Request for Help: 2025 Initial Closers
Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Every year I report on how many closers made it through the season and how Saves get distributed (2024 report). I just need help verifying the following list is correct before writing the final report next week. Thanks.
2025 Initial Closers
| Team | Eventual First Closer | Going into season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angels | Kenley Jansen | One Guy | |
| Astros | Josh Hader | One Guy | |
| Athletics | Mason Miller | One Guy | |
| Blue Jays | Jeff Hoffman | One Guy | |
| Braves | Raisel Iglesias | One Guy | |
| Brewers | Trevor Megill | One Guy | |
| Cardinals | Ryan Helsley | One Guy | |
| Cubs | Ryan Pressly | One Guy | |
| Diamondbacks | Justin Martinez | One Guy | |
| Dodgers | Tanner Scott | One Guy | |
| Giants | Ryan Walker | One Guy | |
| Guardians | Emmanuel Clase | One Guy | |
| Mariners | Andres Munoz | One Guy | |
| Marlins | Calvin Faucher | Committee | Possibly Anthony Bender |
| Mets | Edwin Diaz | One Guy | |
| Nationals | Kyle Finnegan | One Guy | |
| Orioles | Felix Bautista | One Guy | |
| Padres | Robert Suarez | One Guy | |
| Phillies | Jordan Romano | One Guy | |
| Pirates | David Bednar | One Guy | |
| Rangers | Luke Jackson | One Guy | |
| Rays | Pete Fairbanks | One Guy | |
| Red Sox | Aroldis Chapman | One Guy | |
| Reds | Emilio Pagán | One Guy | |
| Rockies | Seth Halvorsen | Committee | Possibly Zach Agnos or Tyler Kinley |
| Royals | Carlos Estevez | One Guy | |
| Tigers | Tommy Kahnle | Committee | Possibly Brant Hurter |
| Twins | Jhoan Duran | One Guy | |
| White Sox | Brandon Eisert | Committee | Eisert got the team’s only April Save. Possibly Jordan Leasure or Steven Wilson |
| Yankees | Devin Williams | One Guy |
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.
FWIW, Emilio Pagan wasn’t definitely the Reds closer at season’s start. Francona never identified a closer out of the gate (Pagan, Barlow, Santillan were all possibilities). Ian Gibaut actually got the save opp on Opening Day. It did not go well. Pagan locked down the role pretty quickly after that.
Thanks
Yep, I was rostering both Rogers (experienced closer) and Ashcraft (converted starter with good stuff) hoping one of them might take it. Pagan came out firing with 5 straight scoreless appearances (4 of them the 3 up / 3 down variety) and 8 of 9 and 13 of 16 and he was off to the races.
(In fact, of those 1st 16 appearances, he retired the side in order in 11 of them. I’m sure that bought him a lot of leash moving forward)
The Rangers was pretty up in the air if I recall. Marc Church was even mentioned as a possibility. The Diamondbacks was reported between Martinez and Puk.
IIRC, the feeling was that Martin would be the guy or at least get first crack, based on experience.
Luke Jackson was signed in late February because Rangers didn’t want to pony up money for a knock out closer. Jackson was then given the first save of the season, then Chris Martin the next save, then back to Luke Jackson. Think they were hoping for someone to step up out of nowhere, but committee approach always seemed to be the path.
Yep. Rangers definitely did not have a set closer to begin the year
I could swear that Mike Clevinger was the guy for about 5 minutes on the south side. Maybe it was all a fever dream.
Clevinger was the most extreme example of SAGNOF I can of off the top of my head in April.
I didn’t think Romano was considered the one guy for the Phillies from the start, just part of the high leverage mix. I checked and sure enough, the first save chance appears to have been on 4/3; Romano pitched the 8th and Alvarado got the save in the 9th.
The next chance went to Romano, but he gave up runs in the process, the cracks were already showing. Two night later, Alvarado got another save and Romano entered in the 7th and got hammered without getting an out.
Yeah I’d call them a committee to start.
The Reds was Edwin Diaz (or maybe waiting for an early Edwin Diaz return)
Diamondbacks was committee with AJ Puk
Not sure if the Dodgers were settled at the beginning of the year between Scott & Yates.
Was KC settled between Erceg & Estevez?
Chris Martin I think was the Rangers initial CL
Was Chapman only supposed to keep the seat warm for Hendricks?
Was Jason Foley the leader of the Tigers committee at the onset of the year?
Vodnik was in consideration as part of the Rockies committee. (Maybe just a blurb for them & the CHW CLs “If you drafted here, mistakes were made”)
Sorry, Alexis Diaz, not Edwin…
I’m sure the Reds wish it had been Edwin
Alexis Diaz started the year hurt, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t want to just give him the job.
from Sporer on 2 April
Unsettled CLOSER Situations
Thanks
I remember the White Sox situation being very messy, with maybe even Mike Clevinger being hinted as the closer coming out of spring training?
Thanks
wasn’t Padres a bit up in the air as Robert Suarez was shaky during spring training? Jeremiah Estrada was possible?
Suárez recorded a save in his first 7 appearances and 15 of his first 18. He was definitely the closer.
Puk and Martinez were in a share from the get go.