Making trades is fun for fantasy managers, but it’s tough. It’s really tough. You always feel like you’re getting tricked when you get an offer and you likely only make offers that look like tricks. There’s a better way. Now that the trade deadline has passed and closer roles have shifted, there are still opportunities for saves in your league and you can get them right off the wire. Here are a few key role changes that are likely to take place now that the trade deadline dust has settled. See if you can take advantage of a few.
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•Félix Bautista, BAL: Takes over for Jorge López. | Roster Resource
Bautista may be a large part of the reason the Orioles were willing to trade Jorge López. He is a must-add in all formats as he’s expected to take over the closer role right away. His Steamer rest-of-season (ROS) projection for saves is now at 10. Before López’s departure, Bautista had three saves and one blown save. While López did get nearly all the chances, Bautista has been the next man up for the majority of the season. It’s possible he may not be able to go as often as a closer given his max-effort style of throw. However, he has appeared in back-to-back games 11 times so far in 2022. It’s still likely that Dillon Tate and Cionel Pérez get opportunities to save a few games and their value has increased because of it. In addition, they should be given more opportunities to record holds, as they move up the pecking order.
•Scott Effross, NYY: Slots into a set-up role. | Roster Resource
Effross has been very impressive this season but he’ll still have to compete with Aroldis Chapman, the returned from injury Jonathan Loáisiga, and newly acquired Lou Trivino. He may be worth rostering in holds leagues, but he’ll be sharing a lot of those opportunities with some really good relievers. Our bullpen chart has him as the next man up for now, but we’ll just have to keep an eye on how the Yankees utilize him. He’s worth an add in deep leagues for sure.
•Jorge López, MIN: Takes over the closer role. | Roster Resource
Previously the closer role had been split between Jhoan Duran and Emilio Pagán, but López should be the main man now. While Duran still holds value with a steamer ROS save total of three, he’ll likely also be a very strong set-up man recording holds and wins. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him collect more than three saves the rest of the season, but regardless, his 2.15 ERA and 11.35 K/9 are valuable on their own.
•José Quijada & Ryan Tepera, LAA: Join a committee. | Roster Resource
Tepera now has a steamer ROS save total of 10 and if that’s the case, he needs to be added to fantasy rosters now. However, take caution as we have Quijada listed as a “Reliever on the Rise” and he was the first reliever to get a save opportunity after Iglesias was traded away. Was Tepera unavailable? Well, he did not pitch the previous day. Quijada’s ERA sits at 3.15 but his xERA is only 2.10, whereas Tepera is sporting a 4.26 (xERA of 3.59). Do you have two roster spots open? Probably not. This one is a gamble.
•Raisel Iglesias, ATL: Slots into a set-up role. | Roster Resource
I’m sure many fantasy managers who drafted high on Iglesias can agree that this is a bummer. Kenley Jansen will remain the closer in Atlanta. Will Smith had recorded five saves along with A.J. Minter before the trade deadline, so there is opportunity there. However, Iglesias has been shakey this season with his 4.04 ERA and limited chances for saves. I’m not dropping him, nor should you, but his steamer ROS save total is down to two and I would say there’s a two-save error bar on either side of that prediction.
•Mychal Givens, NYM: Slots into a set-up role. | Roster Resource
Drew Smith has 14 holds and he is one of 21 relievers with at least 14 holds on the year. Adam Ottovino and Seth Lugo are right behind him 12 apiece. The Mets are just about middle of the MLB pack with a total of 56 holds on the season. Oakland, of all teams, leads the MLB in holds with 75. I write all of this to make the point that Givens is a quality arm to roster in holds leagues. But, he was that way before the trade to New York so maybe this was all pointless to write.
•David Robertson, PHI: Joins a committee. | Roster Resource
Steamer’s ROS save total for Robertson is seven and that seems like a very reasonable mark. He’s probably going to get the lion’s share of opportunities, but Seranthony Domínguez and Brad Hand have been holding down the fort all season as Corey Knebel struggled and went through injury. Robertson was most likely rostered in your league but if he wasn’t, pick him up. Domínguez and Hand are also worth rostering until there’s more clarity in that committee.
•Rowan Wick, CHC: Takes over the closer role. | Roster Resource
With Robertson and Givens traded away, Wick is really the last man standing. His 4.36 ERA (4.93 xERA) is a little worrisome, but steamer’s ROS believes he’ll record another 12 saves! That likely has a lot to do with the fact that he’s clearly the man for the job, but I would take caution in believing he will get all 12 of those saves. The Cubs are projected for 28 more wins, but it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if they start testing out roles to see what they have in their younger arms. I would take the under, but I’m also running to the waiver wire to pick him up.
•Devin Williams, MIL: Takes over the closer role. | Roster Resource
Williams has been a closer quality reliever for a long time and now he gets the chance to prove he can handle the full-time role. Both Taylor Rogers and Matt Bush went through demotions from the closer role this season and need to find themselves again to be competitive for the job. If Williams is not already claimed in your league, who are you playing with? Pick him up now.
•Josh Hader, SDP: Takes over the closer role. | Roster Resource
Those who ran to the waiver wire to pick up Luis García upon Rogers’ demotion were probably elated for about 12 hours. Hader is a sure shot to take over the full-time role and fantasy managers who are not in holds leagues can probably drop García and Nabil Crismatt. As much as I wish Crismatt would close out a game or two on nothing but changeups, I don’t think it will happen.
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Bullpen Report — 8/3/2022
