2014 Padres Season In Review: Joaquin Benoit

We continue our look back the the 2014 Padres with a look at the guy who took over at closer once Huston Street was sent to Anaheim before the deadline.

Joaquin Benoit was added during the off-season to provide a veteran presence out of the bullpen to set up for Street ahead of guys like Dale Thayer. Benoit didn’t disappoint.

In 53 games, Benoit went 4-2 with a 1.49 ERA. He struck out 64 in 54.1 innings and only allowed 43 baserunners in those innings. The big strength of the Padres last season was their pitching and Benoit was a huge part of why that was.

The bigger question of Benoit isn’t whether or not he can put up approximate numbers in 2015 as he will probably take over as the team’s closer. The question is whether or not he’ll be on the team.

Benoit is due $8 million next year along with a $8 million team option for 2016 with a $1.5 million buyout. If the Padres want to allocate their money a little differently, could Benoit be on the move.

To me, if the Padres want to contend next year, there is no reason to move Benoit. We all see the value in having a dominant bullpen all post-season long, and to me, for the Padres, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Benoit was the least of the Padres problems in 2014, and should be a part of the solution in 2015.