March 24, 2022

Atlanta Braves – The Braves looked like they were ready to enter 2022 with largely the same bullpen that they won the 2021 World Series with – a solid group of relievers including Will Smith, Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson, and AJ Minter. But then, just a few days ago, they added the best closer on the free agent market in Kenley Jansen and now they’re poised to start the season with one of the league’s best bullpens. Newcomer Collin McHugh will also likely contribute.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Jansen | Smith | Matzek.
Holds candidates: Smith, McHugh, Matzek, Jackson, Minter.

Miami Marlins – Dylan Floro will start the season where he finished it last year, as Miami’s primary choice for 9th inning responsibilities. Anthony Bender and Anthony Bass will be the set-up men, with veteran Richard Bleier contributing occasional lefthanded holds. Unless you’re in a pretty deep league, Floro is the only reliever worth owning here. Bender is the likely handcuff if Floro struggles.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Floro | Bender | Bass.
Holds candidates: Bender, Bass, Bleier.

New York Mets – The Mets bullpen will shake out similarly to a season ago, with Edwin Diaz handling the 9th while Seth Lugo and Trevor May share the set-up role. Adam Ottavino joins to provide some depth along with holdovers Miguel Castro.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Diaz | Lugo | May.
Holds candidates: Lugo, May, Ottavino.

Philadelphia Phillies – It’s possible the Phillies go into the season with a closer by committee, but if they give someone the job out of the gate, it’s most likely to be new signing Corey Knebel, who has impressed his coaches and teammates so far this spring. Two other signings, Jeurys Familia and Brad Hand, figure to factor in to the late inning mix as well, though Jose Alvarado figures to be ahead of them both. Seranthony Dominguez, who struck out the side in his first spring appearance, could also play a role if he can recapture his pre-injury form.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Knebel | Alvarado | Dominguez.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Alvarado | Dominguez | Familia | Hand.

Washington Nationals – It’s not certain that Kyle Finnegan starts out as the Washington closer, but he’s the best bet, having finished 2021 with the job. Veterans Will Harris and Sean Doolittle figure to help bridge the gap along with Tanner Rainey, who has flashed at times in his young career.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Finnegan | Rainey | Harris.
Holds candidates: Rainey | Harris | Doolittle.

March 24, 2022

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs finished last year with Rowan Wick in the closers role. He was serviceable, but not great, converting 5 saves while blowing 3. In the off season the Cubs added a pair of former closers in Mychal Givens and David Robertson, and this has all the hallmarks of a committee to start the year. We think that Robertson has the highest ceiling of the Cubs options, but they will likely give Wick a chance to prove himself first. Overall, there isn’t much to distinguish the top arms from each other, and this bullpen is better left for the waiver wire. 

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Wick | Robertson | Givens.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Robertson | Givens.

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds sold off the core of a team that was a playoff contender for much of 2021, and that includes major parts of their bullpen. Amir Garrett and Mychal Givens are gone, while Lucas Sims won’t be ready for the start of the season. Sims is probably worth taking a chance on, as he was one of the best options the Reds had last year. Until he is ready to come back the Reds will go with a committee to start the year, including some combination of the recently-signed Hunter Strickland, Art Warren, Luis Cessa, and Justin Wilson. Of those options, Strickland and Wilson have closing experience, though it was Warren who put together the best 2021, and who definitely has the potential to be a full time 9th inning option. Another name to watch is Dauri Moreta, who has dominated hitters on his way to the majors, and looked very good as a September call up. If he breaks camp with the team he may quickly find himself on the hierarchy. 

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Strickland | Warren | Cessa.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Warren | Cessa | Hoffman.

Milwaukee Brewers – In a world where every other team leans into committees you can always count on the Brewers to be a stable bullpen presence. If Josh Hader isn’t the best closer in the league he is close to it, and will likely be drafted early in every format. Devin Williams was great in 2021 until punching a wall cost him the post season. He is back and is apparently mixing in a cutter to his arsenal as well. Rounding out the hierarchy is Brad Boxberger, who was a reliable source of holds last year. There isn’t much more to say about Milwaukee, they are as predictable as any team you will find. 

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Hader | Williams | Boxberger.
Holds candidates: Williams | Boxberger.

Pittsburgh Pirates – The Pirates lost 100 games last year, and there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again! The bullpen was…not the worst part of the team, but it’s hard to lock up saves if you don’t win games. This Pirates bring back both David Bednar and Chris Stratton, who were both solid closing options for them down the stretch, where they split save chances pretty evenly. Joining them will be Heath Hembree, who struggled last year, and will probably be out of the 9th inning picture to start. Lefty Sam Howard will be in the mix for holds as well, but if you’re chasing holds there are much better places to look. Of the options Pittsburgh has, Bednar is the most intriguing, and will probably be the 1A to Stratton’s 1B in this two headed committee, but volume of chances is a major concern for the perpetually rebuilding Pirates.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Bednar | Stratton | Hembree.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Stratton | Hembree | Howard.

St. Louis Cardinals – With Alex Reyes starting the year on the IL, the Cardinals looked ready to roll with Giovanny Gallegos as the primary closing option to kick off 2022; however, comments from Oliver Marmol hint that this may be a committee to start the year. Gallegos is the top choice and should emerge as the clear closer while Reyes is out if they do choose to go with one guy. An intriguing name to watch is Jordan Hicks, who was supposed to be stretched out as a starter, but seems ready to open as bullpen option. Genesis Cabrera, Ryan Helsley, and newly acquired Nick Wittgren are also in the mix for the late innings, but probably won’t challenge for saves early on. While we think Gallegos is the top choice for the Cardinals, he loses some value due to Marmol’s comments and the possible return of Reyes or emergence of Hicks. 

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Gallegos | Cabrera | Hicks
* = closer-by-committee
Holds options: Cabrera | Hicks | Helsley.

March 24, 2022

Arizona Diamondbacks — The Arizona bullpen will look completely different this season, after the free agent acquisitions of 37-year-olds Mark Melancon and Ian Kennedy (combined 65 saves in 2021) to handle the late innings. Kennedy says he’s happy to serve in the setup role for Melancon, his Team USA teammate the year before both were drafted in 2006. Behind the old guys is Arizona’s usual mix of passable veterans, the best of whom seems to be Noe Ramirez.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Melancon | Kennedy | Ramirez.
Holds candidates: Kennedy, Ramirez, Caleb Smith, J.B. Wendelken.

Colorado Rockies – Alex Colome’s solid groundball rate should make him a fair candidate to find closing success at Coors Field. If he runs into trouble, he’ll be backed up by last year’s main (and mediocre) options: Carlos Estevez and Daniel Bard.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: Colome | Estevez | Bard.
Holds candidates: Estevez, Bard, Robert Stephenson.

Los Angeles Dodgers — With longtime closer Kenley Jansen headed off to Atlanta, it may not be as simple as plugging Blake Treinen into the ninth inning. Dave Roberts has been discussing a committee approach that would give him the freedom to use Treinen in the highest-leverage moments. Treinen has the best stuff in the Dodgers’ pen, and so remains the best bet, but don’t be surprised to see Daniel Hudson, lefty Alex Vesia, or others pulling down saves from time to time. 

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Treinen | Hudson | Vesia.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Hudson, Vesia, Busdar Graterol.

San Diego Padres — Somehow the Padres went the last 7 1/2 weeks of the 2021 season without a bullpen update, which we’re going to go ahead and claim is a record. Expect the opposite this season. Mark Melancon’s departure for Phoenix has left San Diego without an obvious closer for the first time in 30 seasons. The top candidate is probably Robert Suarez, who led the Japan Central League in saves the last two years; also in the mix are ex-Ray Emilio Pagan, fireballers Danielson Lamet and Luis Garcia, and (once he recovers from flexor tendon surgery) Drew Pomeranz. We’ll throw a committee tag on here to start, but it may be worth speculating that Suarez grabs the job.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Suarez | Pagan | Garcia.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Pagan, Garcia, Tim Hill, Austin Adams.

San Francisco Giants – Fo the third straight season, Gabe Kapler refuses to name a closer. But unlike some teams who turn to a committee out of desperation, the Giants have three strong relief options: 24-year-old flamethrower Camilo Doval, who had 15 scoreless outings to close out the regular season; lefty Jake McGee, who racked up 31 saves with a sub-1 WHIP; and Tyler Rogers, whose submarine-style delivery was good for 13 saves of its own. The three say they’re fine sharing the role based on matchups, although Rogers gives the edge to the veteran McGee. The best long-term play is obviously Doval, but we think his impressive stuff will give him the edge right out of the gate as well.

Starting 2022 hierarchy: *Doval | McGee | Rogers.
* = closer-by-committee
Holds candidates: Rogers, Jarlin Garcia, Dominic Leone.