Brandon Kintzler: The closer nobody wants to own

Free-agent closer Brandon Kintzler put up respectable numbers during the 2017 season. Yet, why doesn’t anyone want to own him?

The closer position is very fickle, especially over the last few seasons. Managers are now more quickly to pull the plug on the current closer if they’re struggling or give them some rest by using a committee. As a result, middle relievers are getting more love. Though, there are some valuable closers with low ownership, one of them being Brandon Kintzler.

Kintzler spent six years in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen before signing with the Minnesota Twins in the 2015 offseason. In those six seasons, Kintzler posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.287 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and zero saves.

In just his first season in Minnesota, Kintzler proved that he could be a top-20 closer in the league. He recorded 17 saves with a 3.15 ERA, 1.233 WHIP, 5.8 K/9 and 1.3 BB/9 in 54.1 innings. Not bad, but the lack of saves hurt his value some. As a result, he was the 35th closer drafted in ESPN leagues with a 219.3 ADP.

Kintzler took a big step forward in his production this season. He saw a rise in his usage, jumping to 71.1 innings between the two teams. He lowered his ERA to 3.03 and WHIP to 1.150.

More from Fantasy Baseball

• 5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pivots to replace Triston McKenzie
• Fantasy baseball mock draft 2023, 12-team: Aaron Judge over Trea Turner?
• 3 fantasy baseball sleepers being drafted too late
• NBA DFS picks December 25: Merry Bucking Christmas
• Fantasy Baseball: Hot pitchers worthy of starting this weekend

While his strikeout rate dropped to just 4.9 K.9, he kept his walk rate at just 2.0 BB/9. Kintzler recorded a combined 29 saves.

At the end of the season, he finished as the 19th closer on the Player Rater. Kintzler didn’t get much time in the ninth inning with the Washington Nationals in the final two months.

He was primarily used in the eighth inning, behind Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle. Kintzler had 10 holds in his 24.2 innings. His ESPN fantasy ownership dropped to a lowly 37.8 percent.

Now a free agent, Kintzler will look to join a team with an open closer spot. The Nationals seem to have room for him. Both Madson and Doolittle are under contract but Matt Albers, Oliver Perez and Joe Blanton are headed for free agency as well.

The Twins could be in line to bring Kintzler back as Roster Resource has Trevor Hildenberger listed as the team’s closer. This would be a perfect spot for Kintzler to return to fantasy prominence, especially with no true competition.

If Kintzler does sign with a team with other closer options, like the rumored New York Mets, his value goes way down. ESPN ranks him as the 43rd closer. FantasyPros doesn’t even rank him. I have him just outside my top 40 for now.

Despite the low strikeout rate, he has a great ground ball rate, career 57.5 percent. While his fly ball rate jumped up to 26.5 percent in 2017, his HR/FB rate was at 8.3 percent, 38th among all qualified relievers.

Next: Is Greg Bird ranked too highly?

Kintzler will be an interesting name to watch this offseason. He could be a valuable asset to a team as a middle reliever, but his true value is as a reliable closer for a rebuilding team.