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Chasing saves is important to build a well-rounded fantasy baseball team. This not only involves the ability to decipher closing situations en route to a waiver wire gem but also making the right decision on draft day.
Avoiding potential landmines can be just as vital as landing a ninth-inning stud.
In this article, you'll read about 10 relief pitcher targets. This will include top-tier closers like Josh Hader, potential breakouts in a new role like Jeff Hoffman, and speculative plays on next-in-line types like Orion Kerkering. So, without further ado, let's dive into the closer pool for the 2025 fantasy baseball season.
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Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers
Welcome to Day 3 of Whiffmas! I hope all of you are having a wonderful day, today's pitch comes from Trevor Megill and his blazing fastball.
Day 3: (#23) Trevor Megill
4-Seam
115 TimStuff+(min. 300 pitches) pic.twitter.com/kfqEYcrvpC
— Timothy Chen (@TimStats) December 3, 2024
Trevor Megill was terrific as Williams's injury replacement for the bulk of the 2024 season, racking up 21 saves with a 3.31 SIERA and 27.3 percent K%. The Brewers have proven themselves to be among the best when it comes to closers, as they've passed the torch from Hader to Williams and now to Megill.
The risk here is health, as Megill missed some time in spring due to an undisclosed injury, but he's returned to the mound, so take the plunge.
Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays
Jeff Hoffman was elite for the Phillies last season, registering a 2.39 SIERA and 33.6 percent K%. The Blue Jays brought back their former top prospect (who was once the centerpiece of the Troy Tulowitzki trade) to replace Jordan Romano as the clear-cut closer.
Recall that Romano racked up 36 saves in 2022 and 2023. It's clear that this team likes to lean on one guy, which gives Hoffman a high ceiling for 2025. The risk here is health, but it's worth the shot at the current cost.
Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia Phillies
Orion Kerkering, Frisbee Sweeper. 🥏
19 inches of horizontal break. pic.twitter.com/oST0FM6yX4
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 6, 2025
Orion Kerkering posted a 2.71 SIERA and 28.8 percent K% in his age-23 season. While the Phillies signed Romano to a one-year deal worth $8.5 million, the former Blue Jay has had an elbow issue for the past year. Romano looked good and felt healthy in spring, but the injury risk is still high.
Simply put, if Kerkering is forced into the closer role due to a short-term absence from Romano, the 24-year-old may not return the job to Romano.
Jason Adam, San Diego Padres
Jason Adam has closer experience from his time with the Rays, combining for 24 saves from 2022 to 2024. The 33-year-old righty has a 3.20 SIERA or better in four consecutive seasons. There have been rumors that the Padres would be willing to trade current closer Robert Suarez to shed some salary (he can opt-out after the 2025 season).
It's the perfect time for San Diego to cash in their chips on Suarez. If that happens at some point, Adam would slot in as the closer and become a hot waiver wire pickup.
Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners
Andrés Muñoz has put up a 1.74 SIERA (2022) and a 2.94 SIERA (2024) in the last three seasons. During this stretch, the Mariners' flame-throwing reliever has posted strikeout rates of 38.7 percent and 33.2 percent. Even the down year in 2023 still resulted in a 3.08 SIERA and 31.8 percent K%.
While the Mariners sometimes mix-and-match in the ninth, Muñoz was still able to get 22 saves in 59.1 innings. The bull case here is that the M's finally lean on their stud in the ninth, and he turns into an elite fantasy closer.
Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins
Jhoan Duran is similar to Muñoz, sporting some of the best stuff out of any reliever, but held back a bit because his team sometimes deploys alternatives in the ninth (like Griffin Jax). This is another reliever who routinely posts 30+ percent strikeout rates and elite ratios (2.50 SIERA in 2024).
We saw Duran rack up 27 and 23 saves in the last two seasons. Entering his age-27 campaign, there's a 30+ save season here, especially for a Twins team poised for a resurgence.
Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers
Tanner Scott was terrific for the Marlins and Padres last season, combining for a 3.55 SIERA and 26.3 percent K%. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already publicly stated that Scott is expected to get the bulk of the opportunities in the ninth.
Even if Scott cedes some opportunities to other strong options like Kirby Yates, there should be plenty of chances for saves on a team that feels like a lock to win 100+ games. The risk of a partial committee is what keeps Scott as a value in ADP.
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
David Bednar is my favorite bounce-back candidate among closers. The veteran put up a combined 81 saves from 2022 to 2024. In 2022 and 2023, Bednar had a SIERA below 3.30 in each season, but that jumped up to 4.23 last season.
The reason for that can be largely attributed to the report that Bednar was tipping his pitches last season. It's worth it to take a chance on a player with a strong track record and a reasonable draft price like Bednar.
Mason Miller, Athletics
Mason Miller, 103mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/Bh08C1WAz6
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 8, 2025
Mason Miller burst onto the scene in 2024, putting up an absurd 1.91 SIERA and 41.8 percent K% in 65 innings. Don't be deterred by the bad team with the Athletics, as Miller still racked up 28 saves last season.
The A's had a productive offseason, bolstering their rotation with Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino, so this is a team that is no longer a complete dumpster fire. The risk here is health, but perhaps pitching in a one-inning role will keep Miller on the mound.
Josh Hader, Houston Astros
Josh Hader is my favorite target in the top tier. The former Brewers' star separates himself from Emmanuel Clase due to a superior strikeout rate while showing more durability than Devin Williams.
Hader is coming off a season where he put up an elite 2.38 SIERA with a 37.8 percent K% in 71 innings. This reliever has racked up 34+ saves in five of the last six seasons, so you have to feel comfortable investing a premium pick in that type of track record.
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