Even in an All-Star season, Kerry Wood spent a few weeks on the disabled list last season -- his 12th trip to the DL in his career.

Unless your name is Adam Miller, it was a relatively minor injury -- a blister on his pitching hand -- not a serious arm injury that had befallen Wood earlier in his Cubs tenure.

A $20.5 million contract later, Wood is the Tribe's new closer, and the latest to take the reins at the back end of their volatile pen. If recent history is any indication, Wood should be productive this season, then lose it and be out of baseball.

The concern for fantasy owners is Wood always seems to get hurt. It's just a matter of when, and how prepared you are for his next malady.

This much we know: If he stays relatively healthy, he should save 35 to 40 games and help you in the strikeout department. In his career, he has 1,407 K's in 1,219 1/3 innings, an average of 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

We also know during his first nine years as a starter with the Cubs, he pitched more than 140 1/3 innings three times.

That history relegates Wood to the second tier of closers in my mind -- an ideal No. 2 stopper in a 10-team league, or a low-level No. 1 in a 12-team league.

Before we get to the rankings of the top relievers, a quick note: Thursday, we'll post the top starting pitchers and Friday we'll look at the top 100 players overall.

Note: Each player is listed at the position he is projected to play this season, according to the depth charts at mlb.com. … Statistics listed are from the 2008 season.

RELIEF PITCHERS

Rank, player, team: IP, W-L, ERA, K’s, Saves-opportunities

1. Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox: 69.1, 5-4, 2.34, 77, 41-46
2. Joe Nathan, Twins: 67.2, 1-2, 1.33, 74, 39-45
3. Brad Lidge, Phillies: 69.1, 2-0, 1.95, 92, 41-41
4. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: 68.1, 2-3, 2.24, 77, 62-69
5. Mariano Rivera, Yankees: 70.2, 6-5, 1.40, 77, 39-40
6. Joakim Soria, Royals: 67.1, 2-3, 1.60, 66, 42-45
7. Carlos Marmol, Cubs: 87.1, 2-4, 2.68, 114, 7-9
8. Jose Valverde, Astros: 72, 6-3, 3.38, 83, 44-51
9. Brian Fuentes, Angels: 62.2, 1-5, 2.73, 82, 30-34
10. Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: 69, 3-5, 3.13, 88, 14-22
11. Bobby Jenks, White Sox: 61.2, 3-1, 2.63, 38, 30-34
12. Kerry Wood, Indians: 66.1, 5-4, 3.26, 84, 34-40
13. Francisco Cordero, Reds: 70.1, 5-4, 3.33, 78, 34-40
14. B.J. Ryan, Blue Jays: 58, 2-4, 2.95, 58, 32-36
15. Matt Capps, Pirates: 53.2, 2-3, 3.02, 39, 21-26
16. Trevor Hoffman, Brewers: 45.1, 3-6, 3.77, 46, 30-34
17. Heath Bell, Padres: 78, 6-6, 3.58, 71, 0-7
18. Brian Wilson, Giants: 62.1, 3-2, 4.62, 67, 41-47
19. Joey Devine, A’s: 45.2, 6-1, 0.59, 49, 1-2
20. Joel Hanrahan, Nationals: 84.1, 6-3, 3.95, 93, 9-13
21. Frank Francisco, Rangers: 63.1, 3-5, 3.13, 83, 5-11
22. Huston Street, Rockies: 70, 7-5, 3.73, 69, 18-25
23. Chris Perez, Cardinals: 41.2, 3-3, 3.46, 42, 7-11
24. George Sherrill, Orioles: 53.1, 3-5, 4.73, 58, 31-37
25. Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: 73.2, 4-8, 2.81, 71, 9-17
26. Mike Gonzalez, Braves: 33.2, 0-3, 4.28, 44, 14-16
27. Troy Percival, Rays: 45.2, 2-1, 4.53, 38, 28-32
28. Matt Lindstrom, Marlins: 57.1, 3-3, 3.14, 43, 5-6
29. Brandon Lyon, Tigers: 59.1, 3-5, 4.70, 44, 26-31
30. Brad Ziegler, A’s: 59.2, 3-0, 1.06, 30, 11-13

SHORT HOPS

Nathan has registered at least 36 saves for five straight seasons. ... The seemingly indestructible Rivera, who had offseason shoulder surgery, allowed only 41 hits in 70 2/3 innings in 2008. ... Before you draft the electric Marmol as your top closer, make sure he’s beaten out Kevin Gregg, who saved a combined 61 games in 2007 and 2008 with the Marlins. ... The Dodgers’ closing role is all Broxton’s. He has struck out 306 batters in 241 innings in his career. ... Fuentes takes over for the record-setting Rodriguez with the Angels. The former had 30 or more saves three times in the last four seasons with the Rockies. ... Valverde isn’t a great WHIP or ERA asset, but he’s saved 91 games and has 161 strikeouts in 136 1/3 innings the last two seasons. ... The Pirates’ Capps isn’t a big help in the K department. ... Street, who had 37 saves for the A’s in 2006, is the favorite to close games in Colorado. ... The Braves’ Gonzalez, who has blown only two of his last 42 save opportunities, would be ranked higher if he could stay healthy. ... Perez, Ryan Franklin and Jason Motte all are candidates to finish games in St. Louis. ... Two names to remember: Mark Lowe, who might be the Mariners’ closer by default, and Manny Corpas (19 saves in 2007), Street’s competition with the Rockies.