The closer position has always been a bit of a controversial position from a fantasy baseball perspective with everyone valuing it differently. It is a position I often tend to punt in most drafts with a number of closers emerging on the waiver wire every year. However, drafting an anchor dominant closer can certainly be beneficial.
Below is a team-by-team look at every team’s closer situation as we sit here towards the end of February.
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Team-by-Team Closer Outlook
American League East
With Felix Bautista out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Orioles signed Kimbrel to be their closer. He figures to take over Bautista’s role as the primary closer, while Yennier Cano will likely see some save chances as well.
Warming up: Yennier Cano
Despite being in the middle of some trade rumors this offseason, it appears Jansen will remain with Boston. He recorded 29 saves last season but did struggle at times, posting a 3.63 ERA on the year.
Warming up: Chris Martin
Despite some inconsistency last season, Holmes was able to avoid arbitration with the Yankees and figures to remain in his closer role again this year. He has combined to record 44 saves across the past two seasons. It is possible he has a short leash if he shows any signs of struggling early.
Warming up: Jonathan Loaisiga, Tommy Kahnle
It was a strong season last year for Fairbanks, recording 25 saves to go along with a 2.58 ERA across 45 1/3 innings. He should remain in a similar role in the Rays bullpen once again this season.
Warming up: Jason Adam, Phil Maton
Having recorded 36 saves in back-to-back seasons, Romano remains one of the top closers in the majors from a real life standpoint and fantasy standpoint. He should be one of the first closers selected in fantasy drafts once again this season.
Warming up: Erik Swanson
American League Central
White Sox – Committee
It was initially thought that John Brebbia would be the favorite to close games for the White Sox but he strained his calf and is expected to miss the next few weeks.
Jesse Chavez and Bryan Shaw could also close games this season.
One other reliever to keep an eye on is Prelander Berroa, who the White Sox acquired from the Mariners when they traded Gregory Santos.
Having recorded 86 saves across the past two seasons, Clase remains one of the top closers in the majors. He should be one of the first closers selected in fantasy drafts this season.
Warming up: Scott Barlow
It was a bit of an up-and-down season for Lange last year, who finished with 26 saves while recording a 3.68 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 66 innings. He should remain the Tigers’ closer this season but it is possible he gets removed if he shows any signs of struggling early on.
Warming up: Jason Foley
Royals – Committee
Back in December, Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters the team doesn’t currently have one closer on its roster.
James McArthur finished the 2023 season as the closer for Kansas City and currently figures to get the first shot to close games but it is a fluid situation that’ll be worth monitoring early in the season.
In his first full season as a closer last year, Duran recorded 27 saves with a 2.45 ERA across 62 1/3 innings. He is expected to remain in a similar role once again this season.
Warming up: Griffin Jax
American League West
One of the bigger signings in free agency this offseason was the Astros landing Hader on a five-year deal. It has already been announced that he’ll be the primary closer this season ahead of Ryan Pressly. There could be some risk with Hader if Pressly eats into his workload but Hader should see plenty of opportunities.
Warming up: Ryan Pressly
While he finished the season with 31 saves, it was a bit of a shaky second half of the season last year for Estevez. Despite his late season struggles, Estevez is expected to remain in his closer role to open this season but it is possible his leash isn’t super long.
Warming up: Luis Garcia
Athletics – Committee
Mason Miller is expected to move from the starting rotation to the bullpen for the Athletics. He seems to be the best bet to get the first shot at save chances.
After the Mariners traded Paul Sewald last year at the trade deadline, Munoz went through some struggles after taking over the full-time closer role. Despite those struggles, he now has a full offseason to prepare and is worth targeting in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts.
Warming up: Matt Brash, Gregory Santos
It is worth noting that Rangers manager Bruce Bochy mentioned earlier in February that “there is no pecking order” between Leclerc and the rest of the bullpen. That is worth monitoring, but he is expected to get the first shot at save chances.
Warming up: David Robertson
National League East
In his first full season with the Braves, Iglesias recorded 33 saves while posting a 2.75 ERA across 55 2/3 innings. He should see plenty of save chances once again this season.
Warming up: Reynaldo Lopez, A.J. Minter
Scott was able to win his arbitration case against the Marlins this offseason after posting a 2.31 ERA with 12 saves across 78 innings pitched last season. He should see plenty of save chances on a Miami team that figures to be in a lot of close games.
Warming up: A.J. Puk
Making his return from a torn right patellar tendon, Diaz remains on track to be fully healthy entering Opening Day. There is always reason to have some concern with any pitcher coming off this injury but he should return to his dominant form if he can stay healthy.
Warming up: Brooks Raley
With Kimbrel in Baltimore, Alvarado figures to step into the closer role this season for the Phillies. He recorded 10 saves last year, while posting a sparkling 1.74 ERA across 41 1/3 innings pitched.
Warming up: Gregory Soto
Finnegan was able to avoid arbitration with the Nationals this offseason. He struggled at times last year but still managed to record 28 saves with a 3.76 ERA across 69 1/3 innings.
Warming up: Hunter Harvey
National League Central
One of the under the radar free agent signings this offseason was the Cubs bringing in Hector Neris. Alzolay figures to remain in his closer role heading into Opening Day but it is possible Neris takes some of those save chances from him.
Warming up: Hector Neris
One of the best and most consistent closers in the MLB last season, Diaz will be looking to pick up where he left off last season. With the Reds also showing signs of improvement as a team, Diaz could be an intriguing value in drafts this season.
Warming up: Lucas Sims
With the Brewers trading Corbin Burnes this offseason, there were some trade rumors that involved Williams but it appears he’ll remain with Milwaukee to open the season. He could be a potential trade candidate at the deadline if Milwaukee is struggling as a team.
Warming up: Joel Payamps
The Pirates did sign Aroldis Chapman this offseason but Bednar is expected to remain in his primary closer role. It is possible Chapman eats into his workload a little more than anyone else did for the Pirates in recent seasons.
Warming up: Aroldis Chapman
Helsley was able to avoid arbitration with the Cardinals this offseason. He saw just 19 save chances last season, recording 14 of them into saves while posting a 2.45 ERA across 36 2/3 innings. He’ll hope to see some more opportunities this season.
Warming up: Giovanny Gallegos, Keynan Middleton
National League West
After the Diamondbacks traded for Sewald at the deadline last season, he became a huge part of their success over the second half of the season and in the playoffs on their run to the World Series. He should remain in the same role this year in what will be his first full season in Arizona.
Warming up: Kevin Ginkel
Rockies – Committee
The bullpen was a complete mess for Colorado last season. It was Justin Lawrence who led the Rockies bullpen in saves last season among players who ended the year on the team after Pierce Johnson was dealt to Atlanta. Lawrence is likely the best bet to see the first shot at save chances for the Rockies.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporter that Phillips will receive the majority of the save chances this season. He recorded 24 saves last season, while posting a 2.05 ERA across 61 1/3 innings.
Warming up: Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol
Padres – Closer battle
As of the first week of February, Padres manager Mike Shildt said he hadn’t chosen his closer for the 2024 season. Robert Suarez, Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta are among the relievers who will be competing for the closer role in the Padres bullpen.
Coming off a dominant season, Doval recorded 39 saves last year with a 2.93 ERA across 67 2/3 innings. He figures to remain a top 3-5 closer for fantasy managers this season in the same role.
Warming up: Tyler Rogers
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