Top 10 Reliever Pickups

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jan 29, 2007

Top 10 Reliever Pickups

Chad Bradford

Sidearmer Chad Bradford appeared in 70 games for the Mets last season, giving up 59 hits in 62 innings. He'll now work out of the Orioles' bullpen.

Neal Cotts

Neal Cotts had a 1.94 ERA and gave up one homer for the 2005 World Series champion White Sox. He gave up 12 dingers last year, in six fewer innings. The Cubs traded for him anyway, hoping a late-season swoon corrects itself.

Roberto Hernandez

Roberto Hernandez has 326 career saves in a 16-year career. The 42-year-old split time last year between the Mets and Pirates, and figures to be a set-up man for the Indians in '07.

Jamie Walker

The Orioles' bullpen had a 5.25 ERA last season, a major reason they're paying former Detroit stalwart Jamie Walker $12 million over the next three years to be their primary left-handed specialist.

Eric Gagne

For most of three years, from 2002 to 2004, former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was hands-down the best in the game. Injuries cost him most of the past two seasons -- he appeared in only two games last year -- but the Rangers have given him an incentive-heavy contract and a chance to rebuild his rep.

Rafael Soriano

The Braves traded for hard-throwing Rafael Soriano in an effort to rebuild a bullpen that blew more saves than any other in baseball last year. Soriano struck out 65 batters in 60 innings of work for the Mariners in 2006.

Joe Borowski

Joe Borowski, who had 36 saves last year for the surprising Marlins, will battle another newcomer in Indians camp, Keith Foulke, for the closer spot.

Keith Foulke

Cleveland, with a big-league worst 24 saves in 2006, is taking a chance on Keith Foulke. He was lights out as the closer for the 2004 Red Sox, but he's battled knee, back and elbow injuries -- and Boston fans -- ever since.

Danys Baez

Danys Baez saved 41 games for the Devil Rays in 2005, was traded twice last year (to the Dodgers and Braves) then signed a three-year, $19 million deal with the Orioles in November. He'll set up closer Chris Ray.

Mike Gonzalez

Further bolstering their new-look bullpen, the Braves dealt slugging first baseman Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez, who saved 24 games and had a 2.17 ERA last year for the Pirates.

Top 10 Reliever Pickups