Relief Pitcher 2025 Fantasy Rankings

This tier features fantasy baseball’s best relief pitchers, with each arm oozing with plenty of talent and closer job security. Mason Miller makes up for a few less projected saves (per Depth Charts) compared to Emmanuel Clase or Edwin Díaz with a big edge in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts. If you’re faint of heart when it comes to injury risk, it’s fine to prioritize one of the other top names as all of these arms are stellar. Díaz currently leads the way in projected saves at 36, coming off a 2.20 xFIP and 34.9 K% minus BB% in the second half. Clase doesn’t strike out as many batters as the other names here but he’s elite at preventing runs and fantasy managers love how the Guardians don’t get cute with his role at all—he’s coming off three straight seasons with at least 40 saves. Félix Bautista is returning from Tommy John and expected to be ready for Spring Training. Muñoz dealt with elbow soreness late in 2024 but finished the year strong, alleviating health concerns. The Twins can be a bit annoying with Duran’s role, using him outside of save situations more often than the other names on this list. Nonetheless, he should be expected to receive the vast majority of save opportunities. Now on the Yankees, Devin Williams should continue to perform as one of the game’s top closers. Ryan Helsley has also been featured in trade talks, but currently looks more likely to stay put. Ryan Walker had a breakout season in San Francisco, usurping Camilo Doval to grab sole control of the closer role. Raisel Iglesias fits in near the end of this tier, with a bit weaker rate stat projections compared to the rest of these names, but excellent job security for a championship contender. Josh Hader’s job is secure as anybody’s. He continues to be an elite K% minus BB% machine, even if he is more homer-prone than most of the other names in this group.

The next tier highlights a group of pitchers that could take the next step and join tier one—or find themselves out of a closing role with a couple twists and turns of poor fortune. Planet Earth’s hardest thrower, Ben Joyce, was able to seize the closer role last year before going down with shoulder inflammation in September (his MRI was otherwise clean). Fairbanks has been heavily featured in trade rumors since midway through 2024, and he probably would have been traded already had he not gotten hurt again. He is expected to be recovered from the lat strain by spring training, but could lose the closer job if he gets dealt. Robert Suarez has the most job security on this list—but a not-quite-elite ERA projection, with Jeremiah Estrada on his tail. Lucas Erceg was excellent as closer for Kansas City after they acquired him last year. He should be good to go as long as they don’t make any other major bullpen acquisitions. Trevor Megill looks like the primary guy for saves in Milwaukee now that Devin Williams is in New York. Megill thrived in the role when Williams was hurt in 2024. The Blue Jays have indicated the newly signed Jeff Hoffman will close–he’s an elite relief talent now in a great landing spot.

Job security becomes a real issue in this tier, particularly early on in the offseason, where there are still lots of moves to be made. Orion Kerkering was blocked by Jeff Hoffman, José Alvarado, and Carlos Estévez last year, but Hoffman and Estévez are gone, and Alvarado had a down year. The Phillies did bring in a post-peak Jordan Romano to pitch in high leverage situations, but the time is nigh for the ultra-talented Kerkering to seize the closer role and not look back. Righty Justin Martinez shared saves with lefty A.J. Puk late last year—Martinez looks to have the inside job on a large share of the role entering 2025, although the Diamondbacks are reportedly still looking to sign a more established reliever to pitch the ninth. I worry about Porter Hodge losing his role to big trade or free agency acquisitions, although this is far from a foregone conclusion, particularly as the offseason progresses. Tanner Scott is one of baseball’s best relievers and could easily jump to tier one in the right landing spot—or fall a tier if a contender signs him to pitch in an eight-inning role. Alexis Díaz is the only one in this tier with good job security, but his ERA projection is rough. David Bednar also has decent job security, but took a step back in 2024, with a 5.71 xFIP in the second half. Michael Kopech was excellent after the Dodgers acquired him last year, but Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen are also strong relievers that will compete with Kopech for saves. Calvin Faucher offers decent projections and performed well as closer last year before going down with a shoulder impingement. The Marlins don’t yet have much competition for the role, either. Kirby Yates and Kenley Jansen remain unsigned, but they look more likely than not to step in as closers wherever they end up given their track records. The always-underrated Chris Martin looks like the front-runner for saves after signing in Texas.

My final reliever tier includes the rest of the names that tend to be drafted in most leagues. As a rule, I won’t fight you on any particular placement within this very fluid tier. A few of these guys will surely rack up a bunch of saves this year, winning a bunch of fantasy leagues—it’s very difficult to say which ones in advance, however. Other bullpen pundits have Aroldis Chapman in a fierce competition for the closer job with Liam Hendriks and Justin Slaten—Chapman is likely the most effective of the bunch. The Astros are looking to trade Ryan Pressly, who could find himself back in his beloved closing job, depending on where he lands. The same goes for Camilo Doval. Carlos Estévez has a shot to close wherever he signs. Liam Hendriks, Evan Phillips, Robert Garcia, Blake Treinen, and A.J. Puk are each a decent bet to form at least some part of the closing committee on their respective squads, at least barring big relief pitcher acquisitions. Somebody has to close games for the White Sox and the Rockies this year, although it is difficult to get too excited about the current options. The Tigers look like a good bet to make an additional bullpen splash in free agency. Cade Smith and Griffin Jax likely won’t contribute many saves, but as two of the best relievers in baseball, they should be elite ratio plays. Jorge López looks like a good bet to close after signing with the Nationals.