Cincinnati Reds: Top 3 pitchers to replace Raisel Iglesias as the new closer

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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Raisel Iglesias #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

With Raisel Iglesias off to Los Angeles, who should be the Reds new closer?

The Cincinnati Reds swung a deal with the Los Angeles Angels yesterday that sent pitcher Raisel Iglesias off to LA in exchange for right-hander Noé Ramirez and cash. Someone, most likely from within the organization, will have to replace Iggy as the team’s closer in 2021. Who should that be?

Iglesias has received a lot of flack from Reds Country in recent years. The right-hander was hung with 12 losses in 2019, the most ever by a Cincinnati reliever. Last season, while his numbers were much improved, the fanbase collectively held their breath when the bullpen doors opened and Iglesias stepped onto the warning track on his way to the mound.

Raisel Iglesias was owed $9.125M for the upcoming season, and with the Reds looking to cut payroll, it should come as no surprise that Iggy was dealt. In return, Cincinnati received a 30-year-old reliever who’s under team control for the foreseeable future. However, Ramirez’s track record is nowhere near that of Iglesias.

With Nick Krall and the Cincinnati Reds front office now looking to fill Iggy’s role as the team’s closer, where might they turn? There’s no shortage of options throughout the organization, but three players come to mind as the best replacements for Iglesias. Let’s take a look at the three best options to take over closing duties next season for the Reds.

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 02: Amir Garrett #50 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during a game. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Amir Garrett, Reds left-handed pitcher

Amir Garrett earned his first-career save in 2020, but that shouldn’t make the left-hander Cincinnati’s No. 1 choice to take over as the team’s closer. Garrett is virtually unhittable against left-handed hitters, and should be turned to late in games when the opposing lineup in loaded with left-handers who can mash. However, Garrett isn’t ready to be the Reds closer.

Yes, Garrett possesses that fiery personality we’d all like to see from the Reds closer. Heck, Garrett took on the entire Pittsburgh Pirates dugout by himself during a brawl in 2019 that cost the reliever eight games. That passion and drive that Garrett plays with is admirable, but it’s also important for a closer to be calm under pressure.

Garrett’s emotional outbursts on the mound are not what concern me. That same fire that can push Garrett a bit too far is also the same passion that keeps the southpaw engaged. We saw a similar attitude from Trevor Bauer this past season, and he won the NL Cy Young. No, it’s not Garrett’s emotion that concerns me, but rather his stats against right-handed hitters.

Let’s face it, Amir Garrett will not be fortunate enough to face only left-handed hitters night-in and night-out as the Reds closer. Opposing managers are going to see the same stats we all do and know that in order to get on base versus Garrett, you need to put a right-handed hitter in the batter’s box.

Last season, Garrett dominated lefties to the tune of a .043 batting average. Opposing left-handed hitters only reached base 21% of the time against Garrett. However, when a right-handed hitter was staring down AG, the southpaw surrendered a .231 batting average and all four home runs give up by Garrett came against right-handed batters.

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 06: Tejay Antone #70 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

2. Tejay Antone, Reds right-handed pitcher

Now, some of you may be saying, “Why Tejay Antone as the closer? Shouldn’t’ he be competing for a spot in the starting rotation?” Well, yes, Antone does have the makeup of a starter and during his rookie season, Antone started four games. However, his splits as a starter versus reliever suggest that the Texas native may be better out of the bullpen.

Now, if these latest trade rumors surrounding right-hander Sonny Gray are true and Cincinnati does indeed deal the two-time All-Star this offseason, the chances of Antone joining the starting rotation greatly increase. As it stands now, the Reds rotation is likely comprised of Gray, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Wade Miley, and Michael Lorenzen.

While some fans may prefer to see Antone take that final spot in Cincinnati’s rotation, he performed much better out of the bullpen. As a starter, Antone went 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA over 16.1 innings of work. While those numbers aren’t bad at all for a rookie, as a reliever, Antone was even better.

Tejay Antone went 0-1 out of the bullpen, with a 1.89 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 19 innings. Antone allowed opposing batters to hit just .097 during his nine relief appearances and posed a 0.632 WHIP.

The trouble with handing the reins over to Antone as the team’s new closer is that he’s just 13 games into his big league career. Antone possesses a great repertoire and locates his pitches very well. But how would the right-hander perform under pressure?

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – SEPTEMBER 25: Lucas Sims #39 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

1. Lucas Sims, Reds right-handed pitcher

Lucas Sims is my choice to take over for Raisel Iglesias as the Cincinnati Reds closer in 2021. Looking back at the 2018 trade that brought Sims, Matt Wisler, and Preston Tucker to Cincinnati in exchange for Adam Duvall is starting to look like phenomenal move by Cincinnati’s front office.

While Wisler and Tucker are no longer with the organization, Sims may have been the team’s best reliever in 2020. Sims went 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA over 25.2 innings. Sims struck out 34 batters and posted a 0.935 WHIP.

Sims and Garrett had identical ERAs in 2020, but Sims was effective against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. Sims also has the makeup to get a four-out or five-out save. It’s questionable if Garrett can go more than one inning, especially if there are multiple right-handed hitters in the lineup.

According to Baseball Savant, Sims’ spin on his fastball puts him in the 99th percentile, and his breaking ball is in a class all by itself. Sims has turned his career around since joining the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 and isn’t arbitration eligible until next winter.

Next. Several teams rumored to be interested in Gray

Lucas Sims is the player Cincinnati should turn to late in games when a win is hanging in the balance. I could also see Garrett earning a few save opportunities next season, but those will likely be dictated by the matchup.

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With Raisel Iglesias off to Los Angeles, who should be the Reds new closer?

3. Amir Garrett, Reds left-handed pitcher

2. Tejay Antone, Reds right-handed pitcher

1. Lucas Sims, Reds right-handed pitcher

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