Saves are always a difficult category to compete in. Every year there is turnover in the closer role for many teams. It is important to know the risk and who might be the next man up if someone falters or gets injured. Here is my breakdown for each team and their closer situation.
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2025 Fantasy Baseball Team-by-Team Closer Outlook
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Martinez & A.J. Puk
There is currently an open competition for the closer role in Arizona between Nick Martinez and A.J. Puk. Both have massive upsides but can struggle. This has the feeling of a split job. If one emerges as the clear closer, it could easily change hands again. This is one of those situations I’m staying away from unless I can afford to roster both.
Atlanta Braves: Rasiel Iglesias
Rasiel Iglesias is about as safe as they come on one of the best teams in baseball. He doesn’t get drafted as high as he probably should, but as long as he is healthy, he is likely a top-five closer. Pierce Johnson is likely the handcuff, but there is no reason to draft him in most formats.
Chicago Cubs: Ryan Pressly
The Cubs traded for Ryan Pressly this offseason and he is their closer. While he is no longer the shutdown pitcher he once was, the Cubs stuck by Hector Neris most of the season even with shaky skills. If Pressly were to lose his job due to injury or performance, Porter Hodge would be the next man up.
Cincinnati Reds: Alexis Diaz
Alexis Diaz is the man heading into the season, but he struggles with control. Unlike previous seasons, the Reds have an improved bullpen so the leash won’t be as long. I consider Diaz a mid-tier option with Scott Barlow the next man up.
Colorado Rockies: Tyler Kinley, Seth Halvorsen & Victor Vodnik
This is another open competition that could go any direction. Tyler Kinley is the vet with experience, but a lot of people are gambling on the skills of Seth Halvorsen. At the end of the day, I don’t want a Rockies closer and you shouldn’t either.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Tanner Scott & Kirby Yates
The Dodgers are the best team in baseball and their closer would be extremely valuable for fantasy. However, this feels like a committee-type situation that could be very frustrating for fantasy. That doesn’t even include other members of the bullpen that could factor into the role like Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen.
Miami Marlins: Calvin Faucher, Jesus Tinoco, Anthony Bender & Dylan Floro
Calvin Faucher likely starts with the job, but he has had a velocity issue in spring. Jesus Tinoco has the best skills but can be wild. This job feels like it could change hands a bunch.
Milwaukee Brewers: Trevor Megill
Trevor Megill is dealing with some undisclosed issues, so there is a lot of risk here. He is great when on the mound, so this may be nothing, but if you draft him before we get more info, I would handcuff him with Joel Payamps.
New York Mets: Edwin Diaz
Edwin Diaz is a locked-in pitcher when healthy. He had some bumps last year but ended back in the closer role and finished strong. A.J. Minter would likely be the next man up if the troubles or injury resurface.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jordan Romano
Jordan Romano will have the job to start the season, but I am petrified about his injury issues from last season. He only threw 13.2 innings last year and he struggled before being shut down at the end of May. If he were to get hurt again, the closer job could go to Orion Kerkering, who has the skills to be a top-five closer or Jose Alvarado, who has closing experience.
Pittsburgh Pirates: David Bednar
David Bednar struggled last season, but he is still the entrenched guy in the role heading into 2025. I am a believer in a bounce-back season, but if he struggles, the Pirates would likely turn to Colin Holderman.
San Diego Padres: Robert Suarez
Robert Suarez was fantastic last season and there is no reason to think he can’t keep it up. However, the Padres have openly talked about moving him as they deal with financial issues, meaning he could end up somewhere else as the closer or set-up man. If that were to happen, Jason Adam would be the next man up with Jeremiah Estrada as the next option if they also trade Adam.
San Francisco Giants: Ryan Walker
Walker came out of nowhere last season to replace Camilo Doval and was elite in the ninth inning. There is no reason to think he can’t continue that success. If he were to get hurt or lose the job, Doval or Tyler Rogers would be the next man up.
St. Louis Cardinals: Ryan Helsley
Ryan Helsley is a locked-in guy in St. Louis with one caveat – he could be traded to a contender. This is a reloading year for the Cardinals and Helsley has been mentioned in trade rumors all offseason. I would not be surprised if he is traded before the season or, at worst, during the season. JoJo Romero is the likely next man up if that happens, but the high-upside name is Ryan Fernandez.
Washington Nationals: Kyle Finnegan
If I had written this article a few days ago, I would have been talking about Jorge Lopez, but the Nationals brought back Kyle Finnegan. He will be the closer to start, but he struggled mightily in the second half last season. The fact the Nationals non-tendered him this offseason before bringing him back is telling that they may not be as attached to him as the re-signing would suggest.
American League
Baltimore Orioles: Felix Bautista
Feliz Bautista is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but reports are that he looks good. Tommy John surgery returnees often struggle with command and control, so there is a good amount of risk, but if he is back to what he was before the surgery, he could be a top-five closer. Andrew Kittredge would be the next man up.
Boston Red Sox: Liam Hendriks, Aroldis Chapman & Justin Slaten
This situation is a mess. Liam Hendriks and Aroldis Chapman have both been top-five closers at points in their careers, but that was a long time ago. The closer job could change hands several times in Boston. While Hendriks and Chapman have the leg up, don’t be surprised if Justin Slaten or Garrett Whitlock wins the job.
Chicago White Sox: Mike Clevinger, Justin Anderson & Fraser Ellard
This has the makings of a committee on what might be the worst team in baseball. Pass.
Cleveland Guardians: Emmanuel Clase
Emmanuel Clase is the No. 1 closer in fantasy baseball for a reason. He is elite from a skills perspective and is about as safe as they come. Cade Smith would be the next man up, but the chance of that is pretty small.
Detroit Tigers: Tommy Kahnle, Jason Foley & Beau Brieske
This is another mess of a situation. Jason Foley has the best stuff, but he struggles with control and command. Tyler Kahnle is the vet and will probably get the job if one person has it, but this feels like a committee that changes hands.
Houston Astros: Josh Hader
Josh Hader has his ups and downs, but he is entrenched in the closer role thanks to his contract and Ryan Pressly in Chicago. The next man up is Bryan Abreu, but there is no reason to think Hader will give up the job if healthy.
Kansas City Royals: Carlos Estevez & Lucas Erceg
Lucas Erceg was fantastic in the closer role when he got it last season, but the Royals brought Carlos Estevez in on a two-year deal, which could give him a leg up. Estevez will likely be the 1A while Erceg comes in during most high-leverage situations.
Los Angeles Angels: Kenley Jansen
Kenley Jansen was a surprise signing by the Angels considering they do not seem like a competing team. He is locked into the closer role, but when the Angels fall out of contention, he will likely be traded, re-opening the door for the talented Ben Joyce.
Minnesota Twins: Jhoan Duran
Jhoan Duran is locked in. Sometimes the Twins have him pitch multiple innings in non-save spots, but he is safe as a low-end RP1. Griffin Jax would be next up if something happens to Duran.
New York Yankees: Devin Williams
The Yankees traded for Devin Williams to lock down the ninth inning and he is about as safe as you can get. Williams has had a previous back injury, but as long as that doesn’t pop back up, he is a top-three closer. Luke Weaver would be the next man up if something happened to Williams.
Seattle Mariners: Andres Munoz
Andres Munoz is another locked-in guy. He has struggled with health at times, which is concerning, but as long as he is healthy, he should be the closer. Gregory Santos would likely be the next man up if something were to happen to Munoz.
Texas Rangers: Chris Martin & Robert Garcia
Right now, Chris Martin seems to be the favorite, but this seems like a prime location for either David Robertson to sign or for the Rangers to make a trade for Ryan Helsley or Robert Suarez. I would stay out of this situation unless the picture clears up.
Athletics: Mason Miller
When Mason Miller is on the mound, he may be the best pitcher in baseball. The only issue is he has a long injury history. Miller was able to stay healthy as a reliever last season, but this is a boom-or-bust pick that could be amazing or terrible. If he were to get hurt, Jose Leclerc would be the next man up.
Toronto Blue Jays: Jeff Hoffman
From a purely skills perspective, Jeff Hoffman is a fantastic pitcher and this is a nice landing spot for him. However, he failed two physicals with the Braves and Orioles before landing in Toronto. This is a risky bet. Yimi Garcia or Chad Green would be next up, but I am likely staying out of the Toronto bullpen in drafts.
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