AL East 2017 Positional Rankings: Home to the Power Bullpens
By Nate Wardle
4. Tampa Bay Rays – Alex Colomre, Tommy Hunter, Chase Whitley, Danny Farquhar, Jose Alvarado, Jumbo Diaz, Brad Boxberger, Dan Jennings, Sergio Romo, Steve Cishek, Austin Pruitt, Ryne Stanek, Andrew Kittredge
A long list of relief pitchers there for the Rays, who had a much better year from their bullpen.
They finished with a 3.83 ERA as a bullpen, with 53 saves, most in the American League. However, the bullpen was also 28-31, one of the main factors keeping them behind the Baltimore Orioles. Colome was 2-3 with a 3.24 ERA and 47 saves, a very solid season.
Considering the names here, the season was a surprise. Hunter was a cast off who pitched for Baltimore in 2016. Whitley used to be with the Yankees, Farquhar was acquired in a trade. Boxberger dealt with injuries again.
Romo was a late addition but didn’t fare very well. The Rays are not a team to put a lot of resources into their bullpen, but as long as Colome is in the back end, they will have a strong closer.