Nick Mariano's Updated Saves+Holds Rankings for Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitchers

It's high time for a June update to hit the summer months strong with a powerful bullpen in our sails. I am back with an updated top-150 Saves+Holds (Solds) rankings with two months of baseball on the scoresheet. Time is precious but so are those of you who play in formats with SV+HLD/Solds or leagues where Saves and Holds are separate categories. Perhaps you're just a fantasy baseball bullpens fiend like me and can't help yourself from reading relief pitcher content!

While the closer's role is important, an increasing number of managers are moving their best arm into a flexible role while shuffling who gets the ninth. 2022 has been no exception as we see some more focus on Saves+Holds (or Solds, or SV+HLD) leagues, which allow for fantasy leagues to reward the best arms regardless of the inning, though it still favors closers in a vacuum. Be sure to also check out our constantly updated fantasy baseball closers and saves depth charts.

Reminder: A hold is recorded when a relief pitcher enters with a lead of three runs or less, or with the tying run on deck, at the plate, or on base, and maintains that lead while recording at least one out. While I look for pitchers used in high-leverage situations, this is also about how good the arm is and how efficient their K/9 works for many of you. I present you with my top-150 RP ranks, with tiers, their respective rank within the bullpen on their team, and some notes, followed by a trade-deadline preview. Currently, injured players are left off for this edition.

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Updated Saves+Holds Rankings - Mixed Leagues

Rankings updated on June 6th

Saves+Holds Tiered Rankings Analysis Notes

The table and notes largely speak for themselves, but I'll quickly speak on a few situations to monitor as the Aug. 2 trade deadline draws ever closer:

-Baltimore should explore trades for Jorge López given his strong start to '22 as their stopper. Félix Bautista stands the gain the most by way of consistent late work as a result, though both Cionel Pérez and Dillon Tate would also see a bump. I'm sure López would see plenty of hold opportunities wherever he went, though stepping onto a contender as a closer is unlikely.

-Seattle could look into replicating last year's Kendall Graveman deal with Paul Sewald if their fortune doesn't turn around in the next month. Again, Sewald is good enough to earn high-leverage innings wherever he lands. Perhaps this would also hinge on how well Ken Giles looks upon his arrival with Seattle after his rehab work is all done. I'd imagine that Diego Castillo, Andrés Muñoz, Penn Murfee, and company can hold down the fort on their own though, even if Giles isn't 100% and Drew Steckenrider can't recover his form in the minors.

-Chicago's North Siders will be fielding many a call regarding Willson Contreras as his contract nears an end on a high note, but David Robertson has performed well and should get flipped as well. Rowan Wick has pitched well enough to earn another crack at the closer's role, while Mychal Givens can be the veteran fallback. Scott Effross continues to display swing-and-miss stuff while Brandon Hughes has emerged as a sneaky weapon too.

-Cincinnati could deal anyone at this point, with the best potential awaiting in Alexis Díaz. I doubt Lucas Sims will have enough time to establish any trade value (if he returns before the deadline at all), but Tony Santillan or Art Warren could certainly go.

-Kansas City will likely consider trading one or both of Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont, which leaves us speculating on Arodys Vizcaíno and Dylan Coleman types for KC's back-end. Perhaps Amir Garrett will be back by then, but he's done little to warrant much confidence in 2022 after the 2021 debacle.

-Pittsburgh may get overwhelmed for David Bednar and fall back into a mash of Chris Stratton, Wil Crowe, and Dillon Peters as the left-hander if Bednar is dealt. I can see the Red Sox overpaying for a true anchor at RP if they keep rising, or maybe the Yankees re-unite Bednar with Clay Holmes as a vicious one-two threat with the injuries they've sustained.

-Oakland is another team we can always count on to flip good performers for future, cheap assets. That said, I'd be surprised if Dany Jiménez was moved given the cheap team control Oakland has to flex with him.

This is a net-zero game and while it's fun to think about the pitchers that climb their respective bullpen totem poles instead of others being dealt, you have to be prepared for the third or fourth options on contending teams to be pushed out a bit. On the whole, I'd expect the Yankees, Cardinals, Padres, Giants, Twins, and Red Sox to be the strongest bullpen buyers. Luckily, I don't think many of you are leaning heavily on the Miguel Castro/Tyler Rogers/Tyler Duffey contingent.

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