Biographical

Portrait of Joaquin Benoit

Joaquin Benoit PNationals

Nationals Player Cards | Nationals Team Audit | Nationals Depth Chart

2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 41)
IP ERA WHIP SO W L SV WARP
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Birth Date7-26-1977
Height6' 4"
Weight250 lbs
Age46 years, 8 months, 3 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
1.32015
-0.12016
0.22017
2018
0.02019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2001 TEX MLB 1 1 5.0 0 0 0 8 3 4 3 111 14.4 5.4 5.4 7.2 0% .313 2.20 11.09 10.80 116 6.76 140.1 -0.1
2002 TEX MLB 17 13 84.7 4 5 1 91 58 59 6 105 9.7 6.2 0.6 6.3 0% .307 1.76 4.81 5.31 130 7.99 171.4 -2.3
2003 TEX MLB 25 17 105.0 8 5 0 99 51 87 23 109 8.5 4.4 2.0 7.5 0% .255 1.43 5.82 5.49 116 6.26 131.1 -0.7
2004 TEX MLB 28 15 103.0 3 5 0 113 31 95 19 109 9.9 2.7 1.7 8.3 0% .310 1.40 4.84 5.68 102 4.93 101.7 0.9
2005 TEX MLB 32 9 87.0 4 4 0 69 38 78 9 108 7.1 3.9 0.9 8.1 0% .248 1.23 3.97 3.72 111 5.82 125.1 -0.3
2006 TEX MLB 56 0 79.7 1 1 0 68 38 85 5 108 7.7 4.3 0.6 9.6 0% .292 1.33 3.41 4.86 92 4.02 81.8 1.5
2007 TEX MLB 70 0 82.0 7 4 6 68 28 87 6 102 7.5 3.1 0.7 9.5 0% .290 1.17 3.23 2.85 89 3.62 75.0 1.7
2008 TEX MLB 44 0 45.0 3 2 1 40 35 43 6 112 8.0 7.0 1.2 8.6 0% .272 1.67 5.31 5.00 113 6.26 133.5 -0.4
2010 TBA MLB 63 0 60.3 1 2 1 30 11 75 6 105 4.5 1.6 0.9 11.2 0% .192 0.68 2.40 1.34 65 2.27 51.2 1.9
2011 DET MLB 66 0 61.0 4 3 2 47 17 63 5 106 6.9 2.5 0.7 9.3 0% .273 1.05 2.99 2.95 82 2.71 63.1 1.5
2012 DET MLB 73 0 71.0 5 3 2 59 22 84 14 106 7.5 2.8 1.8 10.6 0% .269 1.14 4.21 3.68 81 2.62 60.1 1.8
2013 DET MLB 66 0 67.0 4 1 24 47 22 73 5 100 6.3 3.0 0.7 9.8 0% .256 1.03 2.89 2.01 80 2.79 66.7 1.5
2014 SDN MLB 53 0 54.3 4 2 11 28 14 64 3 95 4.6 2.3 0.5 10.6 0% .203 0.77 2.29 1.49 81 2.40 58.8 1.4
2015 SDN MLB 67 0 65.3 6 5 2 36 23 63 7 95 5.0 3.2 1.0 8.7 0% .182 0.90 3.77 2.34 90 3.02 70.6 1.3
2016 SEA 0 26 0 24.3 1 1 0 20 15 28 4 104 7.4 5.5 1.5 10.4 43% .254 1.44 4.91 5.18 103 4.69 103.9 0.1
2016 TOR 0 25 0 23.7 2 0 1 17 9 24 1 107 6.5 3.4 0.4 9.1 38% .271 1.10 2.76 0.38 110 5.53 122.4 -0.2
2017 PHI 0 44 0 42.0 1 4 2 32 16 43 5 6.9 3.4 1.1 9.2 35% .252 1.14 3.82 4.07 101 4.15 88.4 0.5
2017 PIT 0 8 0 8.3 0 2 0 11 6 3 2 11.9 6.5 2.2 3.2 38% .300 2.04 8.09 7.56 127 8.03 170.9 -0.3
2016 TOT MLB 51 0 48.0 3 1 1 37 24 52 5 106 6.9 4.5 0.9 9.8 41% .262 1.27 3.85 2.81 106 5.11 113.0 -0.1
2017 TOT MLB 52 0 50.3 1 6 2 43 22 46 7 7.7 3.9 1.3 8.2 35% .263 1.29 4.52 4.65 107 4.80 102.1 0.2
CareerMLB764551068.758495388343710581291007.43.71.18.937%.2701.244.023.83994.4696.49.7

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
1998 SAV A SAL 15 15 80.0 4 3 0 79 18 68 8 8.9 2.0 0.9 7.7 0% -.755 1.21 3.96 3.83 0 0.00 0.0
1999 PCH A+ FSL 22 22 105.0 7 4 0 117 50 83 5 10.0 4.3 0.4 7.1 0% -.812 1.59 3.89 5.31 0 0.00 0.0
2000 TUL AA TXS 16 16 82.3 4 4 0 73 30 72 6 8.0 3.3 0.7 7.9 0% -.620 1.25 3.67 3.83 0 0.00 0.0
2000 Agu Wnt DWL 5 0 4.7 1 1 0 7 5 9 0 13.4 9.6 0.0 17.2 0% -.500 2.55 3.10 9.57 0 0.00 0.0
2001 TEX MLB AL 1 1 5.0 0 0 0 8 3 4 3 111 14.4 5.4 5.4 7.2 0% .313 2.20 11.09 10.80 116 6.76 140.1
2001 TUL AA TXS 4 4 21.7 1 0 0 23 6 23 1 9.5 2.5 0.4 9.5 0% -.733 1.34 2.82 3.32 0 0.00 0.0
2001 OKL AAA PCL 24 24 131.0 9 5 0 113 73 142 14 7.8 5.0 1.0 9.8 0% -.432 1.42 4.44 4.19 0 0.00 0.0
2001 Agu Wnt DWL 10 0 49.3 5 0 0 37 14 38 0 6.8 2.6 0.0 6.9 0% -.712 1.03 3.80 2.37 0 0.00 0.0
2002 TEX MLB AL 17 13 84.7 4 5 1 91 58 59 6 105 9.7 6.2 0.6 6.3 0% .307 1.76 4.81 5.31 130 7.99 171.4
2002 PCH A+ FSL 1 1 5.0 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 1.8 5.4 0.0 14.4 0% .111 0.80 1.77 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2002 OKL AAA PCL 16 16 98.7 8 4 0 74 37 103 8 6.7 3.4 0.7 9.4 0% .257 1.12 3.75 3.56 0 0.00 0.0
2003 TEX MLB AL 25 17 105.0 8 5 0 99 51 87 23 109 8.5 4.4 2.0 7.5 0% .255 1.43 5.82 5.49 116 6.26 131.1
2003 OKL AAA PCL 6 6 33.0 2 1 0 28 11 31 3 7.6 3.0 0.8 8.5 0% .287 1.18 3.78 3.82 0 0.00 0.0
2003 agu Wnt DWL 4 4 15.3 0 0 0 8 8 15 0 4.7 4.7 0.0 8.8 0% -.333 1.05 2.92 2.35 0 0.00 0.0
2004 TEX MLB AL 28 15 103.0 3 5 0 113 31 95 19 109 9.9 2.7 1.7 8.3 0% .310 1.40 4.84 5.68 102 4.93 101.7
2004 FRI AA TXS 1 1 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.0 0% .000 0.00 -2.59 0.00 0 0.00 0.0
2005 TEX MLB AL 32 9 87.0 4 4 0 69 38 78 9 108 7.1 3.9 0.9 8.1 0% .248 1.23 3.97 3.72 111 5.82 125.1
2005 OKL AAA PCL 3 1 5.0 0 1 0 4 4 2 1 7.2 7.2 1.8 3.6 0% -.375 1.60 8.31 5.40 0 0.00 0.0
2006 TEX MLB AL 56 0 79.7 1 1 0 68 38 85 5 108 7.7 4.3 0.6 9.6 0% .292 1.33 3.41 4.86 92 4.02 81.8
2007 TEX MLB AL 70 0 82.0 7 4 6 68 28 87 6 102 7.5 3.1 0.7 9.5 0% .290 1.17 3.23 2.85 89 3.62 75.0
2008 TEX MLB AL 44 0 45.0 3 2 1 40 35 43 6 112 8.0 7.0 1.2 8.6 0% .272 1.67 5.31 5.00 113 6.26 133.5
2008 FRI AA TXS 3 1 1.7 0 0 0 4 4 2 0 84 21.2 21.2 0.0 10.6 0% .667 4.71 9.80 15.88 119 0.00 0.0
2008 OKL AAA PCL 2 0 3.0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 110 3.0 0.0 0.0 9.0 0% .167 0.33 1.48 0.00 70 2.83 58.0
2010 TBA MLB AL 63 0 60.3 1 2 1 30 11 75 6 105 4.5 1.6 0.9 11.2 0% .192 0.68 2.40 1.34 65 2.27 51.2
2010 DUR AAA INT 8 0 9.7 0 1 2 8 3 17 2 7.4 2.8 1.9 15.8 0% .333 1.13 3.39 2.78 0 0.00 0.0
2011 DET MLB AL 66 0 61.0 4 3 2 47 17 63 5 106 6.9 2.5 0.7 9.3 0% .273 1.05 2.99 2.95 82 2.71 63.1
2012 DET MLB AL 73 0 71.0 5 3 2 59 22 84 14 106 7.5 2.8 1.8 10.6 0% .269 1.14 4.21 3.68 81 2.62 60.1
2013 DET MLB AL 66 0 67.0 4 1 24 47 22 73 5 100 6.3 3.0 0.7 9.8 0% .256 1.03 2.89 2.01 80 2.79 66.7
2014 SDN MLB NL 53 0 54.3 4 2 11 28 14 64 3 95 4.6 2.3 0.5 10.6 0% .203 0.77 2.29 1.49 81 2.40 58.8
2015 SDN MLB NL 67 0 65.3 6 5 2 36 23 63 7 95 5.0 3.2 1.0 8.7 0% .182 0.90 3.77 2.34 90 3.02 70.6
2016 SEA MLB AL 26 0 24.3 1 1 0 20 15 28 4 104 7.4 5.5 1.5 10.4 43% .254 1.44 4.91 5.18 103 4.69 103.9
2016 TOR MLB AL 25 0 23.7 2 0 1 17 9 24 1 107 6.5 3.4 0.4 9.1 38% .271 1.10 2.76 0.38 110 5.53 122.4
2017 PHI MLB NL 44 0 42.0 1 4 2 32 16 43 5 6.9 3.4 1.1 9.2 35% .252 1.14 3.82 4.07 101 4.15 88.4
2017 PIT MLB NL 8 0 8.3 0 2 0 11 6 3 2 11.9 6.5 2.2 3.2 38% .300 2.04 8.09 7.56 127 8.03 170.9

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2008 828 0.3973 0.4662 0.7021 0.6565 0.3407 0.7546 0.6353 0.2979
2010 908 0.4593 0.5066 0.6913 0.6259 0.4053 0.7893 0.5628 0.3087
2011 1004 0.4602 0.4751 0.6855 0.6450 0.3303 0.7416 0.5922 0.3145
2012 1200 0.4708 0.4983 0.6355 0.6442 0.3685 0.7390 0.4744 0.3645
2013 1060 0.4632 0.4717 0.6800 0.6273 0.3374 0.7500 0.5677 0.3200
2014 789 0.4360 0.5108 0.6179 0.6977 0.3663 0.7708 0.3926 0.3821
2015 1031 0.4239 0.5102 0.6540 0.6751 0.3889 0.7797 0.4935 0.3460
2016 832 0.4219 0.4988 0.6940 0.6781 0.3680 0.7899 0.5650 0.3060
2017 862 0.4803 0.5162 0.7213 0.7077 0.3393 0.7850 0.5987 0.2787
Career85140.44750.49450.67440.65990.36060.76510.54120.3256

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-08-27 2014-09-21 DTD 25 23 Right Shoulder Inflammation -
2014-08-14 2014-08-24 DTD 10 9 Right Shoulder Soreness -
2012-08-06 2012-08-09 DTD 3 3 Right Shoulder Soreness - -
2012-06-03 2012-06-06 DTD 3 2 Right Forearm Tightness - -
2012-02-26 2012-02-27 Camp 1 0 - Neck Stiffness - -
2009-03-27 2009-10-05 60-DL 192 162 Right Shoulder Recovery From Surgery Rotator Cuff 2009-01-27
2009-01-27 2009-01-27 Off 0 0 Right Shoulder Surgery Rotator Cuff 2009-01-27
2008-07-03 2008-08-06 15-DL 34 28 Right Shoulder Soreness -
2005-06-09 2005-06-28 15-DL 19 17 Right Elbow Inflammation Tendonitis -
2005-03-25 2005-05-02 15-DL 38 26 Right Shoulder Inflammation Rotator Cuff Tendinitis -
2004-08-23 2004-09-07 15-DL 15 14 Right Shoulder Inflammation Rotator Cuff Tendinitis -
2003-06-01 2003-06-22 15-DL 21 18 Right Elbow Inflammation -
2000-04-05 2000-06-01 Minors 57 0 Right Shoulder Date Is Estimated - -
1998-08-05 1998-09-05 Minors 31 0 Right Elbow Sprain Ulnar Collateral Ligament - -
1998-06-01 1998-07-20 Minors 49 0 Right Elbow Tendonitis - -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2018 WAS $1,000,000
2017 PHI $7,500,000
2016 SEA $8,000,000
2015 SDN $8,000,000
2014 SDN $6,000,000
2013 DET $5,500,000
2012 DET $5,500,000
2011 DET $5,500,000
2010 TBA $750,000
2009 TEX $3,750,000
2008 TEX $2,000,000
2007 TEX $1,050,000
2006 TEX $775,000
2005 TEX $372,500
2004 TEX $335,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
15 yrPrevious$56,032,500
15 yrTotal$56,032,500

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
16 y 40 dACES1 year/$1M (2018)

Details
  • 1 year/$1M (2018). Signed by Washington as a free agent 2/19/18. Performance bonuses: $0.1M each for 30, 35, 40, 45 pitching appearances. $0.2M each for 50, 55, 60 pitching appearances.
  • 1 year/$7.5M (2017). Signed by Philadelphia as a free agent 12/5/16. Acquired by Pittsburgh in trade from Philadelphia 7/31/17 with $2,540,983 remaining on contract.
  • 2 years/$15.5M (2014-15), plus 2016 club option. Signed by San Diego as a free agent 12/28/13. 14:$6M, 15:$8M, 16:$8M club option, $1.5M buyout. 2016 option guaranteed with 55 games finished in 2015. San Diego exercised 2016 option 11/3/15. Acquired by Seattle in trade from San Diego 11/12/15. Acquired by Toronto in trade from Seattle 7/26/16, with Mariners receiving $130,054 from Blue Jays to offset the difference in remaining 2016 salaries as part of the deal.
  • 3 years/$16.5M (2011-13). Signed by Detroit as a free agent 11/17/10. 11:$5.5M, 12:$5.5M, 13:$5.5M. Performance bonuses to $1M annually.
  • 1 year/$0.75M (2010). Signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent 2/15/10 (minor-league contract, $0.75M in majors). $0.5M performance bonus.
  • 2 year/$6M (2008-09). Re-signed by Texas 10/31/07. $0.5M signing bonus, 08:$2M, 09:$3.5M.
  • 1 year/$1.05M (2007). Re-signed 1/07 (avoided arbitration). Performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 60, 65 games.
  • 1 year/$0.775M (2006). Re-signed 1/06 (avoided arbitration). Performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 55, 60 games.
  • 1 year/$0.3725M (2005). Re-signed 2/05.
  • 1 year/$0.335M (2004). Re-signed 3/04.
  • 1 year (2003). Re-signed 3/03. Recalled 5/03, 6/03.
  • 1 year (2002). Re-signed 3/02. Recalled 5/02. Optioned to Triple-A 5/02. Recalled 6/02. Optioned to Triple-A 6/02. Recalled 7/02. Optioned to Triple-A 7/02.
  • Signed 1996 by Texas as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
90o 7.7 0 2 54 0 51.8 35 20 51 6 .227 1.06 3.28 3.52 -3.1 -0.3
80o 6.6 0 1.7 48 0 45.8 34 19 45 5 .241 1.15 3.68 3.95 -4.9 -0.5
70o 5.9 0 1.5 43 0 41.6 33 18 41 5 .251 1.22 3.98 4.27 -5.8 -0.6
60o 5.3 0 1.3 40 0 38.1 31 17 37 5 .260 1.27 4.23 4.54 -6.4 -0.7
50o 4.8 0 1.2 36 0 34.9 30 17 34 5 .268 1.33 4.48 4.8 -6.9 -0.7
40o 4.3 0 1 33 0 31.8 28 16 31 5 .277 1.39 4.72 5.06 -7.1 -0.8
30o 3.8 0 0.9 30 0 28.5 27 15 28 4 .286 1.45 4.99 5.35 -7.3 -0.8
20o 3.3 0 0.8 26 0 24.8 24 13 24 4 .296 1.53 5.31 5.69 -7.2 -0.8
10o 2.5 0 0.6 21 0 19.8 21 12 19 3 .311 1.64 5.76 6.18 -6.8 -0.7
Weighted Mean4.701.236034.22916335.2661.324.444.76-6.6-0.7

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Joaquin Benoit

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2014-07-03 19:00:00 (link to chat)20 team dynasty league trade: Coco Crisp + Alfredo Simon + Joaquin Benoit for Desmond + Craig Gentry + Jean Machi, fair trade or obvious winner?
(Jon from Detroit)
Depends a lot on the situations. In a vacuum I like the Desmond-Gentry-Machi side more, but it very much depends on need in my opinion. (Mauricio Rubio)
2013-11-08 14:00:00 (link to chat)I understand no qualifying offer for Jhonny Peralta, but Omar Infante and Joaquin Benoit? They need both guys and now if they don't sign they don't get a draft pick either.
(DetroitDale from Tallahassee (eternal spring training))
What relievers have ever made qualifying offer money? Rivera, and...Rivera. Papelbon, almost. Benoit is good, but he's not going to get that on the open market. I agree that there was a more compelling case to make for extending the QO to Infante. (Ben Lindbergh)
2013-11-05 13:00:00 (link to chat)Seems like there are a number of older "proven closers" on the free agent market with only a handful of opportunities out there- Joaquin Benoit, Grant Balfour, Joe Nathan, Fernando Rodney, Edward Mujica not to mention the injury reclamation projects like Brian Wilson, Ryan Madson and Joel Hanrahan. With the success that the Cardinals had moving Edward Mujica back two innings and then doing the same with Trevor Rosenthal and Carlos Martinez in the playoffs, are the days of spending big on closers finally over? Does a team like the Cubs with no great in house solution and a smart front office take advantage of the oversaturated market or pass on all those guys?
(Scott from LA)
We'll continue to see a wide variety of approaches to how teams handle the late innings. On the one hand there is certainly something to the idea that there are people who can close and people who can't. But you'd be hard pressed to get a closer enough innings in a season to justify paying big for them (unless, like the Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, etc. you simply have the money to spend). St. Louis has such a glut of arms they have no reason to go outside the org, but for many teams there simply aren't good reasons to limit a young, high ceiling arm to a closer role. I imagine the Cubs will look for a reasonably priced arm that they think can handle the job, rather than committing more money over multiple years. (Nick J. Faleris)
2013-01-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Bruce Rondon saves ___ number of games of the Tigers this year. Tru or false: Rondon has the team lead in saves among Tigers players this season?
(Mike from Dover, DE)
I like this question. I'll take a guess and say 15 games. I know Jim Leyland has been quoted as saying Rondon will be in the mix for the closer gig in Spring Training, so it's possible he breaks camp with the gig. I do think Joaquin Benoit could help ease Rondon into the closer job if they go that route as well. (Josh Shepardson)
2012-09-24 14:30:00 (link to chat)Any explanation on why Rays always to get hits on pick-ups and trades that don't seem great/good at on-set and turn into gems in long-run? Fernando Rodney and Jeff Keppinger are doing quite well in unexpected roles for them. It seems Rays always find gold in what now should be called "The Yearly Rays Reliever Reclamation Project"(Al Reyes, Juan Cruz, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Soriano, Kyle Farnsworth, Fernando Rodney)
(jlarsen from chicago)
I think some of it is just great big-league scouting and statistical analysis, but a lot of it is trial and error, too. The Rays are set up in such a way that they HAVE to sign a bunch of those guys, and while a lot of them will work because the Rays are good at what they do, a lot will fail because they're inherently gambles. They haven't had a lot of luck with veteran catchers the last couple years, and there was that whole Pat Burrell thing. (Bill Parker)
2012-08-27 14:00:00 (link to chat)Closer Carousel time: 20*35 league, all players have the same salary, how would you rank them? Luke Gergerson, Alfredo Aceves, Sergio Romo, Joaquin Benoit?
(Keeper from Deep)
It's still really early, but I'll go Benoit, Aceves, Gregerson, Romo. (Derek Carty)
2012-08-07 13:00:00 (link to chat)Odds Bruce Rondon enters 2013 as the Tigers' closer. Joaquin Benoit seems to love the 8th. Brayan Villarreal a possibility?
(RationalSportsFan from detroit)
I'd be shocked to see him open camp in a closer role, or even in the big leagues. (Kevin Goldstein)
2012-04-13 13:00:00 (link to chat)Hi Jay! I'll be having some very traditional Uruguayan lunch by the time of the chat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asado) but I wanted to drop by, say hi, and ask a very profound question: if I, being 10000 miles away, can see through at least half of the childish mental mistakes players/managers/GMs make daily, how come these still happen? Is the next market inefficiency to cut down on all those Caught Stealing third for the 3rd out / not using your best reliever in the highest leverage situations / keeping 'veterans' in the roster instead of giving promising young players a chance / etc.?
(Guillermo from Montevideo, Uruguay)
Hey Guillermo! Always good to hear from Uruguay's number one BP fan, and man, I'm jealous with regards to lunch (Uruguay is a carnivore's paradise, for those who are unaware).

I think some of the mistakes you talk about (caught stealing for the third out) are ones that will always be with us, but the game does slowly evolve, and we've seen something of a movement where certain veterans have trouble finding jobs because of a general trend towards younger players - take the absence of Vlad Guerrero, Hideki Matsui, and Johnny Damon (though he finally signed with Cleveland) from rosters after competent but hardly stellar seasons.

Sooner or later, some team is going to get more daring with their reliever usage, though it's worth noting that in some places like Cleveland (Vinny Pestano), Detroit (Joaquin Benoit), Los Angeles (Kenley Jansen) and Washington (Tyler Clippard) teams already have their best relievers in non-closing situations that are often higher-leverage. It happens more often than you think. (Jay Jaffe)
2012-03-06 13:00:00 (link to chat)Any picks for non-closers worth taking for pure K/WHIP/ERA/maybe win-stealing upside? Basically Tyler Clippard types...
(Mark from Cleveland)
Kenley Jansen #1, but his save upside will make him expensive. Clippard is good. Mike Adams, Sergio Romo (if they let him face more lefties this year and he gets more than 40 IP), Jonny Venters, Hong-Chih Kuo (if healthy), Joaquin Benoit, Grant Balfour (if he doesn't close), Matt Thornton/Addison Reed (whoever doesn't close). (Derek Carty)
2012-02-20 13:00:00 (link to chat)Which set up man is most likely to assume closing duties in 2012? Scott Downs (Walden-shaky performance) Joel Peralta (Farny-shaky elbow) Joaquin Benoit (Valverde-shaky law of averages)
(PepeShady from StPaul)
I'd bank on Benoit, because he's one with the true closer stuff, and yeah, I don't trust Valverde. (Jay Jaffe)
2010-11-11 13:00:00 (link to chat)Given his injury history, is it better for a club to invest a couple of years in Joaquin Benoit or should a club scour the scrap heap and try to find the "next Benoit" who is ready to have a good year? (or do both?!)
(lemppi from Ankeny, IA)
It really depends on the team. Benoit's injury history obviously makes him risky, but his crazy good performance last year means there is a lot of upside. I think he will probably be priced about right, meaning that for a team who wants the upside he provides and has a good medical staff, he will be worth his cost. Teams a little further out of the playoff picture might be better off looking for someone else to buy low on, if they think they can. (Matt Swartz)
2010-09-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)What kind of contract does Joaquin Benoit get in the off season? His situation seems so unique that I have little idea of what he gets, but I think he could be a nice bargain for a team looking for a closer.
(Moneyball16 from Calgary)
Even after you look at his adjusted ERA rather than his actual, he's been lights out. The peripherals are just out of control, with over 11 K per nine and under two walks per nine. I would expect more walks out of him next year, but not so much that it keeps him from being super effective out there, but I don't see anyone handing him a huge contract right away either. He's still not a Proven Closer, after all /sarcasm (Marc Normandin)
2010-09-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)For fantasy purposes, anybody not getting saves this year that you could see getting saves in 2011?
(Marky P. from SoCal)
If the aforementioned Joaquin Benoit gets a gig, there's one. If the Sox move Papelbon, Bard will be the closer. If the Padres move Heath Bell, that's going to be Mike Adam's job. No idea what the situation is with the Mets for next year, but between Parnell and Takahashi they may have some in-house options if they choose that route. (Marc Normandin)
2010-02-17 16:00:00 (link to chat)Last one for my great debate, but saying that the Rays have no chance because their rotation is nowhere near Boston's or New York's. However, I can say I wouldn't be the only one who'd pick the Rays' bullpen as a whole and defensive team put on the field over both the Yankees and Red Sox. Even with the addition of Beltre and Scutaro, Rays IF Fielding still looks to be better overall than Boston. Doubt Boston's OF can beat the talent in Crawford/Upton/Joyce(who was one of the best OFers defensively las year).
(jlarsen from Chicago)
I don't think the Rays have no chance. I think you're right about defense, particularly in the infield (both Yankees and Red Sox look to have good defensive outfields also). The bullpen debate is closer, but this is probably the best bullpen the Rays have ever had. I thought the Joaquin Benoit pickup was neat. I'll give the Rays a 15% chance of winning the division. (Tommy Bennett)
2008-03-28 14:00:00 (link to chat)Hey Joe -- Always great to see your name on the chat list. Two closer questions: Do you think Gagne holds on to the job in Milwaukee all year long? And how much confidence do you have in CJ Wilson in Texas? Thanks a lot.
(mikeduin from Seattle)
Those might be the two shakiest spots in the game. With the Brewers having a fairly deep bullpen, but containing almost exclusively one-inning guys, I'd love to see them just abandon the closercentric pen completely and use Gagne, Riske, Shouse and Turnbow as situations warrant. I do think non-Gagne relievers will pick up 15 saves, although I can't say which ones, when or why.

I don't see Wilson being effective enough against RHBs to hold the closer job. Joaquin Benoit will eventually take over. (Joe Sheehan)


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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2023, Joaquin Benoit threw 9,862 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2007 and 2017, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2017, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (95mph) and Change (85mph), also mixing in a Slider (88mph).