Latest fantasy baseball reliever updates
The Braves signed Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million contract on Dec. 11, but initial indications were that Raisel Iglesias will remain the team's closer with Suarez setting him up. (December 11)
Padres manager Craig Stammen said recently that Mason Miller will remain in the bullpen for 2026, so the free agent departure of Robert Suarez means Miller will presumably be the team's full-time closer. (December 11)
The Tigers re-signed Kyle Finnegan to a two-year, $19 million contract on Dec. 9. He'll likely battle Will Vest for closing duties, or the two could share the role as they did for most of the final months of 2024. (December 9)
The Dodgers' decision to give Edwin Diaz $69 million over the next three seasons probably means he's closing for them full-time, after they went largely the matchups route in the ninth inning in 2023-24. (December 9)
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said shortly after the team signed free agent Ryan Helsley that he sees the right-hander as a traditional closer. (December 8)
Team-by-team fantasy baseball bullpens
Each pitcher's roster percentages in ESPN leagues is listed in parentheses. Those who have been "heavily worked" over recent days have their names bolded and italicized. Pitchers who are thus labeled as "tired" are less likely to pitch in today's games and, therefore, less likely than normal to earn wins, holds or saves today. Our formula for deeming a reliever to be tired generally requires that he meets at least two of the following criteria: At least 25 pitches thrown the previous day; at least 35 pitches thrown over the last three days; appearances in both of the prior two days.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Co-closer: Andrew Saalfrank (1.3%)
Primary setup: Ryan Thompson (0.4%)
Secondary setup: Kevin Ginkel (0.3%)
Middle relief: Drey Jameson (0.0%)
THE ATHLETICS
Closer-by-committee: Hogan Harris (1.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Michael Kelly (0.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Justin Sterner (0.4%)
Closer-by-committee: Mark Leiter Jr. (0.5%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Raisel Iglesias (79.0%)
Primary setup: Robert Suarez (93.0%)
Secondary setup: Dylan Lee (1.0%)
Middle relief: Aaron Bummer (0.2%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Ryan Helsley (66.0%)
Primary setup: Andrew Kittredge (9.7%)
Secondary setup: Keegan Akin (3.9%)
Middle relief: Kade Strowd (0.1%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Closer: Aroldis Chapman (87.4%)
Primary setup: Garrett Whitlock (6.8%)
Secondary setup: Justin Slaten (0.4%)
Middle relief: Greg Weissert (0.5%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer: Daniel Palencia (14.1%)
Primary setup: Phil Maton (3.6%)
Secondary setup: Porter Hodge (2.6%)
Middle relief: Hoby Milner (0.3%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Co-closer: Jordan Leasure (3.0%)
Co-closer: Grant Taylor (0.7%)
Primary setup: Mike Vasil (0.8%)
Secondary setup: Brandon Eisert (0.0%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Emilio Pagan (48.8%)
Primary setup: Tony Santillan (8.4%)
Secondary setup: Connor Phillips (0.4%)
Middle relief: Graham Ashcraft (0.5%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Cade Smith (44.5%)
Primary setup: Hunter Gaddis (12.4%)
Secondary setup: Erik Sabrowski (0.5%)
Middle relief: Matt Festa (0.3%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Closer: Victor Vodnik (3.3%)
Primary setup: Juan Mejia (0.0%)
Secondary setup: Jimmy Herget (0.3%)
Middle relief: Seth Halvorsen (0.7%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Co-closer: Kyle Finnegan (28.9%)
Co-closer: Will Vest (22.2%)
Primary setup: Tyler Holton (2.3%)
Secondary setup: Brenan Hanifee (0.0%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer: Josh Hader (77.4%)
Primary setup: Bryan Abreu (33.1%)
Secondary setup: Bryan King (4.8%)
Middle relief: Steven Okert (0.5%)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: Carlos Estevez (70.1%)
Primary setup: Lucas Erceg (25.4%)
Secondary setup: John Schreiber (0.7%)
Middle relief: Angel Zerpa (0.1%)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer-by-committee: Robert Stephenson (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Brock Burke (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Ryan Zeferjahn (0.1%)
Primary setup: Chase Silseth (0.0%)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Closer: Edwin Diaz (95.6%)
Primary setup: Tanner Scott (57.8%)
Secondary setup: Alex Vesia (7.3%)
Middle relief: Blake Treinen (3.4%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer-by-committee: Calvin Faucher (4.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Ronny Henriquez (12.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Phillips (0.4%)
Closer-by-committee: Anthony Bender (0.5%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Closer: Abner Uribe (33.4%)
Primary setup: Trevor Megill (58.2%)
Secondary setup: Jared Koenig (3.4%)
Middle relief: Aaron Ashby (1.8%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer-by-committee: Cole Sands (0.7%)
Closer-by-committee: Kody Funderburk (0.6%)
Closer-by-committee: Justin Topa (0.3%)
Primary setup: Eric Orze (0.0%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Devin Williams (65.4%)
Primary setup: A.J. Minter (0.3%)
Secondary setup: Brooks Raley (0.2%)
Middle relief: Huascar Brazoban (1.1%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: David Bednar (56.2%)
Primary setup: Camilo Doval (13.3%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (3.1%)
Middle relief: Tim Hill (0.3%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Closer: Jhoan Duran (89.5%)
Primary setup: Jose Alvarado (8.4%)
Secondary setup: Matt Strahm (5.9%)
Middle relief: Orion Kerkering (3.2%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: Dennis Santana (12.9%)
Primary setup: Gregory Soto (0.9%)
Secondary setup: Isaac Mattson (0.2%)
Middle relief: Carmen Mlodzinski (0.9%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Riley O'Brien (1.3%)
Primary setup: JoJo Romero (9.3%)
Secondary setup: Matt Svanson (0.9%)
Middle relief: Ryan Fernandez (0.1%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Closer: Mason Miller (91.0%)
Primary setup: Adrian Morejon (7.2%)
Secondary setup: Jeremiah Estrada (10.6%)
Middle relief: David Morgan (0.1%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Ryan Walker (62.5%)
Primary setup: Joel Peguero (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Erik Miller (0.2%)
Middle relief: Jose Butto (0.3%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Closer: Andres Munoz (96.1%)
Primary setup: Matt Brash (3.9%)
Secondary setup: Jose Ferrer (10.9%)
Middle relief: Eduard Bazardo (2.3%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer-by-committee: Edwin Uceta (2.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Griffin Jax (15.5%)
Closer-by-committee: Garrett Cleavinger (1.5%)
Primary setup: Bryan Baker (0.6%)
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer: Robert Garcia (2.8%)
Primary setup: Cole Winn (0.1%)
Secondary setup: Dominic Hamel (0.0%)
Middle relief: Michel Otanez (0.0%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Jeff Hoffman (80.4%)
Primary setup: Yimi Garcia (0.5%)
Secondary setup: Louis Varland (1.4%)
Middle relief: Braydon Fisher (0.4%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Co-closer: Clayton Beeter (0.8%)
Co-closer: Cole Henry (0.1%)
Primary setup: P.J. Poulin (0.1%)
Secondary setup: Konnor Pilkington (0.0%)
KEY: "Closer" is either that team's officially designated closer, or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance. Teams can be listed with "Co-closers" or "Closer-by-committee." "Primary setup" is the pitcher next-most likely to take over if something happens to the closer, the top holds-getter and the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. "Secondary setup" is the pitcher third-in-line to close and a good candidate for holds. "Middle relief" covers any other pertinent relievers from that team's bullpen. "Sleeper" is another reliever who could provide a decent number of holds or eventually graduate into the closer role.