The closer position seems especially volatile in 2023 after a significant injury to Edwin Diaz and Liam Hendriks was diagnosed with lymphoma. Diaz is likely to miss the entire season, while Hendriks is expected to miss at least a chunk of it, though it’s unknown how long he will be out. Best wishes to both studs on their recoveries!
This leaves the relief pitcher cupboard pretty bare up top, perhaps making these tiered rankings more valuable for you as you get ready for your drafts. If you’ve already drafted, let this guide you as you hit the waiver wire to start the season. 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 in the coming days where we’ll discuss middle relievers.
Tier 1
1. Emmanuel Clase, CLE
2. Devin Williams, MIL
3. Josh Hader, SD
Emmanuel Clase has emerged as the consensus top closer in the game, and last year’s numbers point to why: a 1.36 ERA, a 0.729 WHIP and 42 saves. The former Brewers duo rounds out the top three, with Milwaukee’s Devin Williams and his nasty changeup edging out former No. 1 closer Josh Hader, now with the Padres and coming off the worst season of his career (5.22 ERA, 1.28 WHIP in 56 games). Hader was dealing with some personal matters but re-emerged as a top-tier option down the stretch, finishing the regular season with 9.1 scoreless innings and 13 strikeouts against just one walk.
Tier 2
4. Jordan Romano, TOR
5. Ryan Pressly, HOU
6. Raisel Iglesias, ATL
This group features three steady veterans with guaranteed closer gigs on teams that are expected to be contenders. All could wind up being Tier 1-type closers by season’s end if they stay healthy.
Tier 3
7. Ryan Helsley, STL
8. Felix Bautista, BAL
This is a fun pair! Ryan Helsley and Felix Bautista are as electric as they come, but both carry some more uncertainty than the relievers ranked above them. Can Helsley (1.25 ERA, 0.742 WHIP) be as dominant again? And perhaps more important for this exercise, will he get the lion’s share of the team’s save chances, or will there be more sharing of the role with Giovanny Gallegos in 2023? Can Bautista repeat his success (2.19 ERA, 0.929 WHIP) and stay healthy? He has battled knee and shoulder ailments this month but recently made his spring debut.
Tier 4
9. Camilo Doval, SF
10. David Bednar, PIT
11. Clay Holmes, NYY
12. Kenley Jansen, BOS
This group should gather a ton of saves collectively, but each reliever has his own question marks. Will Gabe Kapler mix and match in the ninth even more with Taylor Rogers in the fold for the Giants? Can David Bednar stay healthy and collect a decent amount saves pitching for a bad Pirates club? Clay Holmes started strong in 2022 (1.31 ERA across 41.1 first half IP) but had a slower finish (4.84 ERA in the second half) — is he primed to hold the gig all season for the Yankees? Will this finally be the year the aging Kenley Jansen falters, or will he continue his run to the Hall of Fame? Also, the Red Sox might have their own issues contending this season, which could mean fewer save chances than Jansen is used to.
Tier 5
13 (tie). Alexis Diaz, CIN
13 (tie). Jhoan Duran, MIN
15. Pete Fairbanks, TB
16. Daniel Bard, COL
17. Scott Barlow, KC
18. Paul Sewald, SEA
Now we’re getting into some uncomfortable territory. In this group, Alexis Diaz and Daniel Bard appear to be locked into closer roles, but they both pitch for teams expected to disappoint in 2023. Jhoan Duran, Pete Fairbanks and Paul Sewald all pitch for teams we presume to be good, but they are in more “modern” bullpens where high-leverage situations can have them called upon before the ninth inning. And finally there’s Scott Barlow, who we presume is “the guy” but the Royals also employ Josh Staumont and Aroldis Chapman, with the latter possible to receive save chances to boost his trade value.
Tier 6
19. Craig Kimbrel, PHI
20. Evan Phillips, LAD
21. Alex Lange, DET
22. Jose Leclerc, TEX
23. Adam Ottavino, NYM
There are a lot of question marks here with performance (Alex Lange, Jose Leclerc), the role (Evan Phillips, Adam Ottavino) or perhaps both (Craig Kimbrel). If you target one of these closers, do so as a third option. Try to lock down at least two of our top 18 first.
Tier 7
24. Kyle Finnegan, WAS
25. Kendall Graveman, CHW
Kyle Finnegan is likely to share the role again in Washington for a bad Nationals team as manager Dave Martinez mixes and matches, potentially using Finnegan for higher-leverage situations early in games. Kendall Graveman, meanwhile, is no surefire bet to lock down the White Sox role given the other options currently there (Joe Kelly, Aaron Bummer and Reynaldo Lopez). Plus, Liam Hendriks could return at some point, too.
Tier 8
26. Matt Barnes, MIA
27 (tie). Brad Boxberger, CHC
27 (tie). Carlos Estevez, LAA
27 (tie). Andrew Chafin, ARI
30. Trevor May, OAK
No one in this group has a truly firm role on the job and they are in the messiest bullpens in the big leagues. It would not be surprising to see any or all of Matt Barnes, Brad Boxberger, Carlos Estevez or Andrew Chafin usurped in the season’s first week. Trevor May might be the most secure closer here to start 2023, but he pitches for what could be the league’s worst team and was not especially good in 2022 (5.04 ERA, 1.44 WHIP).
