Fantasy Focus: Sleeper Relievers - NYTimes.com As someone who rarely chooses to pay the prevailing rate at auction for top-tier closers, I'm often left spending the next six months chasing anyone on my waiver wire (s) who may be even remotely in the mix for saves. This year is no exception, as we've seen guys like Mariano Rivera, Sergio Santos, and Andrew Bailey get hurt. Others such as Jordan Walden and Javy Guerra lost their jobs, so we've seen quite an influx of new closers already. So what's next? Who could find themselves in the mix for saves as the season progresses? Let's look at a handful: Ryan Cook, A's - The current closer, Brian Fuentes, blew up to the tune of three runs in two-thirds of an inning on Friday, leading Manager Bob Melvin to declare a closer by committee. The committee is likely to consist of Fuentes, Grant Balfour and Cook. Cook currently sports an 0.69 earned run average and an 0.85 WHIP with 25 strikeouts in 26 innings. He's walked 15, but with a mid-90s fastball, Cook has allowed just seven hits all year. Since the other two members of this committee are already failed closers this year, Cook has a real chance to win this job outright. Glen Perkins, Twins - Matt Capps is clearly still deserving of the closer job for the Twins (14 saves, 3.09 E.R.A., 1.03 WHIP), but Capps is also a probable trade candidate. Should he get shipped out on or before the trade deadline, look for Perkins to be next in line given his mid-90s stuff and 11.3 K/9IP rate. Jared Burton and Brian Duensing are other options should Perkins be struggling when Capps is dealt. Jason Grilli, Pirates - Joel Hanrahan is another trade deadline candidate, so be especially aware of the Pirates" options should Hanrahan be with another team come July 31. With Hanrahan having pitched in three consecutive games, Grilli was given the save opportunity, and although he did allow a couple base runners, he did convert. Grilli has a 1.50 E.R.A. and a 1.08 WHIP, and he's fanned an impressive 39 batters in just 24 innings for a 14.6 K/9IP. Control has always been an issue for him, and this year is no exception (4.9 BB/9), but given the alternatives in Pittsburgh, Grilli is your best bet for saves should Hanrahan go. Vicente Padilla, Red Sox - Alfredo Aceves has a 7.00 E.R.A. in his last eight appearances, with three losses and a blown save, pushing his E.R.A. on the year to 4.99. At 34:13 in 30 2/3 innings, his K:BB is pretty strong, so he's probably not in danger at this point, but keep Padilla's name in mind as a potential Plan B should Aceves's struggles continue. Jesse Crain, White Sox - The current closer, Addison Reed, has struggled. Next in line could be Matt Thornton, but it probably would not be the former closer Hector Santiago, who has allowed two runs in each of his last two appearances. My guess is that Crain would get a look. He's been excellent this year, posting a 2.08 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP, and 22:6 K:BB in 17 1/3 innings while averaging a strong 94 miles per hour with his fastball. Mitchell Boggs, Cardinals - One bad outing (see Sunday) isn't going result in Jason Motte's losing his job, but what about three bad outings in a row? At that point, the Cardinals would be looking at alternatives, and while a committee approach would be possible, Boggs would probably get the first look. Boggs throws in the mid-90s, and by virtue of doing a better job keeping the ball down this season, he has a 2.03 E.R.A. Boggs has also improved his strikeout rate over last year, fanning hitters at a clip of 8.1 per nine innings versus last year's 7.1 and a career mark of 6.7. He's worth grabbing if you're a concerned Motte owner. Stephen Pryor, Mariners - Tom Wilhelmsen is still the guy to own in the Seattle pen, but he's far from experienced, and Pryor is generally thought of as a potential closer of the future. Pryor throws in the high-90s and has hit 100 with some regularity this season after being promoted from the minors, where he fanned 39 and allowed just two runs in 28 innings. If you're in a deep keeper league, he's a great guy to own, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him settle in as the closer this year. David Regan is a senior baseball writer for RotoWire.com. RotoWire's real-time player notes are available free for 10 days at RotoWire.com.