Updated Closer Monkey Rankings | 2.23.2026

There are slight tweaks in the rankings based on the recent news cycle. These will continue to evolve as teams make decisions about reliever roles, but this will be a process. We have only just begun. As for the closer rankings, it’s difficult because many teams may share save opportunities, they could change by the hour, honestly. 

For the SOLDS rankings, my saves-plus-holds projections are combined with ATC in SGP (standard gain points). I also make my own holds rankings, which, when combined with ATC projections in SGP, yield our initial ranks. Things will change once roles become clearer in some confusing leverage ladders, but for now, the updated ranks.

Notes of Interest

  • Josh Hader (HOU): Chandler Rome reported Houston’s closer may not be ready for Opening Day, and the team will not rush him. The impact may be minimal, but it must be accounted for. This is accompanied by fewer multi-inning outings, which will reduce his strikeout totals in 2026. 
  • Trevor Megill (MIL): Pat Murphy said spring training will be a proving ground for his relievers, and their roles may not be the same as last season. Things may not change, or the All-Star closer could be traded if another team suffers an injury in their leverage ladder. This casts some aspersions on how fantasy players may value Megill and Abner Uribe
  • Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce (LAA): Both are progressing well in their rehab protocols and threw off a mound last week. But neither may be ready for Opening Day. 
  • Riley O’Brien (STL): A calf injury may prohibit the reliever from appearing in the WBC, and puts his Opening Day status in flux.
  • Edwin Uceta (TB): Received good news regarding his “cranky” shoulder, but his Opening Day status remains unknown. 

Top 40 Relievers for Saves

RankReliever
1Mason Miller
2Edwin Díaz
3Cade Smith
4Jhoan Duran
5Devin Williams
6David Bednar
7Aroldis Chapman
8Andrés Muñoz
9Ryan Helsley
10Jeff Hoffman
11Pete Fairbanks
12Raisel Iglesias
13Emilio Pagán
14Daniel Palencia
15Josh Hader
16Kenley Jansen
17Carlos Estévez
18Trevor Megill
19Dennis Santana
20Griffin Jax
21Seranthony Domínguez
22Bryan Abreu
23Ryan Walker
24Abner Uribe
25Robert Suarez
26Jeremiah Estrada
27Garrett Cleavinger
28Kirby Yates
29Garrett Whitlock
30Clayton Beeter
31Tanner Scott
32Will Vest
33Grant Taylor
34Matt Svanson
35JoJo Romero
36Drew Pomeranz
37Luke Weaver
38Jack Perkins
39Seth Halvorsen
40Kyle Finnegan

Top 60 Relievers for SOLDS

RankReliever
1Cade Smith
2Mason Miller
3Edwin Díaz
4Jhoan Duran
5Abner Uribe
6Aroldis Chapman
7Jeremiah Estrada
8David Bednar
9Devin Williams
10Bryan Abreu
11Garrett Whitlock
12Andrés Muñoz
13Ryan Helsley
14Jeff Hoffman
15Griffin Jax
16Robert Suarez
17Raisel Iglesias
18Josh Hader
19Trevor Megill
20Hunter Gaddis
21Andrew Kittredge
22Jose A. Ferrer
23Alex Vesia
24Will Vest
25José Alvarado
26Matt Brash
27Luke Weaver
28Phil Maton
29Tanner Scott
30Garrett Cleavinger
31Ryan Walker
32Brad Keller
33Edwin Uceta
34Pete Fairbanks
35Jared Koenig
36Camilo Doval
37Shawn Armstrong
38Kenley Jansen
39Bryan King
40Emilio Pagán
41Matt Strahm
42Daniel Palencia
43Tony Santillan
44Adrian Morejon
45Keegan Akin
46Lucas Erceg
47Orion Kerkering
48JoJo Romero
49Kyle Finnegan
50Robert Garcia
51Dennis Santana
52Graham Ashcraft
53Tyler Rogers
54Louis Varland
55Matt Svanson
56Carlos Estévez
57Jason Adam
58Dylan Lee
59Fernando Cruz
60Grant Taylor

Top 40 Relievers for Holds

RankReliever
1Jeremiah Estrada
2Garrett Whitlock
3Abner Uribe
4Hunter Gaddis
5Andrew Kittredge
6Alex Vesia
7Jose A. Ferrer
8Luke Weaver
9José Alvarado
10Bryan Abreu
11Matt Brash
12Phil Maton
13Bryan King
14Orion Kerkering
15Brad Keller
16Shawn Armstrong
17Adrian Morejon
18Jared Koenig
19Edwin Uceta
20Camilo Doval
21Tanner Scott
22Will Vest
23Keegan Akin
24Robert Suarez
25Tyler Rogers
26Lucas Erceg
27Tony Santillan
28Jason Adam
29Matt Strahm
30Dylan Lee
31Garrett Cleavinger
32Griffin Jax
33Fernando Cruz
34Louis Varland
35Tyler Holton
36Graham Ashcraft
37Kyle Finnegan
38Caleb Thielbar
39Grant Taylor
40JoJo Romero

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Statistical Credits:

Fangraphs.com

Baseball-Reference.com

BaseballSavant.com

BrooksBaseball.net

ATC projections courtesy of Ariel Cohen