Fantasy: Don't spend much for a closer

Fantasy owners who had drafts in the past few weeks were in flux when it came to Neftali Feliz. There are very few reliable closers, but there was some good news when the Rangers decided to keep Feliz as closer after experimenting with him as a starter.

Feliz is a top five fantasy closer and has more value than as a starter in fantasy because his innings would be limited and dominant closers are more difficult to find. He saved 40 games as a rookie and showed he could handle the job.

The closer landscape is awful right now with Brian Wilson, Andrew Bailey, Brad Lidge, Frank Francisco, David Aardsma and J.J. Putz all dealing with injuries.

There's a lot of fluctuation at the position as 29 pitchers had at least 20 saves last season and 38 had at least 10. With the elite options slim, the price will be high for the top closers. The lesson is to not devote a lot of money to closers in an auction league. Spend the $25 on a player who will help in multiple categories.

There's also a perception closers on bad teams don't get many saves and it's wrong. Joakim Soria is a top closer and has at least 42 in two of the last three seasons. Draft him with confidence.

We keep waiting for Mariano Rivera to show signs of decline and it hasn't happened besides a low 6.75 K/9. Heath Bell is another one of the top options at closer. He has at least 42 saves in two consecutive seasons and has excellent skills (high K/9, solid BB/9 and induces grounders).

Wilson is dealing with an oblique injury and is questionable for Opening Day. He has improved each season and is coming off a career-high 48 saves. Don't let him slip too far.

SEE PHOTOSThe 3,000 hits club

Many have taken Carlos Marmol as the first closer off the board and it's risky. The strikeouts are a huge plus, but a K/9 of 15.99 is off the charts and likely to regress to his career mark of 11.68. That means more balls will be put in play and if he can't cut down his 6.03 BB/9, trouble looms.

Francisco Rodriguez had one of his better seasons and is safe to draft. Jonathan Papelbon struggled at times, but is a top 10 closer.

Matt Thornton has been one of the best relievers the past three seasons. He'll take over as closer for the White Sox, is one to target and may come cheap.

Jonathan Broxton is coming real cheap and should rebound. He was dominant early, with a 48/5 K/BB ratio and a 0.83 ERA while converting 16 of 18 saves in his first 32 2/3 innings. The rest of the way, he had a 25/23 K/BB ratio and converted just six of 11 chances in 29 2/3 innings.

Another low-cost closer is the Pirates' Joel Hanrahan, who had a 12.92 K/9, as is Joe Nathan, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, and Leo Nuñez.