Alex Colome pitched one inning to earn a save Thursday against the Red Sox, allowing one hit and no earned runs along with no walks and no strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

A combination of low strikeout rate and trade rumors drove down Colome's value during draft season. He doesn't have the prototypical strikeout rate of a closer, he has a career K/9 of 7.99, but that has not held him back from being an effective closer as he has successfully converted 84 of his last 93 opportunities spanning the last two seasons. So long as he remains on the Rays, he should continue to see save opportunities and hold fantasy value as a result.

The Rays plan to use Colome, who led the American League with six saves of four or more outs last season, as a traditional ninth-inning closer in 2018, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

On multiple occasions last season, manager Kevin Cash called upon Colome to bail the team out of some tight eighth-inning scenarios, but he wants to avoid deploying that strategy as much as possible in 2018. Cash acknowledges that it probably "wasn't fair" to the right-hander to take on the extra workload, although he does leave open the possibility of the occasional four-out save opportunity for Colome if absolutely necessary. Even with the occasional extra responsibility last season, Colome was able to notch 47 saves in 53 chances, becoming the first reliever in franchise history to pace the majors in that category. He's had limited work this spring, and the fact that he's yet to throw back-to-back games in Grapefruit League play doesn't concern him much. "We wait for the season to get closer to throw back to back, we'll see," said Colome, stressing the fact that a long season awaits. "I just try to do the same job I did last year. Give it all I have, 100 percent, and see what happens."

Colome, who fired a perfect third inning in which he recorded two strikeouts during Sunday's 6-5 Cactus League loss to the Twins, has only logged two overall appearances this spring.

EDGE Analysis

Colome took it up another notch as a closer last season, converting 47 of 53 save chances over 65 appearances. He inked a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason to avoid arbitration and projects to once again see an abundance of ninth-inning work in 2018. Despite his fastball actually averaging out at a career-high 95.1 mph last season, Colome actually saw a notable drop in strikeout rate, going from 2016's 11.2 K/9 to a 7.8 figure.

Colome agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Rays on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was the first year he was an arbitration-eligible player. Colome recorded 47 saves during the 2017 campaign, posting a 3.24 ERA and 1.20 WHIP over 66.2 innings as Tampa Bay's ninth-inning man. He has been rumored to be on the trading block all offseason, as the typically frugal Rays have been adamant about trimming their payroll. Keep an eye on his situation, but regardless, Colome will have solid value heading into 2018.

Colome is likely to be traded this offseason, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

He is arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, and figures to be rewarded pretty handsomely in the arbitration process after after notching 84 saves over the past two seasons. The Rays are reportedly extremely motivated to trim payroll this offseason, and Colome would be a prized commodity on the market. This is relevant as it is not a lock that he would be dealt to a team where he would close. The Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees and Indians are all contending teams with established closers that could be interested in Colome, so if he were traded to one of those four teams, his value in keeper leagues could take a significant hit.

Colome allowed one run on two hits in an inning against the Orioles on Saturday but escaped with his 47th save of the season.

EDGE Analysis

He gave up back-to-back hits to begin the frame, and one of those runners came around to score on a sac fly, but Colome eventually nailed down the 4-3 win for Tampa Bay. Colome is now up to 47 saves on the season, six more than anyone else in baseball and nine more than anyone else in the American League. The 28-year-old is arbitration eligible for the first time this winter.

Colome retired the only batter he faced to earn his 46th save Saturday against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

The Rays had an eight-run lead to start the ninth inning, but after six runs crossed the plate, Colome was called upon to close out the contest, which he did on two pitches. Even though he's blown six saves, he's an elite fantasy option with 46 saves and a 3.17 ERA.

Colome worked around a hit in a scoreless inning of work to earn his 45th save of the season Sunday against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Two days removed from a blown save, Colome didn't show any ill effects and curiously needed just four pitches to retire the side. He continues to rack up saves with regularity and currently leads the next closest competitor in the American League by nine in that category.

Colome allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and a walk and only managed two outs in the ninth Friday against the Red Sox for his sixth blown save.

EDGE Analysis

This marks Colome's first blown save since July 27 against the Yankees and the first time he has allowed multiple runs in an inning since July 4 against the Cubs. Colome owns the major league lead in saves with 44, but he has been hittable this year, as he owns a 3.22 ERA after Friday's rough outing.

Colome pitched a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 44th save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander extended his major-league lead in saves while lowering his ERA back down to 2.97. The Rays are trying to stay relevant in the wild-card chase, sitting four games back of the Twins but with four other teams between them and the final spot in the playoffs, so there's no reason to think Colome's workload will shrink down the stretch.