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| Updating a previous report, Brandon Lyon's deal with the Astros is worth $15 million over three years, according to FOXSports.com. |
Our View: This makes no sense. The Astros let LaTroy Hawkins walk away solely based on the fact that they didn't want to buck up for a two-year deal. Now they give Lyon, a player of similar caliber, a three year contract. The back end of the bullpen has been more or less rebuilt, but the game plan here seems ridiculous.
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| According to Brian McTaggart on Twitter, the Astros have reached a an agreement with reliever Brandon Lyon. Length and financial terms were not disclosed. |
Our View: The deal is pending a physical, but it looks like Lyon will be an Astro next season. Houston is looking to revamp their bullpen after losing LaTroy Hawkins to the Brewers and likely having to part with free agent closer Jose Valverde. Matt Lindstrom was signed earlier today and will likely be the closer, making Lyon a setup man once again.
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| Brandon Lyon will not accept the Tigers' offer of arbitration, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: The effective setup man will now hit the open market in earnest. In 78.2 innings pitched last season, he posted a 2.86 ERA for the Tigers.
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| Brandon Lyon may be on the Phillies' radar, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: Lyon emerged as the Tigers' top setup man in 2009, and the Phillies are in the market for one due to the uncertainty of Brad Lidge, who recently underwent shoulder surgery.
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| Brandon Lyon is believed to be on the Yankees' radar, according to FOX Sports. |
Our View: The Yankees are in the market for bullpen arms, and are likely to consider many of the top free agent relievers. That is assuming they commit to Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes as starters. Lyon covets a long-term deal, as he wants to dedicate himself to one team.
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| The Tigers have offered Brandon Lyon arbitration, according to MLBblogs.com. |
Our View: The 30-year-old reliever wants a long-term deal so he can dedicate himself to one city. Team GM Dave Dombrowski stated that he would be very surprised if the Type B free agent accepts arbitration with Detroit though.
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| Free agent Brandon Lyon covets a multi-year deal, according to MLive.com. |
Our View: The 30-year-old reliever has played for Toronto, Boston, Arizona and Detroit over eight seasons. He wants a long-term deal so he can dedicate himself to one city. Several teams are believed to be interested, but Lyon's rep will talk to the Tigers before a deal is made.
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| Brandon Lyon has filed or free agency, according to MLB.com. Lyon had a 2.86 ERA in 65 apearances for the Tigers last season. |
Our View: Lyon ended up having a nice season as a setup man for Fernando Rodney, and he could find work either as a closer or a setup man. If he goes somewhere with vacant closer role, he could have some fantasy value heading into next season.
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| Brandon Lyon was tagged with the loss against Atlanta on Friday, giving up a run off two hits and a walk in his 0.1-inning appearance. |
Our View: This was not a good follow-up to the last time we saw Lyon on the mound, when he gave up an astounding four-straight home runs to Boston on Monday. Luckily for Lyon, setup man Fernando Rodney hasn't been any better, and each man was equally responsible for ruining Justin Verlander's flawless seven innings. Lyon's job as closer is safe for now, but he may not be on the longest leash once the season starts.
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| Brandon Lyon surrendered four solo homers over one inning of work in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Red Sox. |
Our View: Lyon has now allowed 15 hits over 8.2 innings. Lyon should still nail down the closer's role, namely as the Tigers lack a more stable candidate for the job.
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| Brandon Lyon tossed a hitless, shutout inning in the Tigers 7-6 win over the Cardinals on Monday. He had one strikeout against no walks. |
Our View: Lyon has gone 6.2 innings this spring while suffering just one earned run. He should be a lock for the Tigers' closing position, although he is probably a little more hittable than the typical ninth-inning guy.
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| Brandon Lyon is ready to get started and compete for the closer's role with the Tigers, according to the Detroit News. He said, "Excited to get here. Just meeting the guys, for now, kind of getting a feel for everybody."
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Our View: He turned down an offer from the Twins as he did not want to serve as a setup man, and Lyon will be disappointed if he isn't named the Tigers' closer. He will be competing with Joel Zumaya for the job.
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| Brandon Lyon confirmed on Monday that a chance to close is the reason why he signed with Detroit, according to MLB.com. He took a one-year deal with the Tigers over several two-year deals to be a setup man elsewhere. |
Our View: Lyon could earn himself a more lucrative deal next offseason if he proves himself as a solid closer. He converted 26 saves in 31 chances last year with Arizona, so it will be interesting to see what he could do with a larger sample size.
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| SI.com reports the one-year contract Brandon Lyon signed with the Tigers is for $4.25 million, and $500,000 in incentives. |
Our View: Lyon will have the opportunity to become the team's closer during spring training.
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| MLB.com reports that the Detroit Tigers and reliever Brandon Lyon have agreed to a one-year deal. |
Our View: Lyon is likely to become the team's closer. Fernando Rodney was put into that role last season, but his control was too much to overcome. Lyon saved 26 games for Arizona last season, but his peripherals weren't remarkable. He had a WHIP of 1.48, gave up 11.38 hits per nine innings, and averaged under seven strikeouts per nine innings. Fantasy owners should consider him a secondary option as closer.
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| Updating a previous report, the Tigers are believed to be close to signing free-agent closer Brandon Lyon to a one-year, $5 million deal, according to FOX Sports. |
Our View: Lyon will be the favorite to close in Detroit, but he may be pushed by the inconsistent Fernando Rodney. Lyon had 26 saves last season. However, he had a 4.70 ERA and 1.48 WHIP.
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| The Tigers and closer Brandon Lyon are nearing a multiyear deal, according to the Detroit Free Press. |
Our View: The Cardinals were rumored to be contending for his services as recently as today. Both teams would like to add a closer, and Lyon had 26 saves last season. However, he had a 4.70 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. He will likely be given a shot to close again, but his effectiveness can be debated.
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| The Tigers and the Cardinals are both finalists for right-handed closer Brandon Lyon, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: The Cardinals would be a good fit for Lyon and they have been trying to land a quality closer since losing out on Brian Fuentes to the Angels.
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| Brandon Lyon is reportedly close to reaching a deal with the Tigers, according to the Detroit News. A deal could be finalized as early as today or tomorrow. |
Our View: Lyon would be a candidate to serve as the Tigers' closer, with Fernando Rodney working as a setup man, where he is best suited. Lyon nailed down 26 saves with the Diamondbacks last season.
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| The Tigers could talk to free agent reliever Brandon Lyon today, according to the Detroit News. |
Our View: The two sides have mutual interest, and Lyon would be a candidate to close with Fernando Rodney working as a setup man, where he is better suited. Lyon would be worth a look for AL-only leagues if he inks with Detroit.
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| Brandon Lyon is on the Twins' radar, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Twins need a setup man with Pat Neshek likely to miss the entire 2009 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Cardinals and Tigers are also interested in Lyon, who held a poor 1.48 WHIP over 59.1 innings with Arizona in 2008.
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| Brandon Lyon's rep is telling clubs he has a two-year deal worth $9 million in hand, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: The Tigers or Twins are possibilities, while the Cardinals may have offered Lyon one year.
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| Skipper Tony LaRussa disclosed that the Cardinals are interested in reliever Brandon Lyon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: By inking Lyon, the Cardinals would not have to count on Chris Perez and Jason Motte in the closers' role.
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| Buster Olney of ESPN suggests the Brewers may take a look at reliever Brandon Lyon. |
Our View: One interested club views Lyon as a starter, but it is unknown if it is the Brewers. The Twins and Red Sox also like Lyon.
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| The Minnesota Twins are interested in acquiring the services of reliever Brandon Lyon, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. |
Our View: Should he wind up with the Minnesota, Lyon's fantasy value would obviously take a hit because the Twins are set at closer with Joe Nathan.
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| The Red Sox are interested in reliever Brandon Lyon and are thinking about offering him a deal, according to BaseballProspectus.com. |
Our View: Lyon held a 1.48 WHIP over 59.1 innings of relief with Arizona in 2008, but would be a viewed as a favorable addition to Boston's bullpen.
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| The Kansas City Royals need relievers after dealing two to obtain offense, and the team will meet with the agent who represents Brandon Lyon and Kyle Farnsworth, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The Royals have one of the best closers in the game in Joakim Soria, so both Lyon and Farnsworth would be setup men, downgrading their fantasy value.
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| Closer Brandon Lyon has officially declined the Diamondbacks' arbitration offer, according to the Arizona Republic. Lyon, who earned $3.125 million this past season and likely would have been awarded about $4 million in a one-year deal in arbitration, said he likes his chances of landing a good contract with the right team. |
Our View: Lyon excelled in a setup role for two seasons then was solid as the closer for the first half of last season before struggling in the second half.
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| The Cardinals have been considering reliever Brandon Lyon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Lyon held a poor 1.48 WHIP over 59.1 innings of relief with the Diamondbacks in 2008, but nailed down 26 saves. He could potentially challenge for the closer's role if signed by St. Louis.
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| The Tigers are believed to be interested in free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The Tigers would like to sign him to a one-year deal. He wasn't strong with a 4.70 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 59.1 innings of relief with the Diamondbacks in 2008, but would be viewed as an upgrade for the Tigers' bullpen.
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| Brandon Lyon nearly blew his second consecutive save on Friday night. Taking over in the ninth inning after a masterful performance from Brandon Webb, he gave up two runs on four hits before being lifted for Chad Qualls who saved the victory for the struggling Diamondbacks. |
Our View: In his defense, the Reds have been downright awesome in the ninth inning in September. Still, he continues to allow way too many base runners and his ERA has now ballooned to 5.23. With so much on the line in the NL West and Arizona fading fast, will there be a move in the back of the bullpen?
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| Brandon Lyon picked up his 24th save of the year on Friday night as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to lower his ERA to 3.50. |
Our View: Lyon has run off four straight saves without allowing a run after a brutal showing on July 20th against the Dodgers (five runs in 0.2 IP).
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| Brandon Lyon gave up two hits and one run while earning his 18th save of the season. |
Our View: Lyon had picked up two losses in his previous three appearances. For the Diamondbacks to win the division, they will need more consistency from Lyon.
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| Brandon Lyon got three outs for his 15th save in 17 chances, and his 14th straight as the Diamondbacks their second straight and two-of-three over the Athletics, 2-1 on Thursday afternoon. |
Our View: Lyon hasn't had many save opportunities over the last month. Since mid-May the closer has appeared in only 10 games and had five save opps.
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| It appears that Brandon Lyon is going to hold serve as the Diamondbacks closer this year. After blowing two of his first three save opportunities, the right-hander has converted 10 straight. |
Our View: Arizona's ninth inning option has struck out 12, allowed two walks and carries a 2.00 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through his first 19 appearances.
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| Brandon Lyon, who had blown his prior two save chances, mowed down the side in order in the ninth for his second save of the 2008 campaign. Lyon's improved his ERA from 12.00 to 9.00 and now has four strikeouts and no walks on the season. |
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| Brandon Lyon gave up a Matt Holliday home run in the bottom half of the ninth inning in a blown save on Sunday night. It was Lyon's second blown save in three chances this season. The whispers of Tony Pena or Chad Qualls taking over the ninth inning role for the D'backs are growing louder. |
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| Though it was just one pitch, it was hit an awfully long way and the result was that Brandon Lyon picked up his first loss and blown save of the season on Wednesday night. Edwin Encarnacion hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth, and the whispers of Tony Pena taking over the closing duties in Arizona are already starting to grow. |
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| Brandon Lyon, who replaced the traded Jose Valverde as the D'Backs ninth inning option, pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save in Monday's opener. Arizona led the majors with 51 saves in 2007. |
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| Brandon Lyon pitched the eighth inning of the D'Backs Thursday win over White Sox, giving up two hits and an unearned run while striking out two. Lyon has been announced as Arizona's primary ninth inning option, this for a team that produced a league leading 51 saves in 2007. Lyon has solid upside as a mid-round draft choice in mixed formats. |
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| Brandon Lyon may not have the best stuff in the D'Backs bullpen, but he is still ready to take on the task of being the team's closer this year, according to MLB.com. "He's closed for me before; he's very, very experienced," manager Bob Melvin said. "I feel like he has the right mind-set and demeanor to close. He's not going to beat himself, he's going to make you beat him, and he doesn't walk to many guys." If Lyon fails in the role, or if he is unable to maintain a healthy elbow, look for the team to turn to Tony Pena who certainly possesses the stuff to close. |
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| Brandon Lyon will replace Jose Valverde, who was traded to Houston after saving a major league-high 47 games last year, as the Diamondbacks' closer, according to the AP. Lyon had 14 saves in 2005 and two in 2007, when he spent most of the season as Valverde's eighth-inning setup man. He went 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA in and a lackluster 4.86 K/9 rate in 73 appearances last year. "It's a different mind-set closing," Arizona manager Bob Melvin said. "Brandon has shown he can do it." Lyon got the nod over Tony Pena and Chad Qualls as Arizona's new closer, and Melvin said he announced the move on Wednesday because he didn't want any uncertainty over roles heading into spring training. Obviously Lyon's fantasy value is increased exponentially as a result of this news. |
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| Brandon Lyon picked up his first save of the year Sunday, working a scoreless ninth inning against the Giants. Lyon, who was getting the call because Jose Valverde needed a day off, loaded the bases on two hits and a walk before putting the fire out. This messy appearance to the side, he does have a snappy 0.79 ERA through four weeks. |
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