Predicting hold candidates is difficult because hold opportunities are largely a function of team success. Teams that have late leads can generate multiple holds per game, and dominant LOOGYs can rack up holds in a hurry. Further complicating things is the growing trend for managers to (correctly!) use their best arms in the biggest spots of the game, be it in the 7th inning or 9th (Hi, Tito!)
We aren’t assigning numerical values to players within tiers, as these would differ depending on whether your league is saves+holds league, straight-up holds, or a (SV+H)-BS league, so please factor your league rules in accordingly. You also may see several players from the same team in the same tier, where spring training battles will determine who wins the 8th inning going into the season (O’Day vs Brach, etc.)
All those disclaimers aside, here are your tiered holds rankings for 2017.
Tier 1
Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians
Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
Addison Reed, New York Mets
Hector Rondon, Chicago Cubs
*Cam Bedrosian, Los Angeles Angels
-Likely to start season as closer; watch Andrew Bailey if Huston Street misses extended time.
Tier 2
Tyler Thornburg, Boston Red Sox
Matt Bush, Texas Rangers
Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox
Arodys Vizcaino, Atlanta Braves
Sergio Romo, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies
Tier 3
Bruce Rondon, Detroit Tigers
Brad Ziegler, Miami Marlins
Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals
Greg Holland, Colorado Rockies
Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs
Brad Brach, Baltimore Orioles
Darren O’Day, Baltimore Orioles
Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
Luke Gregerson, Houston Astros
Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals
Tier 4
Carter Capps, San Diego Padres
Ryan Buchter, San Diego Padres
Steve Cishek, Seattle Mariners
Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s
Fernando Salas, New York Mets
Tyler Clippard, New York Yankees
Hunter Strickland, San Francisco Giants
Jason Grilli, Toronto Blue Jays
Joe Smith, Toronto Blue Jays
Brad Boxberger, Tampa Bay Rays
