Texas Closer-of-the-Future???

that Miggy would cut it as a closer.  He has enough on his plate trying to throw a grounder to first from shortstop.

I hear proming reports have him throwing abbreviated long-toss w/ a nerf on alternating wednesdays...

 

The best guy on hand for that is Francisco. He's still getting his velocity back from his elbow injury, but he is throwing harder this spring than he was last fall, so people are hopeful. His command still isn't there though.

As far as other popular choices here, Diamond and Volquez, I've been a proponent of Volquez getting a look in the pen since last summer, and I guess because they're so deep there, they're seeming like they're not ready to try that. But I think his talents, at least at this point, fit better there and that his stuff could come close to fitting the closer role if he could just control his FB a little better.

Every time Diamond's name comes up it seems like people suggest him as a potential closer, maybe partly because when he was throwing like 96 (or at least reported to be) scouts were suggesting that. And his velocity would probably pick up in a short role. But his stuff, at least at this point, just isn't dominating enough to even think of him as a closer, imo. His change isn't going to be a knockout second pitch obviously, and his FB is not dominating enough to be like a Papelbon just blowing one pitch by guys. I just don't see that one at this point.

As you know Tejeda just doesn't seem to pitch as well in relief for whatever reason. His stuff is pretty tough if he did, but he just seems to take to starting better, despite what scouts expected.

And I still see Littleton as a setup guy but maybe he'll keep surprising.

Franky was talked about a lot as a potential future closer in '04, if he gets back to that level of performance I can see it.

Wilson seems determined to be a closer someday, and willing to do whatever work is necessary to get there, so I won't count him out.

happen by accident... a rookie who doesn't fit in the rotation (Papelbon), a starter coming off a surgery (Smoltz, Jeff Russell), a middle reliever/setup guy who steps up his game a notch (JJ Putz), a former starter dumped by his old team for no reason (Robb Nen).  The classic progression of middle-relief, 8th inning stud -> closer is the exception rather than the rule, though it does fit some (K-Rod, Mariano, Brad Lidge).

Heck, the Rangers are drafting in an ideal positions to get a college junior whose stuff fits the closer mold.  Maybe Cole St.Clair of Rice with one of the supplimental picks if he's healthy...

http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=681&draftId=5

velocity, and secondary pitchers wuld make him an excellent closer if he finds his location like so many other wild starters have in the pen.

Throws gas and has a great slider.  He could be in the mix.  Johnny Lujan is still raw but he has an awesome arm.  

FRANKIE FRANCISCO.

Somebody not now in the system.

If Gagne moves on, and Aki puts up his samurai gear, it depends on how the team fares.  Big winner in the West, no WS, some of the good relievers may be spent for a bat, another starter, or a new closer.  If the team falters, those same good relievers (being the short supply in this half of the decade) can bring rebuild and reconstruct talent.

and the team looks to be a contender next year, any interest in signing Gagne to a 3 year deal worth around 30 million?

I probably wouldn't pull the trigger unless I see enough from Laird, Cruz, Botts, McCarthy, and Tejeda to think that I won't need to spend big money in the next couple years to fill their positions.  An expensive closer is a luxury a team can afford if they have pre-arbitration eligible players filling a good number of spots on the team.