Relief Pitcher 2026 Fantasy Rankings
December 18, 2025
Closers are probably the most exciting, frustrating position to deal with from a fantasy perspective. No other position is as fundamentally shaped by managerial discretion. No other position sees player value fluctuate so wildly. Last year, baseball’s most dominant closer, Mason Miller, lost his job to Robert Suarez at the trade deadline, for reasons wholly unrelated to performance–Suárez simply had performed admirably as closer, and the Padres preferred not to mess with their bullpen hierarchy, even if Miller was their best reliever. This offseason, Suárez himself appears to have already lost his closing job for reasons unrelated to performance, as he has opted for a setup role with the Braves.
This article ranks the closers for saves-only leagues for 2026. These rankings will be updated roughly once a week to reflect the latest happenings. The rankings will shift based on trades, free agent signings, team news, rumors, new projections, sufficiently persuasive reader feedback, and my own arbitrary whims. The list will grow longer as the offseason progresses.
Changelog
- 12/5/2024 – First Release
Ranking Methodology
- ADP is based on 30-day rolling NFBC Draft Champions Leagues.
- $ Values are based on standard 5×5 12-team saves league using the FanGraphs Depth Charts and these Auction Calculator settings. They default to a player’s most valuable position, so if the first base list includes a catcher, it will show that player’s value at catcher.
- ADP and $ Values are updated as of the last update date on this post.
- 5-game eligibility was used for these lists to cast the widest net.
Closers You Can Count On
These closers are as safe as they come.
Closers You Can Count On
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Change | ADP | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Miller | SDP | RP | – | 38 | $20 |
| 2 | Edwin Díaz | LAD | RP | – | 36 | $16 |
| 3 | Jhoan Duran | PHI | RP | – | 38 | $14 |
| 4 | Andrés Muñoz | SEA | RP | – | 33 | $11 |
| 5 | Cade Smith | CLE | RP | – | 41 | $15 |
| 6 | Devin Williams | NYM | RP | – | 85 | $11 |
| 7 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | RP | – | 53 | $11 |
| 8 | David Bednar | NYY | RP | – | 50 | $12 |
Mason Miller cemented his status as baseball’s most dominant reliever this past season, with an extraordinary 54.2 K% after joining the Padres. They have decided to keep him in the bullpen, so his job should be safe unless he’s traded to a team intent on stretching him out to start–an unlikely proposition. Edwin Díaz slots in next. He has continued his stellar performance year after year, and he will now be closing games for the World Series winners in Los Angeles. The only thing holding back Jhoan Duran’s fantasy value over the last couple of years has been Minnesota’s funky bullpen usage. With the Phillies set on using him as a traditional closer, he could take his fantasy game to the next level. Andrés Muñoz is a trustworthy option, especially in T-Mobile, the most pitcher-friendly park in baseball. Aroldis Chapman and Cade Smith are coming off great seasons, pairing elite projections with excellent job security. David Bednar also has a firm grip on the Yankees closing job after an incredible bounceback 2025. Devin Williams struggled uncharacteristically in 2025, with an ERA over four. K% minus BB% and xFIP are better indicators of pitching talent moving forward, however, and Williams’ indicators suggest a bounceback 2026 could be in order, this time closing games in Queens.
Near-Perfect Ninth Inning Options
A nitpick or two keeps these guys from joining tier one.
Near-Perfect Ninth Inning Options
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Change | ADP | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ryan Helsley | BAL | RP | – | 122 | $6 |
| 10 | Josh Hader | HOU | RP | – | 59 | $13 |
| 11 | Daniel Palencia | CHC | RP | – | 153 | $7 |
| 12 | Jeff Hoffman | TOR | RP | – | 153 | $7 |
| 13 | Ryan Walker | SFG | RP | – | 237 | $9 |
| 14 | Abner Uribe | MIL | RP | – | 182 | $9 |
Ryan Helsley posted an unsightly 7.20 ERA after he was dealt to the Mets. He still has elite velocity and Stuff+ and is a good pick to rebound closing for the Orioles. Josh Hader would be in tier one if not for health concerns. He ended the season tending to a shoulder strain, but he’s at least ostensibly healthy now. If you draft Hader, it is worth reaching a bit to secure Bryan Abreu as a form of high quality health insurance. Daniel Palencia also dealt with a shoulder strain last year, but he made it back before the season ended and looked healthy, with normal velocity, in his return.
Jeff Hoffman is a solid bet to bounceback after a down season, but he has less leash now, with Louis Varland, Yimi García, and Tyler Rogers giving the Blue Jays many worthy late-game options if Hoffman stumbles. Ryan Walker ended the season as de facto Giants closer after Randy Rodríguez underwent Tommy John surgery and Camilo Doval got shipped to the Yankees. He struggled in September and probably does not have a ton of job security, but he still projects well and should get the first chance to close in 2026. Abner Uribe is a tier one talent, but the looming threat of Trevor Megill bumps him down to tier two, as it’s not entirely clear who would get the first shot to close for the Brewers in 2026. Both are worthy late-game options, and both could will get a big bump if Megill is dealt to a team where he’d close.
Flawed Saves Heroes
This group contains many potential studs, but some will get knocked down by offseason shenanigans.
Flawed Saves Heroes
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Change | ADP | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | RP | – | 72 | $7 |
| 16 | Emilio Pagán | CIN | RP | – | 176 | $3 |
| 17 | Kenley Jansen | DET | RP | – | 123 | $2 |
| 18 | Carlos Estévez | KCR | RP | – | 84 | $2 |
| 19 | Griffin Jax | TBR | RP | – | 226 | $7 |
| 20 | Riley O’Brien | STL | RP | – | 327 | $1 |
| 21 | Trevor Megill | MIL | RP | – | 102 | $3 |
| 22 | Pete Fairbanks | RP | – | 141 | -$2 | |
| 23 | Dennis Santana | PIT | RP | – | 156 | $2 |
| 24 | Robert Garcia | TEX | RP | – | 411 | $4 |
| 25 | Clayton Beeter | WSN | RP | – | 535 | $0 |
Raisel Iglesias, Emilio Pagán, Carlos Estévez, and Kenley Jansen aren’t baseball’s most dominant relievers, but they’re solid, and more importantly, they have a ton of leash. At the other end of the spectrum, Riley O’Brien and Griffin Jax are excellent relievers, but they don’t have much job security. Notwithstanding, both look like great values at ADP. Pete Fairbanks is probably the last unsigned closer-worthy reliever, although whether he closes or not very much depends on where he signs. It’s hard to feel too confident in Dennis Santana surviving the season as Pirates closer, and Gregory Soto poses some threat, but Santana still appears to be the guy for now. Robert Garcia and Clayton Beeter are nice sleeper options. Neither has secured the closing job, but both have the talent to lock down the role in 2026.
Dart Throws
A few of these relievers will emerge as awesome closers this year–but which?
Dart Throws
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Change | ADP | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Robert Stephenson | LAA | RP | – | 532 | $2 |
| 27 | Jordan Leasure | CHW | RP | – | 294 | $0 |
| 28 | Mark Leiter Jr. | ATH | RP | – | 705 | -$3 |
| 29 | Calvin Faucher | MIA | RP | – | 409 | -$1 |
| 30 | Ronny Henriquez | MIA | RP | – | 274 | -$1 |
| 31 | Bryan Abreu | HOU | RP | – | 281 | $4 |
| 32 | Robert Suarez | ATL | RP | – | 75 | $3 |
| 33 | Grant Taylor | CHW | RP | – | 337 | $7 |
| 34 | Kevin Ginkel | ARI | RP | – | 696 | -$4 |
| 35 | Gregory Soto | PIT | RP | – | 677 | -$2 |
| 36 | Garrett Cleavinger | TBR | RP | – | 508 | $3 |
| 37 | Adrian Morejon | SDP | RP | – | 399 | $1 |
| 38 | Jeremiah Estrada | SDP | RP | – | 366 | $4 |
| 39 | Chris Martin | TEX | RP | – | 746 | $0 |
| 40 | Kody Funderburk | MIN | RP | – | 748 | -$3 |
| 41 | JoJo Romero | STL | RP | – | 462 | $0 |
| 42 | Victor Vodnik | COL | RP | – | 402 | -$4 |
| 43 | Justin Topa | MIN | RP | – | 708 | -$4 |
| 44 | Drew Pomeranz | LAA | RP | – | 739 | -$2 |
| 45 | Cole Sands | MIN | RP | – | 593 | -$3 |
| 46 | Edwin Uceta | TBR | RP | – | 278 | $1 |
Many of the tier three names have closing talent — especially Jeremiah Estrada, Grant Taylor, Adrian Morejon, and Bryan Abreu — but none of these talents currently have the inside track on a closing job. Injuries and trades ensures that some of these guys will get a shot to close in 2026. Alternatively, Robert Stephenson, Mark Leiter Jr., Jordan Leasure, and Calvin Faucher look like probable closers if the season started today, but each carries substantial risk: Stephenson’s elbow is a question mark, Leiter is pitching in hitter-friendly Sacramento, and Leasure and Faucher have to hold off the talented Taylor and Henriquez, respectively.
Full Rankings Without Tiers
No tiers. Just the rankings.
Full Rankings Without Tiers
| Rank | Name | Team | Pos | Change | ADP | $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Miller | SDP | RP | – | 38 | $20 |
| 2 | Edwin Díaz | LAD | RP | – | 36 | $16 |
| 3 | Jhoan Duran | PHI | RP | – | 38 | $14 |
| 4 | Andrés Muñoz | SEA | RP | – | 33 | $11 |
| 5 | Cade Smith | CLE | RP | – | 41 | $15 |
| 6 | Devin Williams | NYM | RP | – | 85 | $11 |
| 7 | Aroldis Chapman | BOS | RP | – | 53 | $11 |
| 8 | David Bednar | NYY | RP | – | 50 | $12 |
| 9 | Ryan Helsley | BAL | RP | – | 122 | $6 |
| 10 | Josh Hader | HOU | RP | – | 59 | $13 |
| 11 | Daniel Palencia | CHC | RP | – | 153 | $7 |
| 12 | Jeff Hoffman | TOR | RP | – | 153 | $7 |
| 13 | Ryan Walker | SFG | RP | – | 237 | $9 |
| 14 | Abner Uribe | MIL | RP | – | 182 | $9 |
| 15 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | RP | – | 72 | $7 |
| 16 | Emilio Pagán | CIN | RP | – | 176 | $3 |
| 17 | Kenley Jansen | DET | RP | – | 123 | $2 |
| 18 | Carlos Estévez | KCR | RP | – | 84 | $2 |
| 19 | Griffin Jax | TBR | RP | – | 226 | $7 |
| 20 | Riley O’Brien | STL | RP | – | 327 | $1 |
| 21 | Trevor Megill | MIL | RP | – | 102 | $3 |
| 22 | Pete Fairbanks | RP | – | 141 | -$2 | |
| 23 | Dennis Santana | PIT | RP | – | 156 | $2 |
| 24 | Robert Garcia | TEX | RP | – | 411 | $4 |
| 25 | Clayton Beeter | WSN | RP | – | 535 | $0 |
| 26 | Robert Stephenson | LAA | RP | – | 532 | $2 |
| 27 | Jordan Leasure | CHW | RP | – | 294 | $0 |
| 28 | Mark Leiter Jr. | ATH | RP | – | 705 | -$3 |
| 29 | Calvin Faucher | MIA | RP | – | 409 | -$1 |
| 30 | Ronny Henriquez | MIA | RP | – | 274 | -$1 |
| 31 | Bryan Abreu | HOU | RP | – | 281 | $4 |
| 32 | Robert Suarez | ATL | RP | – | 75 | $3 |
| 33 | Grant Taylor | CHW | RP | – | 337 | $7 |
| 34 | Kevin Ginkel | ARI | RP | – | 696 | -$4 |
| 35 | Gregory Soto | PIT | RP | – | 677 | -$2 |
| 36 | Garrett Cleavinger | TBR | RP | – | 508 | $3 |
| 37 | Adrian Morejon | SDP | RP | – | 399 | $1 |
| 38 | Jeremiah Estrada | SDP | RP | – | 366 | $4 |
| 39 | Chris Martin | TEX | RP | – | 746 | $0 |
| 40 | Kody Funderburk | MIN | RP | – | 748 | -$3 |
| 41 | JoJo Romero | STL | RP | – | 462 | $0 |
| 42 | Victor Vodnik | COL | RP | – | 402 | -$4 |
| 43 | Justin Topa | MIN | RP | – | 708 | -$4 |
| 44 | Drew Pomeranz | LAA | RP | – | 739 | -$2 |
| 45 | Cole Sands | MIN | RP | – | 593 | -$3 |
| 46 | Edwin Uceta | TBR | RP | – | 278 | $1 |
Kenley – total eclipse of Finnegan and Vest? I think I saw Scott Harris give a cliche like it’ll be up to AJ Hinch, we like all our guys, etc. I can’t really disagree with omitting them completely from the longshots though.
They’ll be included when I expand the list but for the most part I didn’t rank pure handcuffs, and it’s hard to see Kenley not getting the job. however, like you pointed out, team comments suggest it’s not an open and shut case that it’s kenley’s job, so I should def include them, probably in the next update. fwiw, both are probably better relievers than jansen, but given his track record I think jansen still ultimately gets the job