Keone Kela

Keone Kela expected to open year as Rangers' closer

Texas Rangers reliever Keone Kela will emerge as the club's closer, believes Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

What It Means:

"With Lincecum opening the season on the DL and likely out until mid-April, at least, I think the first chance is going to go to Kela," Grant writes in response to a question about the Rangers' ninth-inning gig. Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman appear to be the other candidates, but per Grant, "the Rangers feel they are more valuable in other roles." Kela spun a 2.79 ERA and 0.91 WHIP while striking out 51 and walking 17 across 38 2/3 innings last season. The right-hander turns 25 on April 16.

numberFire's models project Kela to record a 3.52 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 64 strikeouts and 5 saves across 51 innings this season, but that's based on Claudio serving as the Rangers' primary closer.