Closer Rankings (7/27/19)

by
July 27, 2019

I thought there would be more player movement by now. As of Saturday morning of July 27th, these are my closer ranks. They could easily change as more information becomes available.

Closer Rankings (7/27/19)
Rank Tier Name Comment
1 Studs (won’t be replaced) Craig Kimbrel
2 Kenley Jansen
3 Aroldis Chapman
4 Roberto Osuna
5 Josh Hader
6 Carlos Martinez I think he’s safe but is definitely last of this class
7 Studs who may be traded Brad Hand
8 Kirby Yates
9 Will Smith
10 Felipe Vazquez
11 Raisel Iglesias Trade rumors galore
12 Edwin Diaz
13 Decent but team could add a stud Sean Doolittle
14 Luke Jackson
15 Hector Neris
16 Liam Hendriks
17 Shawn Kelley/Chris Martin The who Texas situation is a mess. LeClerc is also in the mix.
18 Hansel Robles
19 Emilio Pagan
20 Taylor Rogers
21 OK and likely to be traded Shane Greene
22 Ken Giles
23 Alex Colome
24 Ian Kennedy
25 Sergio Romo
26 Mychal Givens
27 Uhhh … they have a job for now Brandon Workman Dumpster fire crew
28 Wade Davis
29 Roenis Elias
30 Greg Holland
31 Top of the queue if the closer is traded Seth Lugo Again, this group and the next one can be intermixed
32 Daniel Hudson
33 Aaron Bummer
34 Michael Lorenzen The Iglesis trade rumors make him a must add
35 Nick Anderson
36 Joe Jimenez
37 Sam Dyson
38 Kyle Crick
39 Knocking on the door for a job Yoan Lopez Must add
40 Nathan Eovaldi
41 Scott Oberg
42 Hunter Strickland
43 Oliver Drake
44 John Gant
45 Adam Morgan
46 A.J. Minter
47 Craig Stammen
48 Stud backups with good ratios Ryan Pressly
49 Ty Buttrey
50 Adam Ottavino
51 Reyes Moronta
52 Jose Leclerc
53 Matt Barnes
54 Dart throws Diego Castillo
55 David Robertson Great DL stash
56 Freddy Peralta
57 Pedro Strop
58 Trevor May
59 Fernando Rodney
60 Tony Watson
61 Miguel Castro
62 Joakim Soria
63 Joe Biagini
64 Amir Garrett
65 Kevin McCarthy
66 Jose Alvarado
67 Nick Wittgren
68 Colin Poche
69 Adam Cimber
70 Blake Treinen





 

Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

9 Comments
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ncnicol
7 years ago

No love fo Andres Muñoz?

2
DDD
7 years ago

I noticed Diego Castillo opened for Tampa yesterday. With Stanek, Snell and Galsnow all on the IL, I’m guessing we’re going to see him in this role much more frequently than in relief/closer roles for the time being.

1
carterMember since 2020
7 years ago

Still too low on Giles who is a top 5 closer, and a stud likely to be traded. I get that he might be traded into a set up role, but he has been getting no love. For example Vazquez is likely on the move as well, and he will not be a closer where he goes either.

3
seprotzmann
7 years ago
Reply to  carter

He’s top 5 in basically every reliever stat that matters (K/9, K%, K-BB%, ERA, FIP, SIERRA, 7th in xFIP), I’ve never understood Zimm’s dislike for him.

0
Rollie's MustacheMember since 2017
7 years ago

I’m puzzled by the inclusion of Iglesias in the studs category. He hasn’t carried a FIP under 4.20 since 2017. Hard to imagine seeing him in line for more saves than Ken Giles who is posting elite numbers (that look somewhat sustainable).

6
Travis LMember since 2016
7 years ago

Romo got traded today, making Nick Anderson the first play.

2
feslenraster
7 years ago

Romo dealt to Minnie, does this make Nick Anderson the ‘de facto’ guy in Miami?

2
vft
7 years ago

you think if iglesias gets moved lorenzen gets the job over amir garrett?

0
NicklePickersMember since 2016
7 years ago

Hi Jeff. Love this column. Any chance for a post-deadline update?

0