Top 10 Relievers for 2025
Who do you trust when it matters the most?
Note: As always, I am factoring in all factors, such as age, pedigree, current situation, and past performance, for these rankings!
10) Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers {30}
All-Star (2024)
I would have been canceled if I didn’t include a Dodger. Scott was an All-Star in 2024, and we should expect more of the same in 2025. Scott will get the first looks at the closing role in Los Angeles, but that bullpen is loaded!
This is, in fact, the only concern I have when it comes to Scott. The Los Angeles bullpen has so much closing experience. Guys like Kirby Yates, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Michael Kopech can all take a save here and there away from him during the season.
2024 - 72 G | 22 SV | 1.75 ERA | 72 IP | 84 K | 10.5 SO9 | 1.13 WHIP | 4.0 WAR
Career - 383 G | 55 SV | 3.56 ERA | 368.2 IP | 486 K | 11.9 SO9 | 1.36 WHIP | 8.7 WAR
9) Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins {27}
If you look at Duran’s career, 2024 was the outlier in terms of efficiency. It was a career-worst in ERA, WHIP, SO9, and ER for Duran. He attacks with a 3-pitch mix, which consists of a Four-seamer (40.7%), Split Finger (31.4%), and Curveball (27.8%). This balanced approach is an excellent attribute to his game. In 2024, his Whiff% was north of 21%, and PutAway% was 22% or greater for all three of these pitchers. He just keeps the batters guessing about what is coming next.
The big thing that concerns me about Duran is that Griffin Jax is awaiting his turn in the setup role. My mind tells me the Twins are going to have a longer leash with Duran compared to other teams and their closing situations based on the body of work, but Jax is no joke to get into the saves mix at some point.
2024 - 58 G | 23 SV | 3.64 ERA | 54.1 IP | 66 K | 10.9 SO9 | 1.16 WHIP | 0.2 WAR
Career - 174 G | 58 SV | 2.59 ERA | 184.1 IP | 239 K | 11.7 SO9 | 1.09 WHIP | 4.9 WAR
8) Edwin Diaz - New York Mets {30}
ROY-5 (2016)
All-Star (2018 & 2022)
CYA-8 (2018) & CYA-9 (2022)
MVP-18 (2018) & MVP-16 (2022)
Diaz can easily find himself at the top of this list after the season. He was an animal during the 2018 & 2022 seasons. He missed all of 2023 due to surgery to repair a patellar tendon tear. Understood, he pitched all last year, and we have 54 games worth of data, but I am going to look at this as I do with fantasy football.
I buy big on super-talented players with knee injuries in year two of their recovery. I know this isn’t football, but the idea stays the same. Diaz is only 30 years old and is closing for a loaded Mets lineup. Who is betting against him having less than 30 saves in 2025?
2024 - 54 G | 20 SV | 3.52 ERA | 53.2 IP | 84 K | 14.1 SO9 | 1.04 WHIP | 0.5 WAR
Career - 458 G | 225 SV | 3.00 ERA | 453 IP | 741 K | 14.7 SO9 | 1.060 WHIP | 10.9 WAR
7) Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves {35}
CYA-11 (2021)
Mr. Reliable. Iglesias has recorded 28 Saves or more in six of the last eight seasons. Factor in that we also had a COVID season during this run. This accomplishment is rather impressive. He is 35 but has been excellent for the Braves in his last three seasons. Atlanta is going to give him plenty of opportunities to accumulate saves once again.
I don’t expect a challenger to emerge for the closer role, but this is baseball, so you never know. Iglesias also dropped YoY from 2023 to 2024, with his SO9 dropping from 11.0 to 8.8. Something to take note of but no cause for a major concern. I have drafted Iglesias multiple times throughout the years in fantasy baseball, and he typically doesn’t disappoint!
2024 - 66 G | 34 SV | 1.95 ERA | 69.1 IP | 68 K | 8.8 SO9 |1.07 WHIP | 2.9 WAR
Career - 530 G | 224 SV | 2.87 ERA | 668.2 IP | 796 K | 10.7 SO9 | 1.252 WHIP | 17.6 WAR
6) Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals {30}
All-Star (2022 & 2024)
CYA-12 (2022) & CYA-9 (2024)
Is Ryan Helsley the only thing that the Cardinals have going for them right now? All jokes aside, Helsley is disgusting. He attacks with a three pitch mix consisting of a Slider (48.3%), Four Seamer (45.4%), and Curveball (6.3%). Just to let the record show, his Four Seamer came across the plate at an average of 99.6 MPH in 2024, and this was his worst pitch by both Whiff% & PutAway% according to Baseball Savant.
Helsley is in line to close for St. Louis and should see 100% of the save opportunities (if available). He was All-MLB First Team in 2024, and I expect more of the same in 2025. The good news is the Cardinals should be better than 2024, hopefully giving Helsley more save opportunities.
2024 - 65 G | 49 SV | 2.04 ERA | 263.2 IP | 79 K | 10.7 SO9 | 1.10 WHIP | 3.0 WAR
Career - 239 G | 2.63 ERA | 263.2 IP | 314 K | 10.7 SO9 | 1.096 WHIP | 7.2 WAR
5) Felix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles {29}
All-Star (2023)
CYA-11
Bautista might be the most physically imposing player on this list. Standing at 6’8” and weighing 280 pounds, this guy is a monster on the mound. Bautista was widely considered the best reliever in the game before his Tommy John surgery back in 2023. He has had an entire year and then some to recover, and I think he is going to come back with a vengeance.
He owns a career 14.1 SO9, which alone is very impressive. In 2023, his SO9 stood at an astounding 16.2. If he recaptures any of his 2023 form, he needs to be included in the top 5 for the 2025 season.
2024 - Did Not Play (Tommy John)
Career - 121 G | 48 SV | 1.85 ERA | 126.2 IP | 198 K | 14.1 SO9 | 0.92 WHIP | 5.4 WAR
4) Mason Miller - Athletics {26}
All-Star (2024)
ROY-4 (2024)
Mason Miller exploded onto the scene in 2024. Twenty-eight saves with Oakland is no easy feat. Not only did he rack up 28 saves, but he did so with elite numbers. He could be moved up on this list during the season, but the other three guys ahead of him have a much longer track record.
The 4-seam fastball is devastating, with the pitch coming in at 100.9 MPH on average. If Miller continues this dominance in 2025, there might be a legitimate argument to rank him #1 heading into 2026. My biggest concern with Miller when being compared to the three guys ahead of him is the amount of save opportunities that he will see compared to the Yankees, Guardians, and Astros.
2024 - 55 G | 28 SV | 2.49 ERA | 65 IP | 104 K | 14.4 SO9 | 0.88 WHIP | 2.4 WAR
Career - 65 G | 28 SV | 2.93 ERA | 98.1 IP | 142 K | 13.0 SO9 | 0.99 WHIP | 3.0 WAR
3) Josh Hader - Houston Astros {30}
All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021-2023)
CYA-7 (2018)
Hader has once been considered the best Closer in the game. He can still take that crown but has some additional company at the top with him. I love the situation for Hader down in Houston, especially now that Pressly has been moved to the Chicago Cubs.
I expect Hader to get most of, if not all of the save opportunities this season. I mean, he did strike out 105 batters across 71 games in 2024. Houston is poised to have another winning campaign in 2025, with a refreshed lineup to take on the American League West.
2024 - 71 G | 34 SV | 3.80 ERA | 71 IP | 105 K | 13.3 SO9 | 0.95 WHIP | 0.6 WAR
Career - 420 G | 199 SV | 2.70 ERA | 459.2 IP | 753 K | 14.7 SO9 | 0.95 WHIP | 12.5 WAR
2) Devin Williams - New York Yankees {30}
All-Star (2022 & 2023)
ROY-1 (2020)
CYA-7 (2020)
MVP-19 (2023)
The Airbender has found himself a new home in New York City! Devin Williams will be pitching in pinstripes this season as he comes to the Yankees via trade for LHP Nestor Cortes & INF prospect Caleb Durbin. The Yankees already had a solid bullpen in 2024 and have drastically improved it this offseason. The most notable addition to this bullpen is Devin Williams. He is an elite strike thrower and owns a career 14.3 SO9. Going against Williams is a brutal at-bat as he attacks the batter with two devastating pitches, his 4-seam Fastball and Changeup.
Williams is in line to close for the Yankees, who will win as many, if not more games than his former club, the Milwaukee Brewers. I am very high on Williams this season and expect him to put up elite numbers once again.
2024 - 22 G | 14 SV | 1.25 ERA | 21.2 IP | 38 K | 15.8 SO9 | 0.969 WHIP | 1.4 WAR
Career - 241 G | 68 SV | 1.83 ERA | 235.2 IP | 375 K | 14.3 SO9 | 1.02 WHIP WHIP | 8.9 WAR
1) Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians {26}
All-Star (2022-2024)
CYA-3 (2024)
MVP-11 (2024)
This one was a no-brainer following Clase’s 2024 campaign. He is only 26 years old and has racked up over 158 career saves! If he can continue putting up numbers like this for two more seasons, he will already be easily in the top-50 MLB Saves Leaders of All Time. Clase is not only elite amongst his peers, he is elite amongst the all-time greats!
The Guardians’ bullpen is one of the best units in all of baseball, and they will be led into battle behind the best Closer in the game. Clase led the league in WHIP and is poised to have another massive season with a contending Guardians team in 2025.
2024 - 74 G | 47 SV | 0.61 ERA | 74.1 IP | 66 K | 8.0 SO9 | 0.66 WHIP | 4.4 WAR
Career - 318 G | 158 SV | 1.67 ERA | 312.2 IP | 302 K | 8.7 SO9 | 0.89 WHIP | 11.5 WAR