Fantasy baseball closer picks Which relievers might benefit from a trade

Baker Mayfield Kirk Cousins team up to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Nobody said life is fair when it comes to investing in relief pitchers for fantasy baseball (or, really, for other matters, too). St. Louis Cardinals RHP Ryan Helsley saved 12 wins in June. The Miami Marlins have 14 saves this season. Texas Rangers RHP Kirby Yates, pitching better than Helsley (and certainly the Marlins), earned only three June saves, and he still has yet to blow a save this season. Opportunity matters, and often it is unpredictable.

The top relief pitchers by WAR in June were Chicago White Sox setup man RHP John Brebbia, Milwaukee Brewers LHP slinger Bryan Hudson and Los Angeles Angels RHP Carlos Estevez, who saved eight wins and issued nary a free pass. He has gone from a 4.4% walk rate in 2023 to walking three hitters all of 2024. Unpredictable is definitely the word, and there is little we can do about it. Estevez may walk three hitters this week. He remains available in 65% of ESPN standard leagues.

Welcome to July, and our latest relief pitcher Stock Watch, and remember that stock might be changing shortly and without warning.

Stock rising Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox: Keep an eye on the Red Sox this month because rumors abound about Jansen's availability, even though the team is a wild-card contender. The Red Sox signed veteran RHP Liam Hendriks to a two-year contract, presuming he would miss this season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but be healthy enough to replace Jansen as the 2025 closer. Hendriks is on the mend and already throwing bullpen sessions, and perhaps we see him pitching in August. It does not mean we should stash him on redraft rosters, though. Jansen produced a stellar June, saving seven wins, allowing one run. It seems unlikely he pitches elsewhere this season, but one never knows. Unpredictable. Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins: Speaking of relievers potentially on the move, Scott turned his season around after a tough start, thanks mainly to controlling the walks, and boasts a sub-1 ERA and WHIP since the start of May. The lefty has saves in his past four appearances, including a pair in Philadelphia this past weekend, but he would obviously have more on a better team. Scott would fit in any contender's bullpen, and let's face it, a few contenders could opt to utilize him in the ninth inning, including the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. Other Marlins may be on the move as well, so do not bother adding setup men such as LHP A.J. Puk or RHP Calvin Faucher to chase what few save chances there may be. Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers: RHP Evan Phillips is still excellent, but occasionally summoned for the opposing team's top hitters in the eighth inning. This is smart behavior, by the way, even as it flummoxes fantasy managers. Managers do not care about our needs. Vesia, 28, an underrated left-hander with relatively even splits during his career, saved one game in each of the past three seasons, but he has four saves this season, half coming in the past two weeks. Vesia probably will not pile on the saves the final three months, but his 1.23 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 33% strikeout rate warrant attention for deeper leagues. Stock falling David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates: Bednar recently hit the injured list with an oblique strain, temporarily stopping what had been a positive two-month run of health, double-digit saves and strong run prevention. The Pirates do not expect a lengthy absence, but we have to at least question durability when a pitcher missed most of spring training with a lat issue, then got hurt again in June. There is no debate about hierarchy when Bednar returns to health, though. LHP Aroldis Chapman has a few saves and myriad strikeouts, but nearly a walk per inning this season. The Pirates may be contenders, so perhaps Bednar and Chapman remain on the team all summer. Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers: OK, hear me out. Megill rocked in June, saving nine wins, permitting one run in 13 appearances. He's doing great. The problem is incumbent closer RHP Devin Williams is on the quicker-than-expected mend from multiple fractures in his back and looking to return right after the All-Star break, which is in two short weeks. There will be no closer controversy here. A healthy Williams will earn the save chances, and despite his long absence, there is little reason to doubt his performance or long-term health. Megill will set him up. Megill can retain some value with run prevention and holds, but if you need saves, thank the surprising Megill for his first-half efforts, but add Williams quickly. Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays: This one is, unfortunately, becoming quite clear, too. Romano continues to experience elbow discomfort while on the injured list for the second time, and he should not be rostered in ESPN redraft formats any longer. He is at 60% rostered. Move on. Toronto's season is a mess. RHP Yimi Garcia is also injured. RHP Chad Green is the closer with little to save recently, and perhaps RHP Nate Pearson gets a shot. Romano's multi-year run as closer keeps him rostered, but that is a mistake.

For more on closers and bullpens, check out the ESPN Fantasy Closer Chart.