March 25, 2022
Behold, Closer Monkey’s tiered closer rankings for 2022. Remember these rankings are based on traditional (5×5) leagues, so while WHIP and strikeouts are considered, holds are not. Stay tuned for our posts next week where we’ll discuss middle relievers.
Tier 1
1 (tie). Liam Hendriks
1 (tie). Josh Hader
You know these guys pretty well and there isn’t much we need to say about them. 30+ saves, top two in reliever WAR, sparkling K/9 ratios, and closing for likely playoff teams. Hader’s a little wilder, but he’s also about five years younger. Aim here first. But you knew that.
Tier 2
3. Ryan Pressly
4 (tie). Emmanuel Clase
4 (tie). Raisel Iglesias
6. Kenley Jansen
7. Edwin Diaz
These next five guys are pretty sure things too, with high-end stuff and the right situation to potentially lead the league in saves. Clase, who wasn’t ranked last season and lags behind the others slightly in strikeout rate, led all relievers in average fastball velocity in 2021 at 100.4 mph. A slight word of caution for Kenley Jansen — his recent walk-rate spike was fueled by a 6.61 BB/9 rate away from Dodger Stadium and its NL-low walk rates.
Tier 3
8. Blake Treinen
9. Jordan Romano
10. Aroldis Chapman
11. Giovanny Gallegos
12. Taylor Rogers
These guys are also very solid, but each comes with an obvious caveat. Treinen struggled through injuries in 2019 and lost his ninth-inning role, and it’s not quite clear he’ll be the only guy closing for LA. Romano had surgery on his non-throwing arm in the offseason and hasn’t yet broken through to the top tier. Chapman will still strike out the side, but he’ll walk the bases loaded first. And Gallegos and Rogers are better than you think, but will they get the chance to close full-time?
Tier 4
13. Corey Knebel
14. Matt Barnes
15. Mark Melancon
16. Camilo Doval
17. Gregory Soto
18. Scott Barlow
19. Lou Trivino
Here’s a group of guys who are certainly worth drafting, but not too early — chances are at least a few of them won’t lead their teams in saves this season. Knebel, Barnes, and Melancon should be familiar, but a breakout candidate here is Doval, who could run away with the job in San Francisco. Most importantly, if your league has a one-Barlow roster limit, go with Scott (“Scoots McGoots,” evidently) over Joe.
Tier 5
20. Dylan Floro
21. Alex Colome
22. Andrew Kittredge
23. David Bednar
24. Kyle Finnegan
25. Joe Barlow
26. Cole Sulser
27. Drew Steckenrider
Each year this bargain tier offers a few jewels. If you think this is finally the year that Tampa gives one reliever a majority of saves, maybe try Kittredge on for size! Bednar had great secondary stats last season, and he could definitely catch on in Pittsburgh. Maybe Colome’s ground-ball stuff can help him succeed where others have failed for the Rockies. Don’t be afraid to take a flyer down here, but don’t be afraid to bail out and grab a new option the first time we send out an alert.
Tier 6
28. Robert Suarez
29. Rowan Wick
30. Hunter Strickland
We don’t recommend these three pitchers or teams, because they combine unproven or mediocre stuff with unsettled and questionable situations. Suarez closed successfully in Japan, but he’s got a six-man committee to deal with; Wick faces a ton of competition as well; and Strickland is just standing in for all of the mediocre options in the Reds bullpen. At this level, you’re better off stashing some of the middle relievers we’ll list in our next few posts.