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What’s poppin, Razzpimples?

Back in the saddle for another year of bullpen coverage, folks! [Insert obligatory “wow, can’t believe it’s baseball season again, it all goes by so fast” introductory sentence here].

Wanted to start by apologizing for ending last year sooner than planned…wife broke her ankle in two places the very day before school started, and things just got too crazy. Two young kids, I’m a teacher myself, wife couldn’t do hardly anything, yadda yadda. It was a doozy, but we made it. Same could be said for what it feels like to cover bullpens over the course of a full baseball season!

I like to start off my new season coverage every year with a “Who’s Who and Who’s Where” kind of deal. I’ll do a quick snapshot of every single team’s bullpen and who matters from a fantasy perspective. Buckle up, bucko!

Don’t forget to keep that there Razzball Bullpen Chart bookmarked. It’s been updated with the latest, and I’m usually quick to get it touched up once any type of news drops. And if you’re not a subscriber, I do highly, highly, highly recommend it. If’n you’re of the mind to consider it, you can find all the info here. I’m partial to the Relievonator Game Log Tool. So, so dope.

Welp. That’s enough of that. Let’s do it to it, pardner.

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Los Angeles Angels

The Angels did a massive overhaul in their pen. Pretty much everyone back there is new, and I’m counting Robert Stephenson in that mix because we’ve barely seen him in a Halos uniform. Kirby Yates, Jordan Romano, and Drew Pomeranz joined the club and might vie for high-leverage work. That’s because Ben Joyce is hurt. For now, my money is on Yates and Stephenson to matter for fantasy purposes until Joyce is back. Not exactly sure when that’d be, either, and it remains to be seen if he’d still be a strikeout machine after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Houston Astros

Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu remain atop the hierarchy. Bryan King broke out last year (29 SVHD, 2.78 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 69 K) and figures to provide nice holds value once again, as Houston hasn’t added anyone that could usurp him.

[Las Vegas] Athletics

After Miller left, this pen became pretty useless, and useless it remains heading into 2026. Is Hogan Harris, Justin Sterner, or Mark Leiter Jr. the favorite for saves? Maybe even Scott Barlow? Don’t really know, don’t really care right now. I’m just gonna draft better than putting myself in a situation where I have to consider one of them.

Seattle Mariners

The only noteworthy addition is Jose Ferrer, who was fantasy-worthy in his own right on the terrible Nationals. Now he’s on a World Series contender. Won’t leapfrog ahead of Andres Munoz and Matt Brash, of course, but there are always plenty of holds to go around in Seattle. Gabe Speier had a quietly badass 2025 year, so I wonder how Ferrer’s presence impacts him. If you ask me, it shouldn’t, because Speier cooked: 27 SVHD, 2.61 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 33.7 K%, 4.5 BB%, 14 SwStr%, 31.4 CSW%. The ERA predictors (FIP and SIERA) were both better than his actual ERA, by the way. Ferrer also had a better predicted ERA than actual, and his walk rate is just as good. Just comes with fewer K.

Texas Rangers

Alexis Diaz went from budget, borderline elite closer to a no-name journeyman. He’s now in Texas and could figure into the saves mix. I don’t trust him to get there, though. Robert Garcia is still the favorite for now. I can’t quit my fantasy man-crush on Chris Martin either, but I gotta admit he’s probably not worth the injury risk headache.

 

Cleveland Guardians

Just a reminder: do not draft Emmanuel Clase. He’s not a galaxy brain move. He’s in another galaxy altogether. The one where he’s not going to play baseball ever again. Cade Smith is the closer, and he should be a great one. Hunter Gaddis should be setting him. Shawn Armstrong is a Guardian now and is coming off an extremely strong 2025, where he posted elite ratios with good metrics to back them up. Erik Sabrowski had a mini breakout but also a walk rate over 17%. Guy’s got nasty stuff and could be a force if he can harness it a little better. Historically, the Guards provide lots of SVHD. Gaddis and Armstrong figure to see the bulk behind Smith, who could be every bit as elite as peak Clase was (except with better K upside).

Kansas City Royals

One big addition for the Royals pen: Matt Strahm. Last year wasn’t as dominant as 2024, but he was still very good and will be in a position to be a fantasy boon. Carlos Estevez and Lucas Erceg are, of course, the other two fantasy relevant names here. I got an inkling Strahm overshadows Erceg sooner rather than later.

Detroit Tigers

Kenley Jansen keeps on keepin’ on, don’t he? He’s a Tiger now and will be their closer. That bumps down Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest to setup duties. Jansen looked almost like his vintage self last year, only blowing one save, which kept him from reaching the 30 SV milestone. He would have been the ninth closer to hit that mark in 2025.

Minnesota Twins

Messy situation on a poopy team. Another case of “don’t draft yourself into this crapshoot if you can help it.” Taylor Rogers and Liam Hendriks have rejoined the Twins and by pure default, could be in the late-inning mix. I don’t trust Hendriks as far as I could push him away with a strong fart, but I do think Rogers has the potential to take the closer role and run with it.

Chicago White Sox

Seranthony Dominguez signed with the White Sox back in January, and he figures to jump right into full-time closing duties. Or at least into full-time highest-leverage duties, which is why I’ve still got an asterisk next to his name, along with Jordan Leasure. But I’ll say this: I’d draft Dominguez late in SV-only; I would not bother with Leasure.

 

Toronto Blue Jays

Tyler Rogers joins the Blue Jays fray. Was an absolute holds monster in San Francisco, then he joined the Mets last year and was doo doo. I think he’ll do just fine in Toronto. Only question is does he get more high-leverage opps than Yimi Garcia, who couldn’t stay healthy last year but who also still has pretty high upside when he can. Jeff Hoffman remains a high-end closer in my book.

Baltimore Orioles

Another team with a new closer is the Orioles, who landed Ryan Helsley. Oh, Ryan, my love! I wish thee well. Dude was traaaaaash as a Met. Mighta been tipping pitches. Says he’s got it figured out, and I trust him. Still believe there’s immense upside here from a fantasy POV. Might not be the 100 K threat he was in STL, but there’s still 40+ SV and, what, 70-80 K potential here? On the holds side, Andrew Kittredge joins his ex-Cardinals buddy. I like him a lot more than I like Keegan Akin.

Tampa Bay Rays

This bullpen looks like the 2025 version. We’ve got Griffin Jax, Edwin Uceta, and Garrett Cleavinger all in the mix for fantasy relevancy. I am still very, very, very, very high on Jax. I love him. He got destroyed at times last year, but the metrics are just so tantalizing! The guy has amassed 194 K over the last two seasons. The barrels got to him in 2025. The stuff, though. The stuff. It’s so good. Whiffs and chases for days. Uceta also started rough, realllllly rough, and turned things around by the end. How does a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 103 K sound? Not too bad, eh? SIERA shaved almost a full 100 points off his ERA. His SwStr% was among the very, very best. I’m still all in on Uceta in SVHD formats. Cleavinger was also fantastic (33.7 K%, 7.4 BB%, 16. SwStr%, 34.3 CSW%). This is a one hell of a trio. EDIT: Seems Uceta is dealing with a “cranky shoulder” that felt worse the longer he played catch…woof. That sounds like a guaranteed IL stint to start the year, with probably more bad news eventually. Jax and Cleavinger probably take the lead here, with Bryan Baker potentially stepping up as well.

Boston Red Sox

Aroldis Chapman showed he’s still got a whole helluva lot left in that tank. He’ll get every chance to do all that again. Boston hasn’t added anyone of note, so Garrett Whitlock is the setup man you want, and Justin Slaten still figures to be a solid option in deeper holds formats.

New York Yankees

Luke Weaver is gone, so that opens the for Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval to battle it out for main setup duties. Cruz takes the cake there, for my money. David Bednar morphed back into the high-end closer he was in his peak Pirates days. No reason to think he can’t do it again. Metrics rivaled the game’s best.

 

Arizona Diamondbacks

A.J. Puk sounds like he might miss a couple months still, but he’ll be back way before Justin Martinez should be on anyone’s radar. For now, I guess Kevin Ginkel leads the charge for saves since Andrew Saalfrank will be out. Or maybe Paul Sewald does, now that he’s a D-Back again. Or maybe…eh, this is like the A’s and the Twins: just draft better so you don’t have to worry about this. Puk is a fine late grab-and-stash.

Los Angeles Dodgers

“Biiiig changes here. Because, of course, the Dodgers went out and got the best reliever on the market.” This is how I began the Dodgers section of the 2025 edition of this post. Welp, ditto! They went and did it again. Edwin Diaz will wear Dodger blue and be one of the best closers in fantasy probably. I still don’t hate Tanner Scott in SVHD despite his disappointing 2025 season. After that, give me Alex Vesia.

San Francisco Giants

No new faces have joined from an acquisition perspective, but from a “maybe you haven’t heard of this guy” perspective, might wanna keep Joel Peguero on your radar in SVHD leagues. Ryan Walker enters as the de facto closer, so he’s the guy you want in SV formats.

San Diego Padres

With Robert Suarez outta the way, Mason Miller marches into 2026 as probably everyone’s favorite to be the #1 RP. There’s absolutely nothing not to like about him anymore. He’ll get every save in San Diego and should have some of the best ratios and probably the most strikeouts for a reliever. Even with the walk rate jumping to 12% last year, he ended with a 0.91 WHIP and 104 K. In SVHD, you still want Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon, at least until Jason Adam is back. He might not miss too much at the start of the year after all, but it’s still up in the air. He’s a high-end grab-and-stash in SVHD leagues.

Colorado Rockies

No new names in Colorado. So if you want a Rockies RP, just take Victor Vodnik I suppose.

 

Milwaukee Brewers

Nothing new in Milwaukee either. Does Abner Uribe get the saves after being one of the best RP in baseball last year, or does Tylor Megill take back over after being one of the handful of guys to reach 30 SV? Uribe was inarguably better last year. Still doesn’t answer the question. Maybe he gets highest-leverage, whatever the situation calls for. Whatever the case, I want both in SVHD. Upside is high.

St. Louis Cardinals

The departure of Helsley to the Mets last year paved the way for JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien to see save chances. Then Matt Svanson kinda became a thing in SVHD leagues. I actually like all three to different extents for SVHD. It’s hard to peg who might lead the team in saves, but I’d go with O’Brien if you made me pick one. Romero is definitely third wheel to me in a vacuum, but Marmol seems to like him and that could mean plenty of SVHD still come his way. Oh yeah, former Razorback and sometimes-SVHD-relevant veteran reliever Ryne Stanek was added. He might be a thing…probably won’t be.

Chicago Cubs

Hunter Harvey and Phil Maton are now Cubs. Figure they’re the top two setup men behind 2025 breakout closer Daniel Palencia. Healthy Harvey is very good, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Shelby Miller signed on as well and could feasibly enter setup mix.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery joined the Bucs pen. Remember the hype on Montgomery last year? Didn’t quiiiite pan out. Change of scenery might just do the trick. Dennis Santana was excellent last year and could be this year’s Emilio Pagan as Pittsburgh’s full-time closer. He’s one I want no matter the format.

Cincinnati Reds

Said in last year’s post how I liked Diaz/Rogers/Barlow more than I liked Emilio Pagan. Didn’t even mention Tony Santillan. Hindsight is 20/20, right? Both were fantastic last year for fantasy purposes. 40 SVHD from Santillan! 32 SV for Pagan! Those two will look to pick up where they left off. Deeper formats might see Graham Ashcraft doing some work.

 

Atlanta Braves

Robert Suarez took his talents to Atlanta, where he’ll be primary setup for Raisel Iglesias. After that, we’ve got Dylan Lee. No one else matters in this pen. All three are strong SVHD options.

Miami Marlins

Pete Fairbanks is now a Marlin, so he should be the full-time closer like he was for the other team in Florida. Don’t know that I care enough to roster the likes of Calvin Faucher and/or Anthony Bender and/or Andrew Nardi for holds. I’d take Crazy Eyes Pete and leave everyone else. I love me some Ronny Henriquez, but sadly, we won’t see him in 2026.

New York Mets

Devin Williams was a mostly failed experiment for the Yankees. We’ll see how he does for the cross-town rival Mets. Luke Weaver also went from the Yanks to the Mets. Figure A.J. Minter is the primary setup to Williams when healthy. Yeah, he’s hurt again, and will probably miss up to a month, if not more. Weaver should be primary setup in the interim, but don’t count out a healthy Brooks Raley. That guy always finds a way to chug holds when he’s able to pitch, and Minter’s injury could mean plenty of late-inning lefty-specialist work for Mr. Raley.

Washington Nationals

Woof. Another bullpen I’d just avoid at all costs. If you gotta have one, I guess go with Clayton Beeter? Most upside probably, given his 11.7 K/9 in 2025.

Philadelphia Phillies

Brad Keller is in Philly now, and I wager he’s the top setup option for Jhoan Duran now that Strahm is a Royal. I don’t have a lot of faith in Orion Kerkering or Jose Alvarado at this point. They could prove me wrong.

 

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. Leave me a comment below so I feel all warm and fuzzy.

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