With Chris Ray on the DL, Who Replaces Him?

July 26, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Aaron Adams
Edited by Ryan Dodson

On Wednesday the Baltimore Orioles placed 25-year-old Baltimore Orioles closer Chris Ray (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list with bone spurs in the elbow on his pitching arm. Ray first began to feel pain in his elbow on Saturday after pitching in a non-save situation in last Friday night's loss in Oakland. 

What's going on with Ray?

Ray was dominant in his first season as a closer in 2006, but so far this year he had been struggling to the tune of a 4.43 ERA and a 5-6 record with 16 saves in 43 appearances. Ray particularly struggled in June going 1-3 with a 9.31 ERA in nine appearances. Ray's struggles were deemed by the Orioles as a byproduct of a mechanical flaw as Ray was rushing his delivery to the plate. 

Ray seemed as if he had fixed the mechanical flaw in his delivery, over nine July appearances before being placed on the DL, Ray was 1-0 with three saves allowing no earned runs on two hits in nine innings.

Ray made 25 throws in a bullpen session on Wednesday and reported feeling better, but since the Orioles are far from contending, they are taking no chances with their young hurler. Ray will be given ample time to rest his sore elbow and will then begin a three-week rehabilitation program and will be unable to return until September at the earliest. Ray may be forced to miss the remainder of the season as surgery could still be an option.

While the Orioles would like to avoid placing Ray under the knife, a bone spur is simply overgrowth of the bone and often times must be removed. If Ray is still feeling pain when throwing, he may be forced to have them removed and may miss the remainder of the season. Bone spurs are often the byproduct of looseness of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), better known by its required Tommy John surgery. While this is not always the case, it should be considered when determining Ray's long-term value. 

What Should I do with Ray?

If you have a DL spot available you should just slide Ray into that spot, if you don't have that luxury you should begin to look for other options as Ray will miss significant time. Ray doesn't have much value for the remainder of the season as even if he is able to return he will not receive too many save opportunities with the Orioles. Ray's value for next season may also heavily depend on his rehabilitation over the next few weeks, as surgery could force him to also miss significant time next season. If in a keeper league, and you're still in the chase this season it may be wise to get short-term help for Ray, if you're able to.

The Baltimore Orioles have announced that they will go with a dreaded closer-by-committee approach with relievers Jamie Walker, Danys Baez and Chad Bradford in the mix. Although it was announced they will use a committee approach, Jamie Walker appears as if he will receive the bulk of the load as he has been used in both save situations since Ray has been unavailable. Walker is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 37.2 innings over 51 appearances. In his two save opportunities he allowed no earned runs on one hit with one strikeout. 

Should Walker struggle, Baez is probably next in line despite struggling to a 0-5 record with a 5.88 ERA so far this season as he has experience in the closer role, with 111 career saves.

If neither Orioles option is appealing, than keep your eyes and ears pealed to the trades made over the next few weeks as many new closers could emerge with the deadline fast approaching. 

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Joakim Soria should be at the top of your trade-deadline watch list as he has emerged as the Royals future closer notching a 2.34 ERA with 51 strikeouts over 42.1 innings pitched thus far this season. Soria also notched 10 saves earlier in the season when current closer Octavio Dotel went down with an oblique strain. With the Royals out of the playoff race, a trade of Dotel seems highly likely as many playoff contenders are desperately scrambling for bullpen help. 

Other situations to keep your eye on include the possible trades of Washington Nationals closer Chad Cordero, Texas Rangers closer Eric Gagne and Cincinnati Reds closer David Weathers. 

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Aaron Adams
Aaron has been with KFFL since 2007.

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