then? it was a trade the giants were glad not to make. AJ was a cancer with the giants and nathan was decent with the giants. nobody saw nathan as the closer he is today.