If George Sherrill is traded now at the 2009 non-waiver deadline, the question of who closes in the immediate aftermath for a last-place team is of limited concern.
Obviously, if you are trading a player like Sherrill, you are doing so because you believe he is at the height of his value, and you have the opportunity to add a potential long-term piece.
That is the primary concern.
However, as the President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail has stated, not collapsing down the stretch does matter.
In the short-term, I would like to see Matt Albers in the closer role, if Sherrill is traded.
He does not get a ton of K’s, but when he is on, he has that hard sink that gets grounders.
With Meredith able to be used as another right-handed set-up guy, he can essentially take over for the position Albers has been used at. Also keeps Johnson in his spot. When Uehara gets healthy, he should be be given an opportunity. Ideally it would be Ray, but I believe the team is hiding him with an ‘injury’, to allow him some-time to regroup mentally and with his mechanics. Might not see Ray again until 2010.
I do think you have to watch the innings Albers pitches in the 2nd-half. Last-year, Albers pitched 49 innings prior to his injury, and he has pitched 40.1 so far in 2009. As the closer, you could probably limit most of his outings to 1ip or less.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.