Chris Perez

Perez dealt with some off-field issues in addition to a shoulder injury that cropped up in spring training, and he was eventually replaced as the Cleveland's closer in the final days of the season. He was predictably released in the offseason with a looming raise via arbitration, and with capable arms waiting in the wings to move into the ninth-inning role for the Tribe. He's a good bet to rebound from last year's setbacks, but he'll likely be limited to a setup role after signing with the Dodgers.

Perez had a number of clashes with the team's front office and fans, but put together a fine season on the field with a career-high 39 saves. He was able to reverse a three-year dip in his strikeout rate and showed the best control (2.5 BB/9) of his career, in addition to the gaudy save total. Perez figures to be a popular trade target with a hefty raise expected in arbitration and with the Indians stuck in a rebuilding limbo. Assuming he remains in Cleveland, Perez is a notch below the league's elite options as he gets hit a bit more than most closers when he leaves pitches in the strike zone.

Perez had a stranglehold on the closer spot all season long, resulting in a 36-save season. He was far from dominant despite his gaudy save total, and the huge drop in his strikeout rate (8.71 K/9IP to 5.88) has to raise some warning flags. He's still fighting the control demons (3.92 BB/9IP last year, 4.29 for his career) but he has been able to walk the tightrope so far. The Indians have a nice flame-throwing setup man in Vinnie Pestano, but there's no reason to think Perez is in any danger of losing his grip on the closer job despite some warning signs in his non-save numbers. He'll be back as the team's closer and should eclipse the 30-save mark again this year.

Perez got a shot to close games after an injury to Kerry Wood in spring training and inherited the role full time upon Wood's trade to the Yankees, racking up 23 saves with a sparkling 1.71 ERA. He was absolutely dominant in the season's second half (0.63 ERA, 16 saves, 0.872 WHIP, 32 K in 28.2 IP) as he allowed just two earned runs after June 28. The only remaining issue is a few too many walks (4.0 BB/9IP last year), but that's an improvement from his days with the Cardinals. He'll return as the team's closer to open the season with a clear path to 30-plus saves.

Perez was lights out for the Indians after a midseason trade, though his ERA (4.32) may not reflect just how well he pitched. A 1.080 WHIP, 10.3 K/9IP and a 3.17 K/BB ratio point to him being more than capable of closing out games if the rebuilding Indians decide to trade Kerry Wood and the rest of his contract ($10.5 million in 2010 and an $11 million option if he finishes 55 games in 2010). Perez makes for a great closer-in-waiting candidate as offseason surgery to remove a bone and cyst in his foot should be of no concern.

Perez has been called the St. Louis "Closer of the Future" for a few years now, and in 2008 he finally got his chance. He was nearly perfect in August before hitting the wall in September. He'll compete with Jason Motte for the closer role this year, but if Motte pitches as well in March as he did in 2008, Perez will have an uphill climb.

Although Perez played at three levels last year, his control abandoned him at every turn. Perez walked 76 batters in 106 innings, but his strikeout rate was high as well, including 13.72 K/9 in 39 appearances for Double-A Springfield. Perez looks like the top candidate to eventually replace Jason Isringhausen, but he’ll have to get his control problems straightened out before the Cardinals give him a chance.