OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Jake Diekman #35 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the game against the Chicago White Sox at RingCentral Coliseum on September 30, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the White Sox 5-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s have tentatively named Jake Diekman as their closer for 2021. Their bullpen construction dictates that he should not close just yet.
As it currently stands, Jake Diekman is set to be the Oakland A’s closer in 2021. Oakland is likely to lose Liam Hendriks, and as Diekman was one of the more dominant bullpen arms in baseball last year, his ascension to the role makes sense on paper.