Justin Mason Relief Pitcher Ranks: 3/9/21
Drafts are in full swing and now I am 15+ drafts into the season, here are my current ranks for the outfield position for 2021. I will post updates as things change with signings, injuries, or news in Major League Baseball.
See my other ranks here: C 1B 2B SS 3B OF SP RP
Justin Mason Relief Pitcher Ranks
| Rk | Player | Team | ADP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam Hendriks | CWS | 54.98 | Best reliever in the game on a great team. |
| 2 | Aroldis Chapman | NYY | 66.9 | Locked into the role on one of the best teams in baseball. |
| 3 | Josh Hader | MLW | 55.81 | Could easily be the best closer in the game, but he hasn’t been perfect last season and a half. |
| 4 | Trevor Rosenthal | OAK | 134.63 | Was the best reliever in the game after the trade to SD last year. |
| 5 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | 71.02 | Skills have never been a question. |
| 6 | Raisel Iglesias | LAA | 79 | Was fantastic last season and the Angels clearly wanted him to be the guy. |
| 7 | Ryan Pressly | HOU | 98.69 | The Astros didn’t bring in another option so he seems pretty safe. |
| 8 | Brad Hand | WAS | 99.1 | Was fantastic last year and seemed locked in. |
| 9 | Craig Kimbrel | CHC | 146.02 | Kimbrel was fantastic after a bumpy start. |
| 10 | Kenley Jansen | LAD | 115.77 | Last year of his deal in LA and has been shaky with lots of options if he fails. |
| 11 | Archie Bradley | PHI | 244.56 | Has been great the last year and a half and should have the first shot at the role. |
| 12 | Kirby Yates | TOR | 120.81 | Health is the main question mark, but if healthy, he should be the guy. |
| 13 | Rafael Montero | SEA | 166.69 | Seems locked into the role until he gets traded. |
| 14 | Greg Holland | KC | 216.69 | Seems locked into the role until he gets traded. |
| 15 | James Karinchak | CLE | 89.19 | Skills are amazing, but I question if he really has the job. |
| 16 | Nick Anderson | TB | 147.58 | Probably gets the most saves, but still is in a committee. |
| 17 | Richard Rodriguez | PIT | 188.73 | Should get the role, but how many games will the Pirates win? |
| 18 | Joakim Soria | ARZ | 245.94 | Soria seems like he should get the job. |
| 19 | Anthony Bass | MIA | 260.85 | I think he is the guy, but health and competition drops him some. |
| 20 | Alex Colome | MIN | 150.06 | Seems like the Twins may try the Tampa Bay committee approach. |
| 21 | Taylor Rogers | MIN | 202.25 | Seems like the Twins may try the Tampa Bay committee approach. |
| 22 | Devin Williams | MLW | 175.13 | Injury questions drops him, but if Hader is traded and he healthy, then he could be a top 5-10 closer. |
| 23 | Matt Barnes | BOS | 203.17 | Should get the first shot, but could lose it or be traded if he succeeds. |
| 24 | Hunter Harvey | BAL | 309.35 | Should get first shot, but this could also be a committee. |
| 25 | Will Smith | ATL | 189.81 | I don’t know who closes in Atlanta |
| 26 | Chris Martin | ATL | 321.15 | I don’t know who closes in Atlanta |
| 27 | Mark Melancon | SD | 235.6 | I think he may share the duties in San Diego. |
| 28 | Drew Pomeranz | SD | 222.21 | I think he may share the duties in San Diego. |
| 29 | Jordan Hicks | STL | 222.83 | Hicks could get the first shot in St. Louis or he could share the role with 3-4 others. |
| 30 | Jose Leclerc | TEX | 248.02 | Leclerc likely gets the first shot, but health and control issues could get in the way. |
| 31 | Amir Garrett | CIN | 243.98 | I think he has the leg up, but any one of the three could emerge as the guy. |
| 32 | Daniel Bard | COL | 268 | He is the guy for now, but it’s still Colorado |
| 33 | Giovanny Gallegos | STL | 262.48 | I don’t know what to make of the Cardinals bullpen. |
| 34 | Jake McGee | SF | 345.56 | Never trust Kapler with closers. |
| 35 | Adam Ottavino | BOS | 371.17 | Will get the job at some point. |
| 36 | Nick Wittgren | CLE | 495.08 | I think he has a real chance to grab the job in Cleveland. |
| 37 | Diego Castillo | TB | 294.1 | Great skills, but it’s Tampa. |
| 38 | Bryan Garcia | DET | 394.38 | Probably first man up in Detroit, but it could get to anyone in that bullpen. |
| 39 | Jonathan Hernandez | TEX | 392.35 | He will pass Leclerc at some point. |
| 40 | Yimi Garcia | MIA | 349.9 | Likely the setup guy, but could easily leapfrog Bass. |
| 41 | Josh Staumont | KC | 437.23 | Will get the job once Holland is moved. |
| 42 | Trevor May | NYM | 449.1 | Great handcuff if Diaz blows up. |
| 43 | Gregory Soto | DET | 456.77 | Probably first man up if Garcia doesn’t get it done. |
| 44 | Lucas Sims | CIN | 378.13 | It is a wide open battle in Cincy |
| 45 | Sean Doolittle | CIN | 522.63 | It is a wide open battle in Cincy |
| 46 | Rowan Wick | CHC | 552.44 | Will get the job if Kimbrel is traded or blows it. |
| 47 | Zack Britton | NYY | 389.04 | Should get some saves when Chapman is suspended or if he gets hurt. |
| 48 | Joe Jimenez | DET | 556.88 | I haven’t given up on Jimenez. |
| 49 | Michael Lorenzen | CIN | 395.44 | Likely in the rotation. |
| 50 | Tejay Antone | CIN | 358.13 | I think he could be this year’s Tyler Mahle and ends up in the rotation. |
| 51 | Hector Neris | PHI | 287.46 | Has closer experience, but I think he is behind Bradley. |
| 52 | Jordan Romano | TOR | 377.88 | First man up if Yates isn’t healthy. |
| 53 | Stefan Crichton | ARZ | 337.63 | First man up if Soria blows it. |
| 54 | Tanner Rainey | WAS | 416.48 | Likely first man up if something happens to Hand. |
| 55 | Jake Diekman | OAK | 373.58 | Should get some saves in Oakland. |
| 56 | Alex Reyes | STL | 386.08 | I don’t know what to make of the Cardinals bullpen. |
| 57 | Sergio Romo | OAK | 654.83 | If something happens to Rosenthal, he likely is in the discussion for the job. |
| 58 | Tyler Rogers | SF | 604.83 | Never trust Kapler with closers. |
| 59 | Roberto Osuna | FA | 613.19 | Proven closer that needs a team and a clean bill of health. |
| 60 | Reyes Moronta | SF | 437.44 | Never trust Kapler with closers. |
SOURCE: https://nfc.shgn.com/adp/baseball
ADP from NFBC Draft Champions leagues between 2/6/21-3/6/21
Justin is the co-host on The Sleeper and The Bust Podcast and writes for Rotographs covering the Roto Riteup as well as other periodic articles. In addition to his work at Rotographs, Justin is the lead fantasy writer/analyst and co-owner for FriendswithFantasyBenefits.com, and the owner of The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational. He is also a certified addiction treatment counselor. Follow Justin on Twitter @JustinMasonFWFB.
No Tyler Duffey in this list? In the top 60? With Baldelli’s claim that everyone will get their share? He seems to have far more value than many on this!
In reading up on the Phillies bullpen it seems more local reporters think the closing job is Neris’ at the beginning of the season until he loses it. Do you have a source on the Bradley comment? Just conviction and following the dollars?
Surprised not to see Pete Fairbanks on the list.
Osuna but no Fairbanks haha
“when Chapman is suspended?”
Is this something that is being anticipated?
I think he was suspended for something in the playoffs, but it will take effect this year. I assume just the first 2 games of the Yankees season.
It’s for the fastball he threw at Mike Brosseau’s head last year when the Rays and Yankees kept having fights. He appealed his suspension, so he’s serving it to start the 2021 season (no idea why his appeal lasted all of the way through September). It’s only 2 games, so really not a big deal for fantasy, but Britton will probably get the 9th for those first two games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzqv6Z0tr3E
thank you
And now Britton is out for 4 months, so Chad Green might have the best shot at those first two
Britton has elbow soreness and is scheduled for a scan.
I guess the update is that he needs to have surgery to remove bone chip 3-4 months out
10 innings in San Diego makes Rosenthal #4???
Pomeranz was better than him. Diaz should certainly be higher than him.
Just my opinion and I don’t have a access to the stat to back this up but I am thinking the closer role in Cincinnati is not at all between Garrett, Sims and Doolittle. I think it is between Sims, De Leon and Bedrosian.
Garrett is the only sure left handed option in the bullpen. Miley is left handed but he will probably start. I think Finnegan makes the team but he is not a sure option. As the only LHP in the pen he should not be reserved for closing. I think Doolittle gets released. Sims is good. De Leon should hit 100 MPH in the bullpen and his best pitch is his change up. If he can continue to improve his control he will be a stud in the pen. With 2 pitches, I don’t see him as a starter (plus the Reds have excess SP). It seems DJ is working with Bedrosian on pitch selection. This year could be the best version of Bedrosian ever. Lots of risk with Bedrosian and De Leon but they may very well be the two best options the Reds have in what could be a very good bullpen.
As for your statement on Antone, I agree he would be an asset in the Rotation. Other than Antone 8 SP had at least two pitchers rated 3.9 or better last year. Four of the 8 had a fastball that ranked >0 by fangraphs. These 4 pitchers combined for an ERA of 2.08. He worked extensively over the winter and now his FB has gained an additional 1.5 – 2.0 MPH. He has three problems though. First Bell likes him in the bullpen. Second, Miley probably has the inside track at the 4th SP spot and third, Hoffman was throwing 2 MPH harder yesterday than he did in 2020, probably thanks to Boddy. Lorenzen is also in the mix. for the 5th spot and has the tools to start but his competition is so good.
Thanks Justin. What are your thoughts on Clase? Is Wittgren really ahead of him? They’ve got similar k% and k%-BB%, but Clase has more velo and a much stronger GB tilt. Also, with news about Hernandez’s UCL, does he get downgraded off the list, or just dropped down. I presume Joely Rodriguez moves on and up?
How much does your draft strategy change in a SV+Holds league in regards to relievers? Would you be more willing to bargain bin shop for your relief staff?
It changes everything. It makes your player pool for the category sooo much deeper and in season pick ups much less competitive.
Also, news that J Hernandez just shut down for at least 4 weeks due to concerns he strained his UCL…
It’s rare that this doesn’t end up being = shutdown = tj
Do you ever do ranks for Save+Holds leagues?