Thirteen -- count em, 13!!! -- of the 30 big league teams have had their closer roles change hands since the All-Star break, with five of those switches happening since Monday alone. Six of those 13 changed as a result of significant trades, and weve already seen three closers who have saved 20-plus games this season -- Jeremy Jeffress (27), Cody Allen (20) and Brad Ziegler (20) -- traded into situations where they stand little chance at padding those totals.Thats why its not a surprise that nine of the most-added players in ESPN leagues (as of Wednesday morning) are closers, while no other position absorbed as much change in the Going Forward Rankings as the relief pitchers. Simply handing a talented relief arm a potential 16 saves -- that was the average number accrued by the top 10 in the category from Aug. 3 forward last season -- swings a ranking as rapidly as anything, and this past week, a lot of very talented arms fell into that opportunity.To put into perspective what a closers job means -- and Im borrowing this concept here, I admit, though its one that has become more commonplace in the fantasy industry -- lets play a little game of Blind Résumés. ?The following stats have been accrued since (and including) Mothers Day (May 8):Player A: 35 G, 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 36.2 K%, .154 BAAPlayer B: 33 G, 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 43.2 K%, .179 BAAPlayer C: 36 G, 2.41 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 42.3 K%, .193 BAAPlayer D: 33 G, 1.74 ERA, 1.06 ERA, 37.3 K%, .209 BAAMost likely, youd have picked either Player A or B. Player A,?Kenley Jansen, is ranked No.1 among relief pitchers on the Player Rater.?Player B? Hes Andrew Miller, who will probably notch almost all of the Cleveland Indians saves going forward. Chances are, though, that you also took long looks at Players C and D, which is the point of this exercise: Theyre Dellin Betances?(C)?and Ken Giles?(D), the New York Yankees and Houston Astros new respective closers.Now add 16 saves to each of those stat lines. Not only are they remarkably similar players, but cant compelling cases be made that they should comprise four of the top five relief pitcher rankings spots? As is, Jansen (first), Miller (fourth) and Betances (sixth) made the top six, with the only reasons for Giles slotting in at 16th (15th if you remove relief-eligible starter Danny Duffy) being his early-season struggles coupled with more limited overall big league experience than the other three. Still, a compelling case could be made that Giles belongs as high as eighth, between Mark Melancon and Roberto Osuna.If were willing to ignore big league experience, incidentally, a fifth résumé could easily be added to the list:Player E: 25 G, 1.73 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 46.0 K%, .243 BAAThats the stat line of new Seattle Mariners closer Edwin Diaz, who could easily make a top-10 reliever case right now.And, as an aside, Zach Britton has a 0.00 ERA in his 33 games during that same time span.Here are some quick thoughts about a few starting pitchers...Clayton Kershaw is this weeks toughest to rank. Hes a former No. 1 overall player who is now a pitcher with a range of outcomes as wide as his not throwing another pitch in 2016 to making as many as nine more starts. Granted, the latter is much less likely than the former, but ranking -- nay, valuing for trade purposes -- Kershaw right now comes down to your risk aversity. My ranking below bakes in a seven-start projection, but also one that docks him slightly in the performance department (2.15 ERA and 1.01 WHIP). You might feel he wont pitch that effectively if/when he returns, or you might anticipate a different number of starts, so to give a sense of where hed slot in my rankings based on starts with those ratios:Nine more starts: No. 17 overall, No. 3 starting pitcher. Eight: No. 35 overall, No. 11 starting pitcher. Six: No. 52 overall, No. 15 starting pitcher. Five: No. 87 overall, No. 22 starting pitcher. Four: No. 168 overall, No. 45 starting pitcher. Three: No. 259 overall, No. 69 starting pitcher. With fewer than three starts, Kershaw wouldnt generate a meaningful ranking.From a scheduling standpoint, consider that, as of the games scheduled for Aug. 3, 13 is the most starts any individual could make for the rest of the season, barring a pitcher working on three-day rest at any point. The average team has 51.1 remaining games, which works out to 11.2 average starts per pitcher. Chances are, I might be somewhat optimistic about Kershaws rest-of-2016 prospects, but hes also earned that optimism.Ive been asked about my Noah Syndergaard ranking recently, especially in light of his decent performances in his past two starts. Its picking and choosing samples, but the statistical difference before and after the post-June 22 report that he was pitching through a bone spur in his elbow is stark:Before: 14 GS, 1 GR, 8 W, 12 QS, 2.08 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 30.8 K%After: 6 GS, 1 W, 3 QS, 3.62 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 28.4 K%Rankings arent entirely about projections; theres also a bit of feel involved. Gerrit Cole is such an example -- a far more talented starting pitcher than what he has shown in Player Rater terms over the past year and a half. Hes more capable of missing bats than this, and I wonder whether he might lean more on his breaking pitches (curveball and slider) knowing now that he needs to carry this Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff going forward. Since the beginning of 2014, and among pitchers with at least 50 starts, Coles 39.3 percent miss rate on swings against his breaking pitches ranked 14th out of 114, and only 22 pitchers induced more than Coles 199 whiffs with breaking balls during that time span, despite the fact that 39 pitchers went to the breaking ball more often with two strikes.New ESPN position eligibilityThe following players added new position eligibility within the past two weeks. As a reminder, position players need to appear 10 times at a new position to gain in-season eligibility, while pitchers need to make three starts to earn starting-pitching eligibility or five relief appearances to earn relief-pitching eligibility.Mike Aviles (2B), Joel De La Cruz (SP), Brandon Drury (2B), Carson Fulmer (RP), Matt Holliday (1B), Edwin Jackson (SP), Seth Lugo (RP), Jonathon Niese (RP), Jace Peterson (OF), Miguel Rojas (3B).The following players are within two games of earning new eligibility, with their total games played noted at the listed position.Cristhian Adames (2B, 9 games), Emilio Bonifacio (OF, 8 games), Daniel Castro (3B, 9 games), Ji-Man Choi (OF, 9 games), Christian Colon (3B, 8 games), Chase dArnaud (2B, 9 games), Ivan De Jesus (3B, 8 games), Daniel Descalso (1B, 9 games), Nick Franklin (OF, 8 games), Adam Frazier (2B, 9 games), Paul Janish (3B, 9 games), Raul Mondesi (2B, 8 games), Daniel Murphy (1B, 8 games), Gregorio Petit (3B, 8 games), Tyler Saladino (2B, 8 games), Ronald Torreyes (SS, 8 games), Kennys Vargas (1B, 8 games).Going-forward rankings: Week 17Listed below are my updated, going-forward rankings. 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Inter president Erick Thohir says in a club statement on Wednesday that Vidic is "one of the worlds best defenders and his qualities, international pedigree, and charisma will be an asset.THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Tom Pernice Jr. won the first playoff event in PGA Tour Champions history, beating Colin Montgomerie by a stroke Sunday at Sherwood in the PowerShares QQQ Championship.The 57-year-old Pernice closed with a 2-under 70 in breezy and rainy conditions, breaking a tie for the lead with Montgomerie with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th and adding a 15-footer on the par-3 15th.I hit two beautiful irons, Pernice said. I hit a beautiful 7-iron on 15 and it just worked out perfect. And then I couldnt have drawn it up any better, I just cut a 6-iron back against the wind beautifully on 15 and man, it turned out beautiful.Pernice bogeyed the par-3 17th and two-putted for par from 15 feet on the par-4 18th.I kind of got a little careless there at 17, Pernice said. Made it a little interesting.The former UCLA player overcame a bogey-double bogey start Friday to win for the fifth time on the 50-and-over tour, ending a drought that stretched to the 2014 Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The two-time PGA Tour winner had a 13-under 203 total. He had a 69 on Friday, and shot 64 on Saturday for a share of the lead with Brandt Jobe.To be able to come back and shoot 13 to win was very special, Pernice said.Montgomerie parred the final five holes for a 70. The 53-year-old Scot won a month ago in British Columbia for his fourth tour title.Especially the start it got very breezy, Montgomerie said. First nine was very, very difficult. Just miserable.Pernice had a different take on the conditions.Whenever you get a little moisture in southern California, youd better take it, he said.dddddddddddd.Scott Dunlap was third at 10 under after a 67. The top 72 on the money list earned spots at Sherwood, and the top 54 advanced to the Dominion Charity Classic next week in Richmond, Virginia.The field will be cut to 36 for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona. Each dollar earned in the first two events is worth two points. At the Charles Schwab Championship, points will be reset so that the top five only have to win to capture the Charles Schwab Cup.Pernice earned $305,000 -- and 610 points -- to jump from 32nd to ninth in the standings.Its been a little bit of an up and down year, but I just kept telling myself, Keep working hard and keep plugging away.Pernice said Its not always how you start but if you finish well you can have a great year.Lee Janzen got the final spot in Richmond, edging Brad Bryant by 331 points. Janzen tied for 25th at 2 under, and shot a 66 to tie for 45th at 3 over.Charles Schwab Cup leader Bernhard Langer withdrew before the start Friday because of a left knee injury. The 59-year-old German star also leads with four victories and has wrapped up the season money title with $2,697,459. Montgomerie moved into second place in the standings. Jobe tied for 10th at 6 under after a 77.Fred Couples had a 77 to tie for 37th at 1 over in his first tournament in eight months. The 57-year-old Couples was sidelined by a chronic back injury. He opened with rounds of 68 and 72. ' ' '