The Cleveland Indians are absolutely loaded in the bullpen, as all of the key contributors are back for 2012.  The Indians also signed four righties with major league experience to compete for jobs at the front end of the pen this spring.  Here is a look at the Indians’ bullpen as of right now:

Closer:  Chris Perez:  26-year old righty Chris Perez has turned into a darn good closer for the Indians.  He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 4-7 with 36 saves, a 3.32 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  Perez has now pitched in 159 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Tribe and he is 6-10 with 60 saves, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 229 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 10-14 with 68 saves, a 3.13 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.  I look for Perez to have another outstanding year for the Indians in 2012.

Set-Up Man:  Vinnie Pestano:  26-year old righty Vinnie Pestano sounds like a gangster from the movie GoodFellas.  He definitely puts the lights out on the hitters he faces.  Pestano pitched in 67 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 1-2 with 2 saves, a 2.32 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 72 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the Tribe and he is 1-2 with 3 saves, a 2.42 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  I think he will do a fine job as the Indians’ set-up man in 2012.

Righties:  Joe Smith:  27-year old righty side-arming Joe Smith is downright nasty as he gets the ball up in the low 90′s coming from a very tough angle to righty swingers.  He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Tribe last year and he was 3-3 with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.  Smith has now pitched in 161 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Indians and he is 5-5 with a 2.87 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 297 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 14-10 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.  I look for Smith to have another outstanding year for the Indians in 2012.

Dan Wheeler:  34-year old Dan Wheeler pitched in 47 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 577 games (9 starts) in his first 12 years in the majors and he is 25-43 with 43 saves, a 3.88 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  Wheeler will have a good shot of winning a job in the Tribe’s bullpen if he has a decent spring.

Chris Ray:  30-year old Chris Ray is a hard thrower.  He pitched in  29 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 3-2 with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.  Ray has now pitched in 283 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 18-19 with 51 saves, a 4.10 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  Ray can make the Tribe’s opening day bullpen with a strong spring.

Frank Herrmann:  27-year old Frank Herrmann has a big time fastball, but that’s just about it.  He pitched in 40 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 4-0 with a 5.11 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.  Herrmann has now pitched in 80 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Indians and he is 4-1 with 1 save, a 4.61 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.  He is going to have to really improve to beat out the pitchers he’s going to be competing against this spring.

Robinson Tejada:  29-year old Robinson Tejada had a lost season in 2011.  He pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP.  Tejada has pitched in 186 games (53 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 23-27 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP.  Tejada has a big time right arm, so he might be able to win a job this spring.

Jeremy Accardo:  30-year old Jeremy Accardo had a tough 2011 season.  He pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Orioles last year and he was 3-3 with a 5.73 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.  Accardo has now pitched in 235 games (0 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 10-20 with 38 saves, a 4.22 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.  Accardo can win a spot in the Tribe’s pen with a big spring.

Lefties:  Rafael Perez:  29-year old Rafael Perez really pitched well for the Indians last year.  He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.  Perez has now pitched in 330 games (0 starts) in his first six years with the Tribe and he is 20-12 with 3 saves, a 3.64 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.  Look for Perez to have another good year in 2012.

Tony Sipp:  28-year old Tony Sipp also had a good year for the Indians in 2011.  Sipp pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 185 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Tribe and he is 10-5 with 1 save, a 3.43 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Sipp is pretty nasty and I look for him to have another solid year in 2012.

Nick Hagadone:  26-year old Nick Hagadone is ready to rock for the Indians, but they might not have room for him with Sipp and Perez already in the pen.  Hagadone pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.  He also pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-4 with 4 saves, a 2.79 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012:  A+