2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Relief Pitchers

In our eighth rankings series of the year, we’ll look at relief pitchers:

2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Legalese, etc.

Each of these rankings will follow the same format. We’ll review the top performers at the position in 2014 and 2013, then reveal rankings based on a tier system. We’ll discuss the position in general and the trends of the position. Lastly, I’ll discuss where the Braves player at the position would rank. To qualify at a position, a player must have 15 games played at the position in 2014. I’ll mention any other positions a player will qualify for as well.

Top Fantasy Relief Pitchers 2014/2013

2014 top 10 (in order): Greg Holland, Craig Kimbrel, Zach Britton, Francisco Rodriguez, Huston Street, Garrett Richards, Jonathan Papelbon, Mark Melancon, Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman, Tanner Roark, David Robertson, Dellin Betances, Joe Smith, Koji Uehara
2013 top 10 (in order): Craig Kimbrel, Greg Holland, Hisashi Iwakuma, Joe Nathan, Koji Uehara, Kenley Jansen, Mariano Rivera, Aroldis Chapman, Glen Perkins, Jim Johnson, Sergio Romo, Steve Cishek, Shelby Miller, Addison Reed, Kris Medlen

2015 Relief Pitching: Tier One

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta – Only argument about his top ranking is whether he’ll be able to save enough games in 2015.
Greg Holland, Kansas City – Really only behind Kimbrel in reputation as their numbers are strikingly similar.
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati – Hard thrower recovered from a scary spring training ball to the head to have a great season when healthy.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers – Got BABIP’d to death in the first half of the season, but second half was astoundingly good.

2015 Relief Pitching: Tier Two

David Robertson, Chicago White Sox – Established himself such in one season of closing for the Yankees that he was the most sought-after offseason free agent reliever.
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis – Hard thrower who had some ups and downs due to his control.
Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh – Took over for Jason Grilli and never looked back in 2014.
Sean Doolittle, Oakland – Will not be ready for opening day, or he’d be in the first tier.  Incredible control with great strikeout numbers.
Dellin Betances, New York Yankees – One of the most valuable relievers in baseball last year without being a closer.  With Robertson gone, he should have the closer job as well.

2015 Relief Pitching: Tier Three

Glen Perkins, Minnesota – As of August 24th, he had a 2.44 ERA but finished with a 3.65 ERA, so don’t let the final number over-influence you.
Koji Uehara, Boston – Like Perkins, had a horrible end to the season.  His job may be on a shorter leash, however.
Cody Allen, Cleveland – Took over the full-time closing job in 2014 and ran with it. Does have a habit of losing his control at times, so be aware.
Steve Cishek, Miami – If he weren’t in Miami, everyone would know his name.  He’s been on the trade block often, so people in baseball know his talent.
Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia – Has continued to produce good numbers with reduced velocity, but his strikeout numbers are no longer high-end.
Jake McGee, Tampa Bay – Lefty with crazy stuff, but control struggles at times.  May be part of a bullpen by committee.

2015 Relief Pitching: Tier Four

Zach Britton, Baltimore – Pitched well enough to be much higher, but has a very real threat to his job if he struggles at all in Tommy Hunter.
Huston Street, Los Angeles Angels – Same as Britton with Joe Smith in the Angels bullpen.
Drew Storen, Washington – Moving Tyler Clippard has likely left Storen more stable in the closer role in Washington, but there are still rumors that the Nationals are looking for more late-inning surety.
Francisco Rodriguez – Unsigned at this time, but there are still plenty of roles open, and he’s been one to grab a job midseason lately as well.
Fernando Rodney, Seattle – Control goes in and out, and has a very deep bullpen behind him, so he could have a short leash.

2015 Relief Pitching: Tier Five

Andrew Miller, New York Yankees – Arguably the best overall reliever on the market this offseason.  He will likely pitch as the lead setup man to Betances, though he could be in a “platoon” situation.
Joaquin Benoit, San Diego – Long time setup man did well as closer after Street was traded, but he has a deep bullpen behind him.
Ken Giles, Philadelphia – Has closer stuff in the setup role currently behind Papelbon, but with Papelbon’s constant place on the trading block, Giles has some high value.
Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo, San Francisco – Similar pitchers. Casilla stepped in effectively when Romo struggled midseason in 2014. Wait on whomever has the closer job as they’d rank similar.
Addison Reed, Arizona – Impressive stuff and K-rate, but home run rate kills him.  If he can get that down to (or under) 1 HR/9, he’ll be much more valuable.
Joe Nathan, Detroit – One of the absolute best closers in 2013 and one of the worst in 2014.  We’ll see what 2015 comes to.

2015 Relief Pitching: Braves Fantasy Review

Kimbrel is the best closer in baseball currently, but if the worst were to happen, the Braves are seemingly well-stocked behind him.  This offseason brought in Jim Johnson and Jason Grilli, two former closers looking for an opportunity to re-establish their value.  The Braves also have one of the better-regarded relief prospects in Shae Simmons.  This offseason also brought a trade for Arodys Vizcaino, who in the bullpen was absolutely dynamite.  There could be multiple options worth owning if Kimbrel were no longer in the role.

2015 Relief Pitching: Position Review

While closers often outscore all but the absolute stud starting pitchers in fantasy, relief pitchers in general have a short shelf life, so your elite closer in 2014 may be terrible in 2015 and out of the league in 2016.  This is why most fantasy analysts will tell you not to overdraft or overspend on closers as relief talent comes into the league.  One of the things in a deep league is to look for those guys with great strikeout rates and strikeout-to-walk ratios that are not in closer roles and stash those guys.  I’ve won my share of leagues without a single closer on my team because the relievers I did have gave me plenty of good ratios and strikeouts.