Beginning our end of the season recaps lands on Fantasy Pros preseason ADP as a guide for how fantasy players did targeting relievers. For our purposes, I am using 12-team leagues as the standard. Since 2023, here are the reliever trends in the site’s amalgamated average draft position rankings in five-round pockets:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gECTn/1/
Adding in sites like Yahoo and ESPN depress how many relievers are taken in the first five rounds where the “never pay for saves” credo has more credence. How did the closers fare in these pockets?
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/c3o5z/1/
Identifying trends can help fantasy managers prepare for the future, which leads us into how the relievers taken in each five round pocket fared.
Rounds 1 – 5 (Picks 1-60)
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fcVCA/1/
Things did not go as planned for the top two relievers taken across the five sites Fantasy Pros tracks. Emmanuel Clase was showing signs of regression before his season was cut short by an MLB suspension, which may prevent a return.
Things began positively for Devin Williams. He was traded for by the Yankees and the team dropped it’s facial hair policy for the “Airbender.” However, he struggled during early save situations, eventually losing the ninth inning to David Bednar.
An average of 21 saves by the top two relievers was not what fantasy managers were seeking at this price point.
Rounds 6 – 10 (Picks 61-120)
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/fWo06/2/
This group averaged more saves and provided better ratios than the top tier. If Félix Bautista did not suffer a season ending injury and Mason Miller was not traded, this pocket would have averaged 30 or more saves as a group.
But, Josh Hader also ended the season on the injured list and was not going to be ready for the Wild Card round of the playoffs if Houston qualified. Ryan Helsley cratered with the Mets and he and Raisel Iglesias will be free agents.
Overall, this was a preferred spot for teams to take their first closer in 2025. Expect Andrés Muñoz and Jhoan Duran to move up at least a tier in 2026.
Rounds 11 – 15 (Picks 121-180)
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JmbI5/1/
Ryan Walker could not build off his strong finish in 2024, losing the closer role for part of the season, then recapturing it after the trade deadline. His rollercoaster season makes it tough betting on him as the saves leader for the Giants in 2026.
Robert Suarez proved all the doubters wrong, racking up 40 saves with eyes on opting into free agency. Add Trevor Megill also silenced his critics with 30 saves, though his season was cut short via injury.
Both Tanner Scott and Jeff Hoffman had sporadic seasons, but Hoffman posted 33 saves. All in all, this pocket also performed well in terms of saves, though Suarez, Hoffman, and Megill offset Walker and Scott’s save totals.
Rounds 16-20 (Picks 181-240)
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WC3Qv/1/
Those who faded Alexis Díaz were vindicated by this decision. His second half struggles did not subside during spring training and resulted in his spending most of 2025 in the minors. Pete Fairbanks, David Bednar, and Kenley Jansen all returned value based on their ADP.
However, the big winner in this pocket was Carlos Estévez, the major league leader in saves this season. Even during preseason podcasts, people preferred Lucas Erceg, which is reflected in their ADP.
Díaz was not the only bust in this pocket; Jordan Romano and Ryan Pressly reached the closer cliff. It’s tough predicting when age affects a reliever’s results, but these two were not worthy of their preseason price points.
Rounds 21 – 25 (Picks 241-300)
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/BNHSS/1/
Although Kyle Finnegan remained a late-round favorite, Aroldis Chapman was the league winner in this ADP pocket. The remaining relievers in this chart illustrate the volatility of waiting too long on filers in 12-team leagues.
If you would like to see the specific ADP from Fantasy Pros, please use this LINK.
As for the Top 25 relievers using SGP (standard gains points) for 2025:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PnSnz/2/
Only Emilio Pagán surpassed 30 saves as a free agent pickup in most leagues. Cade Smith thrived after his teammate was suspended. Both Will Vest and Dennis Santana performed well as their team’s preferred save share when given the chance despite being undrafted in most preseason leagues.
In the next 25, there are some interesting results since saves are not the only thing driving a reliever’s value in standard leagues:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/89OJg/1/
This wraps up our first recap of the 2025 season.
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