RotoGraphs June Consensus Ranks: Relief Pitchers
Relievers are a volatile bunch. Some of you drafted the Greg Hollands and Koji Ueharas of the world early and you’re like “this closer game is easy.” Others are saying “I can’t believe I spent a ninth-round draft pick on Joe Nathan.” More are lauding their own snag of Francisco Rodriguez from the Opening Day waiver wire while their fellow players still lament that between Joe Smith, Rex Brothers, Mark Melancon, and Darren O’Day, their free agent scavenging has borne little fruit.
The good news? There is still time. Cody Allen and Zach Britton are quietly climbing up the ladder but can probably still be had relatively cheap (or even free) in some leagues. Maybe Dellin Betances or Wade Davis can save your rates and undo some of Clay Buchholz’s damage. Perhaps you can take an educated gamble on Adam Ottavino or Joba Chamberlain and hope one of the veterans they are standing behind finally falls down.
While the top tier remains pretty defined, disagreement is starting to crop up. I love Joakim Soria’s improved control and rediscovered changeup. Alan thinks Huston Street can maintain health and elite peripherals all year. Getting nervous about that SV category in your league or are you just riding the wave?
As Eno has pointed out, this is for rest of season 5×5 roto. If I can figure out color arrows, I’ll add them, but you can compare to our preseason rankings here. Our third ranker (that would be Ben, for those keeping score at home) is apparently off at some unknown music festival and will contribute to the consensus when he’s not hanging out under This Tent or That Tent.
| Player | Colin | Alan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aroldis Chapman CIN | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Craig Kimbrel ATL | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Kenley Jansen LAD | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Greg Holland KC | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Koji Uehara BOS | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | David Robertson NYY | 5 | 8 |
| 7 | Sergio Romo SF | 9 | 6 |
| 8 | Sean Doolittle OAK | 10 | 7 |
| 9 | Glen Perkins MIN | 8 | 11 |
| 10 | Joakim Soria TEX | 7 | 14 |
| 11 | Trevor Rosenthal STL | 12 | 9 |
| 12 | Francisco Rodriguez MIL | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | Steve Cishek MIA | 13 | 10 |
| 14 | Fernando Rodney SEA | 14 | 17 |
| 15 | Rafael Soriano WAS | 16 | 15 |
| 16 | Huston Street SD | 19 | 13 |
| 17 | Jason Grilli PIT | 15 | 20 |
| 18 | Casey Janssen TOR | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | Jonathan Papelbon PHI | 20 | 16 |
| 20 | Ernesto Frieri LAA | 22 | 21 |
| 21 | Chad Qualls HOU | 24 | 19 |
| 22 | Addison Reed ARI | 21 | 24 |
| 23 | Cody Allen CLE | 17 | 30 |
| 24 | Zach Britton BAL | 25 | 23 |
| 25 | Joe Nathan DET | 26 | 22 |
| 26 | Hector Rondon CHC | 23 | 27 |
| 27 | Jenrry Mejia NYM | 27 | 26 |
| 28 | LaTroy Hawkins COL | 30 | 25 |
| 29 | Ronald Belisario CHW | 29 | 29 |
| 30 | Dellin Betances NYY | 28 | 32 |
| 31 | Grant Balfour TB | 31 | 31 |
| 32 | John Axford CLE | 39 | 28 |
| 33 | Joel Peralta TB | 34 | 34 |
| 34 | Joe Smith LAA | 35 | 33 |
| 35 | Adam Ottavino COL | 33 | 36 |
| 36 | Mark Melancon PIT | 32 | 37 |
| 37 | Wade Davis KC | 37 | 40 |
| 38 | Jake McGee TB | 36 | 43 |
| 39 | Tommy Hunter BAL | 38 | 41 |
| 40 | Joaquin Benoit SD | 40 | 39 |
| 41 | Brad Ziegler ARI | 45 | 35 |
| 42 | Joba Chamberlain DET | 43 | 38 |
| 43 | Brett Cecil TOR | 41 | 45 |
| 44 | Andrew Miller BOS | 42 | 44 |
| 45 | Jason Motte STL | 46 | 42 |
There are few things Colin loves more in life than a pitcher with a single-digit BB%. Find him on Twitter @soxczar.
In a keeper league that uses K/9, saves, and holds, it is unconventional to keep guys like Uehara and Robertson from year to year or is it that something that would be smart?
Depends on cost, who you aren’t keeping to keep them, etc.
I kept Uehara in a dynasty league where there’s lot of RP this year. I almost never do that, but I didn’t really have any standout guys around the 25th player (we keep 25) so I decided I’d roll with him hoping father time would stay away for a little while longer.
OTOH, I’m not a huge advocate of keeping RP if it means ditching top-100 bats.
Using these categories:
R – H – HR – RBI – SB – TB – AVG – OPS / W – QS – CG – SV – HD – K/9 – ERA – WHIP
Right now I’m looking at the following pool of players to choose eight from:
1. Paul Goldschmidt
2. Justin Upton
3. Evan Longoria
4. Dustin Pedroia
5. Jordan Zimmerman
6. Alex Gordon
7. Carlos Santana
8. Desmond Jennings
9. Dee Gordon
10. Wilin Rosario
11. Yordano Ventura
12. Brian Dozier
13. Koji Uehara
14. Shane Victorino
15. David Robertson
16. Dallas Keuchel
17. Rick Porcello
18. John Lackey
19. Torii Hunter
20. Henderson Alvarez
21. Denard Span
22. Rajai Davis
23. Bartolo Colon
24. Jose Quintana
25. Jason Vargas
Do I keep Jordan Zimmerman or do I keep bats over pitching?
I wouldn’t keep a closer personally… they’re replaceable whereas elite hitters are not.
Just traded Verlander straight up for Cody Allen. FTW!
I take it from Axford’s ranking that you’re feeling good about him returning to the 9th? I know Tito’s publicly supported him, but how will he dislodge Allen?
I have Allen/Axford at 17/39 so obviously I’m a bit more bullish on Allen.
Since we aren’t ranking for “best rates” but instead ranking for “who might close over the rest of the season” Axford is probably in that list of 8-10 guys who are logical targets to *possibly* gain/regain some 9th inning opps over the RoS.
Would love to see the same thing for SV+HD. Seems crazy to not see Clippard up there.
I did a MR tiers update a few weeks back here (http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/scheming-for-relief-monitoring-middle-reliever-tiers/), but wouldn’t mind putting together some official ranks either. Keep an eye out for it in the coming week (or two).
No Jim Johnson?
He actually was just outside the top 45, but you can’t deny that A) Sean Doolittle has been awesome in the ninth and B) with JJ on a 1-year deal, there becomes less incentive for the A’s to sneak him back as closer as months fall away.
Aren’t Kimbrel and Chapman both #1, or does Colin’s vote carry more weight than Alan’s?
There can only be one #1
Do you want the diplomatic answer or the real answer?
Real
My multi-million dollar Rotographs contract stipulates I get to break any ties.
(that or Excel just sorted them that way, same difference).
Frieri seems a little low. I’d have him above Grilli, Janssen, and Papelbon at least.