All Time Saves Leader Trevor Hoffman Retires

[Mitchell]

I just read in the Atlanta Journal Constitution that all time major league saves leader Trevor Hoffman has announced his retirement. Hoffman retires with a major league record 601 saves.

While Hoffman is the current all time saves leader, it would seem likely that wont be for long. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera currently has 559 saves, and recently signed a two year contract to return to the Yankees. With Rivera needing only 43 saves to pass Hoffman, it would seem that unless a career ending injury occurs, that Rivera will pass Hoffman, and become the all time saves leader by 2012 at latest.

Both men are/were incredible relief pitchers, and the standard by which relief pitchers are judged has been set by them. They both belong in the Hall of Fame.

Mitch

 

[thetmfobserver]

Agreed on all counts. Hoffmann was excellent, and I'm glad he's going back to the Padres in a front office role. Rivera will likely become the all-time saves leader in early 2012, as he should, since he's the best closer in history, even if he wears pinstripes. And both should be HOF locks.

My question to you, Mitch, as a follower of baseball, is do you think there is a current closer who could be the next Hoffmann or Rivera?

 

[Mitchell]

observer, I agree with you that Rivera is the best closer in history. Usually when he enters a game, it's game over, regular season, or postseason.

As for who is a current closer who might be the next Hoffman or Rivera. Red Sox closer Johnathan Papelbon comes to mind. Granted,. he's 400 plus saves away from Hoffman, and he may not last long enough to even get closer to Hoffman or Rivera's numbers.. but.. he has close to 200 saves already, at only age 30, and that counts some time spent as a starter too. If.. for example.. Papelbon remains a closer, plays another ten years, until he's 40, and averages 30 saves a season, he's in the neighborhood of 500, and in the elite all time closer status. He's not quite at Hoffman or Rivera totals, but he's close.

Papelbon would be my answer, but it remains to be seen if he will play long enough, injury free, to approach the totals that Hoffman and Rivera have.

Mitch

 

[thetmfobserver]

Papelbon would be my answer, but it remains to be seen if he will play long enough, injury free, to approach the totals that Hoffman and Rivera have.

Mitch

I was hoping you wouldn't say that, and I'm a Red Sox fan. Papelbon irritates me, even though I agree, he is quite good.

The one guy I look at is Joakim Soria. He's 26, and has about 130 saves. If the injury fairy is kind to him, he could continue to pitch for another 15 years.

 

[ndj101982]

It's funny how he did it so quietly. He just seemed to built up all of these saves almost in the shadows of Mo Rivera because he typically played on teams that didn't make the playoffs often. Kind of reminds me of when a player bats .350, but nobody cares beacause he's on like the Royals or something.

 

[thetmfobserver]

Soria won't be unknown for much longer, I expect. Eventually, the Royals will need to trade him. I actually believe that he's the most likely heir to the Yankees closer throne when Rivera retires. Papelbon has always said he wants to do that, but I don't think the Bombers would want the baggage that goes with it. Soria is quiet, focused, and young, and seems like a natural fit. I'd be excited to watch Bard / Soria matchups for the next decade.

 

[ndj101982]

Soria won't be unknown for much longer, I expect. Eventually, the Royals will need to trade him. I actually believe that he's the most likely heir to the Yankees closer throne when Rivera retires. Papelbon has always said he wants to do that, but I don't think the Bombers would want the baggage that goes with it. Soria is quiet, focused, and young, and seems like a natural fit. I'd be excited to watch Bard / Soria matchups for the next decade.

I believe Chamberlain will likely fill the role of closer once Rivera is gone. Chamberlain was lights out as a 1-inning guy before they tried to make him a starter and then middle-reliever.

 

[thetmfobserver]

I'm not sold on Joba, and I don't think the Yankees are, either. I heard his name in some trade rumors this winter, so I don't know how long he'll stay in pinstripes.

 

[Mitchell]

I dont know too much about Soria.

Observer, you may have heard that today the Yankees signed Rafael Soriano to be a setup man for Rivera. It would seem that if Soriano stays healthy, and stays with the Yankees long enough, he will become the closer in the 2013 season after Rivera retires.

Mitch

 

[thetmfobserver]

I did see that, and that is totally a possibility. What's interesting is that Soriano has "opt out" options for the first two years, in case he tires of being a set-up man. Obviously, Soriano was just in it for the money, as he could have closed in Anaheim or any number of other places if he wanted to. I'll be interested to see how he holds up in a set up role.