Kevin Quackenbush

A successful run in the closer role late in 2014 put Quackenbush on the map as a potential low-cost source of saves entering 2015. However, he did not even break camp with the big club, as the team sent him to Triple-A after trading for Craig Kimbrel a day before the start of the regular season. Quackenbush found his way back up to the majors less than a month into the campaign, but he worked primarily in low-leverage situations (two holds, no saves) and posted a 4.65 second-half ERA. To be fair, Quackenbush, working almost exclusively with a fastball-curveball combo, held his opponents to a far lower batting average and missed far more bats after the All-Star break while also cutting his walks, and he appears to be one of the frontrunners for the closer role again with Kimbrel dealt to Boston. However, nothing is certain heading into spring training, and his leash likely will be relatively short if he does earn the job.

Quackenbush started the 2014 season as an unassuming reliever at Triple-A El Paso, from which he experienced four separate callups between Apr. 25 and May 15. Shortly thereafter, he experienced a fifth and remained a member of the Padres’ bullpen for rest of the year. Acting as a middle reliever off the bat, his performance warranted a promotion to setup man following the trade of long-time closer Huston Street after the All-Star break, and Quackenbush eventually took over the starring late-inning role when Joaquin Benoit was shut down in late August due to a sore right shoulder. During Quackenbush’s run as closer, he prevailed in all five save situations, and his peripheral numbers on the year should provide a chance to secure the closer’s job in spring training, despite San Diego’s financial commitment to Benoit.