After the dust settled on an overwhelming trade deadline from a leverage standpoint, the fantasy implications do not always align with the real ones. For our purposes, these relievers received a boost as a result of how their team handled the trade deadline:
Trade Deadline RP Winners for Fantasy Purposes
- Jhoan Durán (PHI): Will anchor the leverage ladder on a better team, and even if he gets 70 percent of the remaining saves, it enhances his appeal.
- Dennis Santana (PIT): Was not traded and will take over as the closer for the Pirates, riding a seven-game scoreless streak with a win, a save, and nine strikeouts against three walks over his last seven innings.
- Randy Rodríguez (SF): Although not confirmed, it was inferred he will take over the majority of save chances following the departures of Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers.
- Jose A. Ferrer (WSH): Since the start of 2024, Kyle Finnegan has recorded 58 of his team’s 61 saves. Ferrer may not get all the save chances for the remainder of the season, but he represents the team’s best option.
- Griffin Jax (TB): While he may not be getting saves initially, he’s under team control through 2027 and could thrive with his new team’s analytical nuances. Add in a better defense behind him, and do not be surprised if he records five saves through the end of the season.
Trade Deadline RP Decliners for Fantasy Purposes
- Mason Miller (SD): Per Dennis Lim, the team plans on keeping Robert Suarez entrenched as the closer. As a point of reference, from his first appearance after being acquired last year, Tanner Scott recorded four saves while Suarez notched 13 from August 3-on. This sets a baseline for Miller, who can still accrue ancillary saves while racking up strikeouts and protecting a team’s ratios.
- Ryan Helsley (NYM): Similar situation in a different location. Helsley can still record ancillary saves with the Mets while building his portfolio as a pending free agent with a strong postseason. In shallow formats, he will be dropped, but in deeper leagues, he can be a viable stream option for saves when Edwin Díaz is unavailable.
- Kyle Finnegan (DET): There is a chance A.J. Hinch incorporates Finnegan into save situations, but Will Vest has been the better pitcher between the two. We project Finnegan as an eighth-inning option, working with Tommy Kahnle and Tyler Holton as setup relievers for Vest.
- Shelby Miller (MIL): He will no longer be closing out games when he’s activated.
- David Bednar and Camilo Doval (NYY): Keeper league players face a tougher decision, as these relievers are under team control through 2026 and 2027, respectively. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver will be free agents at the end of this year. How the Yankees restructure their bullpen will be intriguing, as it will make decisions easier down the road based on usage patterns and performance.
Relievers with Opportunity
- St. Louis Cardinals: Manager Oli Marmol has stated the team will use a match-up-based approach during leverage situations following Helsley’s departure. JoJo Romero will face an opponent’s toughest left-handed hitter or hitting pocket, while Kyle Leahy and Riley O’Brien will also be involved in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Early lean toward Leahy, but O’Brien could emerge with a save share as the season progresses.
- Minnesota Twins: After the team traded its entire bullpen hierarchy and its two match-up relievers in the sixth inning (Danny Coulombe and Brock Stewart), Cole Sands may be the last man standing. We project him as the preferred save option, but Rocco Baldelli can pull the rug out from under the fantasy community, so it’s with cautious optimism, though save chances may be sparse after the team’s deadline roster purge.
- The Athletics: There has been no indication about how the team will replace Mason Miller at the top of the hierarchy. Jack Perkins could be the fill-in, but he’s also in consideration for taking over the vacated rotation spot for J.P. Sears. Sean Newcomb has recorded a save since joining the team, and Michael Kelly has provided solid setup results. A wild card may be Luis Morales. He has transitioned into a reliever for the remainder of the season to monitor his workload. Since the switch at Triple-A, he has 20 strikeouts against six walks, but in his last three scoreless appearances, he has racked up eight strikeouts versus zero walks (42.1 K-BB%) through six innings with a 0.33 WHIP.
For all of the adjusted hierarchies as a result of the trade deadline, please reference our:
2025 RP Trade Deadline Tracker
As for Thursday’s results, there were only three games, but two ended with a save:
Here are the leverage events of interest from yesterday, with a frame of reference for the game in Cincinnati:
Leverage Ledger
Atlanta Braves – Capping a crazy contest in Cincinnati, Raisel Iglesias shut the door on his 13th save, retiring the side and striking out one at the bottom of the tenth. He threw seven pitches (85.6% strike rate) and induced one whiff (14.3 SwStr%).
After not being traded, he will remain the team’s closer until further notice.
- Pierce Johnson earned his second win, tossing 1.1 clean frames and striking out one.
- Dylan Lee struggled, letting both inherited runners score along with giving up three hits, three earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Raisel Iglesias | Dylan Lee | Pierce Johnson
Cincinnati Reds – Tasked with the top of the tenth, Emilio Pagán let the “place” runner score on consecutive flyouts, including Marcell Ozuna’s go-ahead sacrifice fly, and a groundout, resulting in an unearned run and his fourth loss.
- Brent Suter stranded two runners at the top of the eighth and worked 1.2 clean frames while recording two strikeouts.
- Lyon Richardson and Sam Moll combined for six hits, six earned runs, and a walk during one-third of the eighth.
- Graham Ashcraft suffered his fifth blown save, letting both inherited runners score on back-to-back fielding errors, then gave up two hits and two earned runs during the top of the sixth during his 1.2 innings of relief.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Tony Santillan | Graham Ashcraft
New York Yankees – Filling in capably with a scoreless top of the ninth, Jonathan Loáisiga recorded his first save, preserving a three-run win over the Rays. He allowed a lead-off double by Matt Thaiss, then retired the next three batters, throwing 13 pitches (69.2% strike rate) with three whiffs (23.1 SwStr%) while recording one strikeout. He has been scoreless in his last five appearances.
- Yerry De Los Santos notched his third hold, logging three clean frames and recording five strikeouts on 33 pitches (69.7% strike rate) while producing six whiffs (18.2 SwStr%).
Updated Hierarchy: Devin Williams | David Bednar | Camilo Doval
Quick Hits
- Seattle Mariners: Called upon with a runner on and two outs at the top of the ninth, Casey Legumina completed the combined shutout of Texas, retiring Sam Haggerty via strikeout. Trent Thornton allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts during 1.2 scoreless innings. Caleb Ferguson made his team debut with a clean top of the seventh.
- Tampa Bay Rays: During an eventual loss, Joe Rock tossed three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out five. Mason Montgomery stranded both runners at the bottom of the fifth, retiring both batters faced.
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