The Major League Baseball season is still going as we are in the middle of the playoffs and barreling toward the World Series.
But when it it comes to fantasy baseball and dynasty leagues, the season is over. But while there are no lineups to to worry about, that doesn’t mean the this is the time to sit back and do nothing. When it comes to dynasty leagues, there is no offseason. If you are gunning for next year’s league title, then you should be busy trying to figure out who to keep or ditch as the 2025 season approaches.
Right now is the time to make trades or target potential free agents. In order to do that, making a list always comes in handy.
Lucky for you, I have already started that progress: welcome to the first installment of the 2025 Top Dynasty Keepers. When it comes to dynasty leagues, knowing which up-and-coming players to look for is just as important as knowing Shohei Ohtani is really good. It is easy to know you should target a top player like him. But in dynasty leagues, winning often comes down to adding the right young player who will become a key player for not just this current season but future seasons as well.
THE RELIEVERS
This week the first installment of 2025 Top Dynasty Keepers features relief pitchers.
This position is one in which I take a different view compared to other positions. Relievers are very inconsistent and have a shorter shelf life compared to other positions. Relievers could have had a great 2023 or 2024 season season, giving you lots of hope that you have a key member of your bullpen this year. Then they suddenly implode and are suddenly in the minors and not pitching in the eighth or ninth inning.
Knowing relievers are up and down, I don’t care as much about age of a reliever like I do other players, especially position players. If a reliever is 33 but has been consistent for several years, I’m going to take him just as quickly as I would a 25-year-old flamethrower who hasn’t figured it out on the mound yet.
And this list is not going to be a list of the top closers. In the dynasty leagues I run and others that I play in, holds are their own scoring category or holds + saves is a category. Either way, setup men are just as important to track as the closers, and this list will reflect their value.
Now, let’s get to the 2025 Top Keepers – Relievers.
JUST MISSING THE CUT
Jojo Romero had a nice season for the Cardinals, posting a 3.36 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 30 holds. That is a nice season, especially the 30 holds. But his K/9 rate fell to 7.8, nearly a full strikeout below his career 8.7/9 rate. In deep leagues, Romero is a nice player to have on your team as he will deliver holds. But for this list, he falls just outside the top 50.
While I mentioned how age does not play a factor as much with relievers compared to other positions when putting together a list and future roster, it still matters a little. And the next three players I talk about are basically outside of the top 50 due to their age.
Andrew Kittredge is the second St. Louis reliever to fall just outside the top 50. The right-hander, who will be 35 next season, had a solid season with 37 holds to go with a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He averaged 8.5 K/9, striking out 67 batters in 70.2 innings of work. Kenley Jansen keeps producing as a closer, whether for the Dodgers, the Braves or the Red Sox. Jansen actually had a very good season, posting a 3.29 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 27 saves. He only allowed 38 hits in 54.2 innings while striking out 62 batters.
So why is Jansen not in my top 50? Because he is 37. That is basically the reason why. Can he keep producing at the level he is? Maybe? But at some point, he will hit the wall and I think that is going to be sooner rather than later.
The other player being dinged due to his age is Jansen’s teammate, Chris Martin, who is 38 and turns 39 during the middle of next season. Martin had a very good season with a 3.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. He had a 10.2 K/9 rate and an outstanding 0.6/9 walk rate. He also recorded 15 holds to go with two saves. But at his age, give me a younger reliever who is going to get those 15 holds or more.
TIER 5
*Age as of April 1, 2025
RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
---|---|---|---|
50 | Kirby Yates | TEX | 38 |
49 | Kevin Ginkel | ARI | 31 |
48 | Jeremiah Estrada | SD | 25 |
47 | Cole Sands | MIN | 27 |
46 | Trevor Megill | MIL | 31 |
45 | Evan Phillips | LAD | 30 |
44 | Justin Martinez | ARI | 23 |
43 | Jason Foley | DET | 29 |
42 | Porter Hodge | CHC | 24 |
41 | Matt Brash | SEA | 26 |
Two Young Arms
There are a lot of good arms in the San Diego bullpen, but one reliever I have my eye on is Jeremiah Estrada. The 25-year-old is a StatCast king, ranking in the 92nd percentile or higher in xERA, xBA, fastball velocity, Chase %, Whiff % and K% this past season. In fact, his 37.3% K% ranked in the 99th percentile thanks to 94 strikeouts in 61 innings of work. I like any reliever who nearly has a 14 K/9 rate. He had 16 holds this season and only one save, but I fully expect those holds to increase next season while he may claim the closer’s role at some point.
If your league does not have holds as a scoring category and you are looking for a young closer to add to your team, then target Porter Hodge. The Cubs’ right-hander took over closing duties for the Cubs in August and finished the year with nine saves and nine holds. In September he racked up six of those nine saves in in eight appearances. He doesn’t have the gaudy strikeout rate like Estrada does, but it still was at 10.9/9, which is solid. Hodge needs to cut down on the walks, as he had a 4.0/9 rate this past season. But if saves is your thing, Hodge has a great chance to be the Cubs’ closer next year.
Expected Return to Form
You may be surprised to see Matt Brash listed. But remember, this is not a list of what have they done for me lately but more of a list of what will they do for me in the future. That is why Brash, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May, is listed here. Brash should return by June, and thanks to modern medicine, he should be as good as new when he takes that mound. That means you get a pitcher who has a career strikeout rate of 12.5/9 and throws a fastball that averaged 98.1 mph in 2023, leading to a 38.1 Whiff% and 34.7 K%, which both ranked in the 98th percentile.
TIER 4
RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
---|---|---|---|
40 | Luke Weaver | NYY | 31 |
39 | Matt Strahm | PHI | 33 |
38 | Jose Alvarado | PHI | 29 |
37 | Fernando Cruz | CIN | 35 |
36 | Ryan Pressly | HOU | 36 |
35 | Jordan Romano | TOR | 31 |
34 | Joel Payamps | MIL | 30 |
33 | Tyler Rogers | SF | 34 |
32 | David Bednar | PIT | 29 |
31 | Kyle Finnegan | WSH | 33 |
The Older Group
Of all the tiers, this one feature the most players in their 30 with eight. But these eight players still have a lot to offer. Among those are Luke Weaver and Jordan Romano.
Weaver was used mostly as a starter in 2023 before pitching in relief exclusively this past season. In 62 games he had ww holds and four saves to go with an 11.0 K/9 rate, a 2.89 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Using his four-seamer, change and cutter, his Whiff% ranked in the 94th percentile and his K% ranked in the 93rd percentile.
Jordan Romano never really got going this season as he did not pitch after May 29 due to a right elbow impingement that led to surgery. Before being sidelined he had 6.59 ERA. But when healthy, he has been one of the top closers in the game. From 2020-23 he had 97 saves and a 2.29 ERA in 200.6 innings of work. That is a pretty solid resume.
Playing for the Washington Nationals, Kyle Finnegan gets somewhat overlooked. But he has been a consistent reliever since his debut is 2020. After recording 11 saves in 2021 and 2022 and then 28 in 2023, Finnegan recorded 38 saves this year with a 3.68 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. In leagues that only have saves, Finnegan is a very solid closer to have.
TIER 3
RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
---|---|---|---|
30 | Camilo Doval | SF | 27 |
29 | Yennier Cano | BAL | 31 |
28 | Joe Jimenez | ATL | 30 |
27 | Jeff Hoffman | PHI | 32 |
26 | Aroldis Chapman | PIT | 37 |
25 | David Robertson | TEX | 39 |
24 | Jason Adam | SD | 33 |
23 | Pete Fairbanks | TB | 31 |
22 | Cade Smith | CLE | 25 |
21 | Edwin Uceta | TB | 27 |
The Veteran
There are a host of experienced arms in this tier, but the one I like the most is Pete Fairbanks, who had his season end prematurely this year due to a lat strain. Before landing on the IL, Fairbanks had 23 saves with a 3.57 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. The one stat I did worry about is his 8.7 K/9 rate, which is way below his 12.0 K/9 rate. I’m going with the theory that the lat strain put a damper on that number before leading to his trip to the IL.
The Young Guns
I don’t think Emmanuel Clase is going to lose his closer’s job anytime soon, but if he does or you want to hedge your bets with someone on the Cleveland staff who can claim that role, then Cade Smith is a good arm to go after. In his rookie season Smith recorded 28 holds and posted a 1.91 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. In 75.1 innings he struck out 103 batters for a 12.3 K/9 rate while only issuing 2.0 walker per nine innings. His xERA, xBA and K% all ranked in the 95th percentile or higher while he was in the 83rd percentile or higher in BB% and Whiff%.
If Fairbanks loses his closer’s job in 2025, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is Edwin Uceta who takes it. Tampa Bay is actually the fourth organization in four year for Uceta, who pitched in 14 games for the Dodgers in 2021, 10 games for Arizona in 2022, the Mets for one game in 2023 and then in 30 games for the Rays this season. In 41.2 innings he struck out 57 hitters while posting a 1.51 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. His fastball, which he throws 40% of the time, is not overpowering, but he also has a good changeup that he throws 34% and a cutter that he features 21% of the time.
TIER 2
RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
---|---|---|---|
20 | Michael Kopech | LAD | 28 |
19 | Lucas Erceg | KC | 29 |
18 | Hunter Gaddis | CLE | 26 |
17 | Tanner Scott | SD | 30 |
16 | Clay Holmes | NYY | 32 |
15 | Robert Suarez | SD | 34 |
14 | Ryan Walker | SF | 29 |
13 | Andres Munoz | SEA | 26 |
12 | Alexis Diaz | CIN | 28 |
11 | Raisel Iglesias | ATL | 35 |
Coming Into Their Own
Michael Kopech, Hunter Gaddis and Lucas Erceg are three relievers to really watch. For Kopech and Erceg, a change of scenery proved to be hugely beneficial for them. In his first season as a fulltime reliever, Kopech started the 2024 season with the White Sox and his performance in Chicago was not better than the rest of the team as he had a 4.74 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 43 appearances. When the Dodgers traded for him, Kopech was a new man on the mound. In 24 appearances he had 6 saves with a 1.13 ERA and 0.79 WHIP.
Like Kopech, Erceg started the season with a different team before going on to shine for a new team after the trade deadline. Erceg start the year in Oakland and was doing a solid job as he had a 3.68 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate. After being traded to the Royals he became the team’s closer and finished the year with 11 saves in 23 appearances with a 2.88 ERA and 11.2 K/9 rate.
Gaddis is a very important member of a dominate Cleveland bullpen. Unlike many of the relievers featured in these rankings, Gaddis does not blow the ball past hitters as he had a 8.0 K/9 rate, but that is a big jump from the 5.1 K/9 rate he had in 2023 when he appeared in 11 games with seven of those being starts. Gaddis ranked fifth in the majors with 33 holds and posted a 1.57 ERA and 0.76 WHIP and I believe he should be able to duplicate those numbers over the next several seasons.
Close to Being Tier 1
Andres Munoz could be closer to the top of the Tier 1 group this time next season. In three seasons with Seattle covering 199 appearances he has a 2.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 271 strikeouts in 197 innings of work. While he records lots of strikeouts (95th percentile in K% and 99th percentile in Whiff%), he also induces a lot of ground balls, ranking in the 92nd percentile.
Reds closer Alexis Diaz didn’t have his best season in 2024 as he had a 3.99 ERA and 1.30 WHIP to go with his 28 saves. But in three years in the majors he has a 2.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 10/8 K/9 rate. I consider this season to be more of a blip and than a trend, especially since the xBA ranked in the 87th percentile.
TIER 1
RANK | PLAYER | 2024 TEAM | AGE |
---|---|---|---|
10 | Griffin Jax | MIN | 30 |
9 | Edwin Diaz | NYM | 31 |
8 | Bryan Abreu | HOU | 27 |
7 | Jhoan Duran | MIN | 27 |
6 | Josh Hader | HOU | 31 |
5 | Ryan Helsley | STL | 30 |
4 | Felix Bautista | BAL | 29 |
3 | Devin Williams | MIL | 30 |
2 | Emmanuel Clase | CLE | 27 |
1 | Mason Miller | OAK | 26 |
Two Non-Closers
Ranked in my top 10 are two setup men – Bryan Abreu of Houston and Griffin Jax of Minnesota. On most teams these two players would be closers, but with the Twins and Astros, they are just dominate setup men.
Jax has been a very good reliever since 2022, but he went to a new level this past season. In 72 appearances he recorded 24 holds and 10 saves to go with a 2.03 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and a 12.0 K/9 rate while walking only 1.9 batters per nine innings. His walk% ranked in the 89th percentile while he was in the 97th percentile or higher in xERA, xBA, Chase%, Whiff% and K%.
Abreu has been one of the top setup men in baseball the past two years. After recording 24 holds and five saves with a 1.75 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 2023, the big right-hander led baseball with 38 holds with a 3.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. In 78.1 innings of work he struck out 103 hitters
Back to the Closers
Josh Hader had a very interesting debut season for the Astros. Overall, he had 34 saves and a 13.3 K/9 rate to go with a 3.80 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 71 innings of work. When called on to close games, Hader was outstanding. In his 38 saves opportunities, he had a 2.27 ERA and 0.73 WHIP to go with a 12.1K/9 rate. But in non-save situations, Hader was horrible, posting a 5.34 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 35.1 innings of work. A lot of ugliness came in April when the Astros as a team struggled. Hader appeared in 13 games, and only three of those were in save opportunities. In those 13 April games he had a 6.39 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. The rest of the season he had a 3.24 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP.
The Cardinals may have struggled on the field, but it wasn’t due to a leaky bullpen. I already mentioned Romero and Kittredge, and then there is Ryan Helsley. He notched 49 saves this season to lead the majors with a 2.04 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. His worst ERA since 2021 is a 2.45 mark in 2023 and his worst WHIP since that year was the one he posted this year. Helsley is consistent and that is hard to find in closers.
So Hader was a little Jekyll and Hyde on the mound this past season as he as great in save opportunities and horrid in non-save opportunities. But that is no reason to not want to have Hader on your team. He still strikes out a ton of hitters, limits his walks and hits allowed and will rack up the saves for you – a category that is hard to find consistent closers.
You may be surprised to see Felix Bautista ranked fourth. Well, as I said, these are dynasty rankings and not based solely on what a player did this year. This year was a bust for Bautista as he missed the entire season recovering Tommy John surgery. When healthy, Bautista is one of the top closers in the game. In two seasons with Baltimore he has accumulated 48 saves with a 1.85 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 14.1 K/9 ratio over 126.2 innings. He should be fully healthy in 2025 and ready to be a top closer again.
The Top Three
Devin Williams was limited to 22 games this season thanks to two stress fractures in his back that sidelined him until late July. When back on the mound for the Brewers, Williams was his dominant self. He had 14 saves in 15 opportunities with a 1.25 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with a 15.8 K/9 rate. His career ERA in six seasons is 1.83 with a WHIP of 1.02 and a 14.3 K/9 rate. If you wanted to argue that he should be the top ranked reliever, I really couldn’t argue with you.
For three straight seasons Emmanuel Clase has led American League in saves. Since breaking in with the Rangers in 2019 before joining the Guardians in 2021, Clase has a 1.67 ERA and 0.89 WHIP and 158 saves in 318 innings of work. This past season he had a 0.61 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 47 saves in 74.1 innings. He limits walks and good luck getting a hit off him. Clase’s only “shortcoming” is the fact he has a career K/9 rate of 8.7.
So why, with those numbers, is Clase not my top-ranked reliever. Well, you can thank Mason Miller for that.
Whether he pitches for Oakland, Sacramento or Las Vegas, Miller is a reliever I want on my team. The numbers he put this season are simply ridiculous. In 65 innings of work he struck out 104 batters for a 14.4 K/9 rate. His xERA (1.76) , xBA (.151) and fastball velocity (100.9 mph) ranked in the 100th percentile. Oh, his Whiff% (40.1) and K% (41.8) also ranked in the 100th percentile. His Chase% only ranked in the 99th percentile.
He didn’t register tons of saves, but that through no fault of his own. As the Athletics improve, so too will Miller’s saves total.
Come Back Next Week
Thanks for reading and come back next week for the 2025 Top Dynasty Keepers – Starting Pitchers rankings.
Good piece.
I think you’re a little high on Brash. Anybody coming off Tommy John is suspect to a dip in velocity and especially a loss of control. Usually takes a year to get the control back. I also get the feeling that by the fact he throws it so hard every pitch that this is probably just the first of many injuries to come.
I’m impressed with your knowledge on Abreu. Most would never realize how good he really is. Hat tip to you sir.
I understand what you are saying about Brash, but that dip is often when they first return. But the velo often returns to its previous levels (for some a little faster) once fully recovered and pitching regularly. But even if his velo dips a bit, going from 98 to maybe 96 mph, as long as his slider is still nasty, he is still going to be hard to hit. As for his control, that has never been a strong suit for him!
As for Abreu, thanks. Dude has a great fastball and his slider is simply filthy.
As always, thanks for reading and the comments.
I’m assuming Tyler Holton was left off due to a lower strikeout total and only 28 Sv+Hd, but damn, an ERA of 2.15 & WHIP of 0.82 over 179.2 innings the past two years. If he were put in more high leverage situations going forward, where would he fall in your list?
In my rankings, I had Holton at 60, but once you get into the 60s and 70s, you are talking about a lot of interchangeable pitchers. Holton will likely remain in the bullpen, though he has starting experience at Florida State and in the minors. But you kind of summed it up – great ERA and WHIP, but low saves + holds. Is there a chance he gets into more leverage situations next year? Without question. But for a keeper, are you going to take a roster spot on him if you have other relievers who you know will get those holds and/or saves? Probably not. Thus, the reason why I had him outside my top 50.
Liam Hendriks is returning next Spring, shouldn’t he make the list with Jansen on the way out of Boston?
I think the Red Sox will after someone else first (free agency or even a trade if not internally) to compete with Hendricks for the closer’s role. I’m not sold that he simply slides into that role as he will be 36 and perhaps the Sox want someone younger to fill that role. But I can’t argue with your point. He is proven and old closers are still as effective as the young closers.
It is kind of amazing how young Clase still is. He won’t be 27 until spring training, and is only 5 months older than Mason Miller!
Given the risk that Miller goes back to a starter role, I do not think I could put him ahead of Clase.
I don’t think Miller goes back to starting. Just my opinion, obviously, and why I have him ranked first. The A’s moved him to the pen and have kept there, and I believe that is because that is where they think he is best suited.
In his six starts out of 65 career appearances, his K/9 rate is 10.0 with a 4.1 BB/9 rate. But in the bullpen his K/9 rate is 14.0 with a 3.16 BB/9 rate. He has just been better in the pen as he can concentrate on just blowing the ball past hitters!
If he does go back to being a starter, he would still be a very nice pitcher to have. I just don’t think that will happen. Of course, that means he will be their Opening Day starter in 2025.
Love the in-depth analysis.
Ben Joyce? LAA? Oversight? Or no like at all?
I wouldn’t say oversight, certainly not in the “no like at all”. His fastball is off the charts, but that said, how does he have only an 8.6 K/9 rate this year and 8.7 rate for his brief career. And the 3.6 BB/9 rate is not great. I should have listed him in the Just Missed paragraph. Certainly a player to like, could have easily been in the Tier 5 group. If you like young arms a lot, then even a Tier 3 player. I just don’t fully trust young relievers.
That said, thanks for reading and thanks for bringing him up.
Porter Hodge at 42. I would put him in the 9-15 range. Lights out down the stretch and swing and miss stuff. Appears to be Cubs closer? Appreciate your thoughts.
Yeah, Hodge is literally the youngest guy on this list (he won’t be 24 until February), seems to have the Cubs closer job, and certainly looked the part the last couple months of the season.
I suspect the reason he is not ranked higher is that his fastball is a good but not overwhelming (for a reliever) 95.5 mph, concerns about his control (pretty consistently high walk rates in the minors) and worries that an unsustainable .189 BABIP this season greased the wheels of his success. Still, I’d much rather take a chance on him in dynasty leagues than many of the guys ahead of him. I would not put him in the 9-15 range, but I would definitely slide him in the top 30 ahead of guys like Chapman and Robertson.
As I said in my response to Turn Two, I do not put all my eggs into one basket when it comes to young relievers. This is the one position in which I give more weight to experience/age. I obviously like Hodge as I have him ranked. But he has 39 games of MLB experience with a 4.0 BB/9 rate. It was 4.8 during his minor league career. Until he gets that down closer to 3.0 or lower, I am not naming him the closer of the future for the Cubs with a lot of confidence. Great arm to go after, but not ahead of other established relievers, in my opinion. But that is just my opinion and if you disagree, that is perfectly fine. I hope this list is a starting point for you and others.
Thanks for reading.
Where does Puk fall on this list? What about Kerkering? I am in an NL only 5×5 dynasty.. have them both currently, but would need to decide in spring on keepers. I see you listed 2 or 3 teammates ahead of them.
Thanks!
Puk was outstanding with the Diamondbacks down the stretch, but for his career he has just been another reliever. If you don’t keep Puk, there is another pitcher like him on the free agent wire. Good for a few saves, get some holds. He certainly has more value in an NL only league, I will admit that. But I think Justin Martinez and even Ginkel get first chance at saves with Sewald likely headed elsewhere.
I have Kerkering in two of my leagues but with so many arms out there, he obviously didn’t make my list. Perhaps that is an oversight as he is young with a lot of upside. He earned 14 holds this year and should compete for the closer’s role but has not been given many chances yet.
The reliever position is the only one in which I give weight to experience and age. Too many young relievers have been the “closers of the future” only to flame out while the old vets just keep doing their job. But if choosing between Puk and Kerkering, I’m going with Orion every day.
Thanks for reading.
Thoughts on Seth Halvorson, Edgardo Henriquez Jesus Tinoco and Hunter Bigee…any saves here for 2025? Does Dovel reclaim his roll as closer? Thank you!
Any time your fastball averages 100 mph, you have my attention. But it is hard to give a lot of love to a pitcher who has appeared in only 12 games, and despite that fastball, he had only 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings. However, really great control to go with his nasty split-finger.
Henriquez certainly has the stuff to be a closer with his fastball and slider. He flew through the Dodgers’ system this year and they are obviously high on him. But there are a lot of good arms in LA, so to say he is a closer in waiting may be a stretch. But there could be a lot of holds in his future with some saves sprinkled in.
Bigge is pretty old for a rookie as he is 26. I think there are too many other arms on the Rays staff to get a ton of saves but he should be good for holds.
If I had a “players to watch” paragraph, these pitchers would be in that list.
Tinoco will be 30 years old for most of next season. He walks too many hitters and I don’t like his career K/9 rate. To me he is just another reliever.
As for Doval, I ranked him 30th because I believe he will regain the closer’s role next season. He may not get all of the saves, but when not recording those he will add holds, making him a valuable reliever still.
Thanks for reading and the questions.
SAVES GOT NO FACE :p
dynasty : keeping Jhoan Duran – Raisel Iglesias – Tanner Scott
dropped Muñoz who had some crashes during the season – Scott has better overall stats
i’m high on Uceta for 25′ even for some HoldsSAVES GOT NO FACE :p
dynasty : keeping Jhoan Duran – Raisel Iglesias – Tanner Scott
dropped Muñoz who had some crashes during the season – Scott has better overall stats
i’m high on Uceta for 25′ even for some Holds
thanks for the good job,, will be useful
RP help a lot for ERA when your SPs are “balloooning”
Every closer hits a speed bump during the season – or seemingly every closer. Munoz was one of those. But I love his stuff. Good list of keepers you have there. Solid start to a great bullpen.