Saves are an evolving landscape in the MLB, with fewer and fewer 35+ and 30+ saves guys each year, with teams looking to use more matchup-based approaches, committees or their best arms in the toughest spots of the game, whether it’s facing the heart of the order in the 7th inning or in the 6th inning to get out of a tough jam. This makes drafting saves excruciating for some, and I get that, but you need them to win in roto. Drafting the cream of the crop for saves in Draft Champions format gives you less bust risk than waiting on cheaper dart options. The top guys have better skills, are more established, and are less likely to lose their role than the bottom and middle guys.
In Draft and Hold leagues, drafting a very stable saves source, and potentially another CL2, IE Carlos Estevez or Paul Sewald is ideal, as it will really shore up a lot of saves. Once you have those guys in the fold, you can focus on what your build needs next from a reliever, whether it’s more saves specs if you missed on a secure 2nd closer, or if you went risky with your first by waiting a little too long. You can also focus on getting an elite ratio chipper with high Ks such as James Karinchak or A.J. Minter since those guys can lower your ratios in a jiffy.
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My writeups for this article will be very brief, and if you want further RP information check out some of these great sources I use:
https://www.patreon.com/relieverrecon/posts
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/article/closer-encounters-2023-closer-rankings-69675
https://www.patreon.com/GTEFantasy/posts
The Cream of Closer Crop
| Edwin Diaz | NYM |
| Emmanuel Clase | CLE |
Worth the investment, not much more needs to be said. Diaz has the strikeout edge, and Clase is ridiculously safe with his 100+ MPH cutter.
The Upper-Class Closers
| Josh Hader | SD |
| Jordan Romano | TOR |
| Raisel Iglesias | ATL |
| Devin Williams | MIL |
| Ryan Pressly | HOU |
| Ryan Helsley | STL |
| Felix Bautista | BAL |
| Kenley Jansen | BOS |
None of these players have given me much pause, I love the top guys but I am concerned slightly with Pressly’s health, just back him up with Rafael Montero or Bryan Abreu, whoever you think is the handcuff. Helsley might not get the full-time saves share with Gallegos looming, but his ancillary stats could close the ‘value’ gap, just be conscious it might only be 25 saves. Obviously, watch the health of Bautista in ST, but his stuff could allow him to be the #1 closer in the MLB.
The Still Solid Closers Tier
| Camillo Doval | SFG |
| Clay Holmes | NYY |
| David Bednar | PIT |
| Alexis Diaz | CIN |
| Daniel Bard | COL |
I could live with one of these players as my CL1 assuming the value didn’t fall for a better option. However, Daniel Bard does scare me given his home park and age, I likely won’t end up with any of him but his job security is strong even if he’s risky.
The Elite Skills Guys
| Jhoan Duran | MIN |
| Andres Munoz | SEA |
| Pete Fairbanks | TB |
| Evan Phillips | LAD |
Insanely elite arms, the question for each is how many saves they will provide. I much prefer all these guys as a second saves source.
Will Get You Some Saves
| Paul Sewald | SEA |
| Carlos Estevez | LAA |
| Scott Barlow | KC |
| Trevor May | OAK |
| Jorge Lopez | MIN |
I am projecting these guys to start the year getting enough saves to roster them in your lineup, clearly as 2nd closer types. Sewald could be put up into the tier above this if you wish.
Hopefully Will Get You Some Saves
| Reynaldo Lopez | CWS |
| Jose LeClerc | TEX |
| Dylan Floro | MIA |
| Alex Lange | DET |
| Daniel Hudson | LAD |
| Taylor Rogers | SF |
| Giovanny Gallegos | STL |
| Kyle Finnegan | WAS |
This is really where things are getting hairy, as some of the closers’ skills in this range are falling off. For me, I am thinking Reynaldo Lopez gets the most saves in the Chicago White Sox bullpen since I am fading Kendall Graveman. The other guys in this tier are either potentially the team’s closer or are studly setup men that could vulture double-digit saves, you just need to keep those guys in your lineup to capture the saves since they come unpredictably.
15-Team League Dart Throws
| Kendall Graveman | CWS |
| Aroldis Chapman | KC |
| A.J. Puk | MIA |
| Jason Adam | TB |
| Seranthony Dominguez | PHI |
| Craig Kimbrel | PHI |
| Hunter Harvey | WAS |
This is where the waters are very murky, this tier comprises many backups to the closer in the tier above. This is where you can focus on which of these guys is most likely to vulture a closer job unexpectedly.
Elite Handcuffs
| Robert Suarez | SD |
| Matt Bush | MIL |
| Rafael Montero | HOU |
| John Schreiber | BOS |
| Erik Swanson | TOR |
Great handcuffs to draft as backups to elite guys, they are rosterable because they are highly skilled too, and can be your 9th pitcher in a pinch. I often look to grab other teams’ handcuffs and only handcuff my own pitcher if the value is right, I won’t reach for that privilege.
Ratio Erasers
| Brusdar Graterol | LAD |
| David Robertson | NYM |
| Michael King | NYY |
| Jonathan Loaisiga | NYY |
| Tommy Kahnle | NYY |
| Chris Martin | BOS |
| Trevor Stephan | CLE |
| Collin McHugh | ATL |
Electric Strikeout Rates
| James Karinchak | CLE |
| A.J. Minter | ATL |
| Alex Vesia | LAD |
| Bryan Abreu | HOU |
| Hector Neris | HOU |
| Garrett Cleavinger | TB |
| Matt Brash | SEA |
| DL Hall | BAL |
| Ron Marinaccio | NYY |
This is my favorite tier, as these players are better than many SP than you could put into your lineup. The K rate speaks for itself on many of these arms, and they can be streamed into FAAB leagues in a pinch if they are throwing well.
Could Run Into Saves Eventually
| Joe Barlow | TEX |
| Dylan Coleman | KC |
| Diego Castillo | SEA |
| Codi Heuer | CHC |
| Domingo Acevedo | OAK |
| Brandon Hughes | CHC |
| Adbert Alzolay | CHC |
| Colin Poche | TB |
| Cionel Perez | BAL |
| Bryan Baker | BAL |
| Joe Jimenez | ATL |
| Ryan Tepera | LAA |
| Jimmy Herget | LAA |
| J.T. Chargois | MIA |
There is a case that some of these players could stumble into saves at some point, the top 5 guys are my favorite targets.
Mystery Boxes
| Tanner Houck | BOS |
| Garret Crochet | CWS |
| Dillon Tate | BAL |
| Mark Melancon | ARI |
| Scott McGough | ARI |
| Brock Burke | TEX |
| Matt Moore | LAA |
| Lucas Sims | CIN |
| Will Smith | FA |
| Zack Britton | FA |
Elite Stuff Specs
| Griffin Jax | MIN |
| Calvin Faucher | TB |
| Jeremiah Estrada | CHC |
| Julian Merryweather | CHC |
| Greg Weissert | NYY |
| Yency Almonte | LAD |
| Jose Alvarado | PHI |
| Connor Brogdon | PHI |
| Tanner Scott | MIA |
| Ben Joyce | LAA |
My favorite 3 sleeper spec picks for highly skilled RP are the top 3 guys in this tier, as they have elite stuff and could really pop in your Draft and Hold leagues.