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2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Relief Pitching

By Nate Wardle

Feb 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54), relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48), relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) and teammates stretch during workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54), relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48), relief pitcher Dellin Betances (68) and teammates stretch during workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Brad Boxberger (26) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Miami Marlins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Brad Boxberger (26) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Miami Marlins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tampa Bay Rays – Brad Boxberger, Danny Farquhar, Xavier Cedeno, Alex Colome, Steve Geltz, Erasmo Ramirez, Enny Romero, Jonny Venters, Ryan Webb, Andrew Bellatti

The Rays use their bullpen as their dumping ground for their starting pitchers who cannot cut it in their competitive rotation, leaving them players with options. Closer Brad Boxberger, despite being an All-Star, was pretty bad in 2015, losing 10 games for the Rays. However, Boxberger also led the AL in saves and appeared in 53 games. In fact, Boxberger had a decision, either a save, a win or a loss in every game he appeared in.

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None of the other names on this list are going to jump out at anyone. Several members of the back end of the Rays’ bullpen in 2015 are no longer in Tampa, as Jake McGee, Brandon Gomes, Kevin Jepsen and others are no longer with the Rays. That will force some other players toward the back end of the Rays’ pen. The other interesting part is that the Rays’ pitching is often so good, sometimes these players don’t get enough work, which can hurt their bullpen in the long run.

I think the chance of the Rays not being in last by the end of the year would take some sort of mini-disaster by one of the teams ahead of them.

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