Bullpens can be extremely volatile, so having a locked-in closer is a huge advantage in fantasy baseball. That’s particularly true in the National League, where Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias are the only certainties among the 15 teams. Elsewhere, you may have to do what managers often do: rely on your gut. Ryan Walker was great last season, but only closed for the final two months. Meanwhile, new NL arrivals Jordan Romano, Ryan Pressly and Kirby Yates don’t outweigh the losses.
The biggest closer move of this offseason was the Yankees’ acquisition of Devin Williams. He would be this season’s top target if not for the consistent excellence of Emmanuel Clase, who posted an incredible 0.61 ERA and led the league with 47 saves. The American League has some impressive depth compared to the NL. With the signings of free agents Jeff Hoffman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Angels) and Carlos Estevez (Royals), all but a couple teams’ closer jobs appear set.
2025 fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings
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