Marlins Add Depth to Pen with Brad Ziegler: Fantasy Fallout

After missing the big-name closers, the Marlins settled for Brad Ziegler, who will likely compete for the closing job. What will his impact be in 2017?

The Miami Marlins front office were targeting at least two of the three elite free agent closers. I’m not sure if anyone took them seriously, but the reports were out there. They all signed elsewhere and the Marlins had to go to their backup plan. That would come in the name of Brad Ziegler. This signing will create a ripple effect the Marlins bullpen.

The Marlins went into last season thinking they had a dangerous one-two punch in Carter Capps and A.J. Ramos. Weeks before the season began, Capps got hurt and would miss the rest of the reason. Ramos had a good season in the process.

Ramos recorded 40 saves with 2.81 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. He also had a 10.3 K/9, 4.9 BB/9 and an All Star appearance. All in all, he finished as the No. 20 relief pitcher on the Player Rater. The walk rate was a bit disappointing, but something he has struggled with throughout his career.

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It was clear that the Marlins wanted to use Capps in the ninth inning instead of Ramos. The front office traded for Fernando Rodney at the deadline, but Ramos was still the closer.

They clearly feel the same entering 2017 after signing Ziegler Friday night.

Ziegler spent the first half of 2016 as the Arizona Diamondbacks closer. In 36 games, he had 18 saves, 2.82 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He also had a 6.3 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9.

Ziegler was then traded to the Boston Red Sox, but was used as the set-up man. He did record four saves to go along with his 1.52 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 29.2 innings. Ziegler finished as the No. 36 relief pitcher, and if he stayed with Arizona the whole season, he would have finished in the top 25.

Now, at the age of 37, Ziegler will likely be the Marlins closer. He will join a revamped Miami bullpen with recently signed Junichi Tazawa, David Phelps and Ramos still in the mix. While the strikeouts look nice, Ramos has a hard time controlling his pitches. His walk rate was 1.6 points higher than Ziegler’s.

Next: Red Sox: A Rebound for the Panda?

Ziegler currently ranks outside my top-15 closers and could continue to drop. Ramos is outside my top-30 relief pitchers. Unless the Marlins add a major piece to their offense, I don’t see Ziegler getting many saves and I don’t think reaching Ramos’ 40 from last year is realistic.

Let me know what you think in the comments? Is Ziegler the closer? Where are you drafting him?