While you watch the Dodgers and Phillies today one player you won't see coming out of the Dodgers bullpen is Takashi Saito. The dominant closer has been left off the playoff roster, but not because he's injured but rather ran out of time to rehab and never got his breaking pitches working. Saito and his under two career ERA might become available this off-season and short term has the potential to be the best closer available.....This idea would all depend on just how convinced the Mets are that Eddie Kunz and/or Bobby Parnell are going to be big time closers. At 38 y/o Takashi Saito is not a permanent solution to the closers role but at the same time he won't cost starters pay and then have you worrying for five years that his violent delivery will blow his arm out (K-Rod) or a guy who lost the closers role in a small market like Fuentes. You could probably sign Saito and Brandon Lyon, maybe even have enough left to get Juan Cruz for what the other two cost a piece.....
Saito suffered a sprained elbow in the second half of the season, his delivery is very elaborate and even though the elbow has recovered his mechanics are off. Not only had Broxton taken over as the closer but the team, even with Manny was in a pennant race winning close games nightly and couldn't afford to have Saito out there experimenting. When his elbow was fully recovered the minor league season was already over and he couldn't complete a rehab assignment, with a full spring training under his belt he should be able to make the proper adjustments. Going forward the Dodgers have to decide whether to offer arbitration (3-6 yrs player), cut him or trade him. He's owed 2 mil for this year and would be an expensive set-up man for the Dodgers.
This was the first sign of injury since coming to the majors, he did miss most of the 1997 season after elbow surgery. The 38 y/o has spent three major league seasons with the Dodgers after a successful career as a starter and closer in Japan. In his three seasons he has an ERA of 1.97 with a record of 12-7 with 81 Sv - 91 SVO over 198 innings.
Saito will turn 39 in February, and the fact that he spent most of the second half on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow means his health has become a concern for the first time. Furthermore, while he is a relative bargain for the Dodgers now at $2 million, he won't be when he becomes eligible for arbitration this winter. It is conceivable the Dodgers could simply cut ties with him, go forward with Broxton as their closer and find another setup man. source LA Daily News
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