Noting many of these situations may change based on end-of-season injury reports and off-season moves, our too-early attempt at identifying the closers for 2025 is ready before the last full slate of games on Sunday, September 29. Thanks for being a part of this season at Closer Monkey. Enjoy and be well. If we have helped this season, please leave a TIP for next season’s expenses.
American League
American League East
Baltimore Orioles – “The Mountain” will return as the closer next year. Félix Bautista recorded 33 saves with 110 strikeouts against 26 walks (35.4 K-BB%) in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’s been throwing live bullpen sessions and will anchor this bullpen in 2025. His stock will rise appreciably with a strong spring, but fantasy managers will focus on his command.
Boston Red Sox – Forecasting the Red Sox closer comes with apprehension. Although the team signed Liam Hendriks for the role in 2025, he suffered a setback with “forearm soreness”, preventing his return this season. Can he remain healthy throughout next year? Will he be effective? Those in keeper leagues should stash Justin Slaten. He flourished as a Rule 5 pick with a 1.01 WHIP and 22.3 K-BB percentage as a rookie. A wild card in this mix could be Garrett Whitlock. His splits by role:
- Whitlock as a SP: 109 IP, 102:23 K:BB (17.4 K-BB%), .328 weighted on-base average, 1.27 WHIP
- Whitlock as an RP: 132.2 IP, 150:29 K:BB (22.7 K-BB%), .273 weighted on-base average, 1.05 WHIP
As of today, pedigree propels Hendriks atop the hierarchy, but his hold will be tenuous unless he’s terrific at Spring Training.
New York Yankees – Playoff games may determine how the team handles the closer position in 2025, but Clay Holmes will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Luke Weaver has emerged as the preferred save option with an adapted arsenal. He’s one of five relievers with at least 100 strikeouts this season. He’s also converted all four save chances with six wins and 22 holds through 61 appearances. Barring a free agent splurge, he lines up as the Opening Day closer.
Tampa Bay Rays – Despite losing Pete Fairbanks, the Rays bullpen flourished in the second half. When he’s healthy, he remains the closer. He’s recorded 48 saves over the last two seasons but produced a reduced K-BB percentage and swinging strike rate in 2024. Health remains his hurdle. He begins 2025 as the closer, but change may be afoot as the season ensues. Dynasty league players should monitor Edwin Uceta and Hunter Bigge closely.
Toronto Blue Jays – Jordan Romano underwent elbow surgery, cutting his 2024 short. He remains the team’s closer, but health will be an issue like others on this list. He could be a terrific “buy low” or a “bust,” with health being the deciding factor. Chad Green remains under contract and will fill in if injury issues resurface.
American League Central
Chicago White Sox – After enduring the most losses in MLB history, prognosticating a closer for a team in this steep of a rebuild remains difficult. Justin Anderson ended the season as the highest-leveraged reliever. However, since wins may be difficult again, getting a veteran reliever with “closer” experience would benefit the rebuild. Probably, the saves leader is not on the current roster. Keeper league players hope Prelander Berroa or Jordan Leasure improve in 2025.
Cleveland Guardians – Since the start of 2022, no reliever has recorded more saves than Emmanuel Clase. He’s secured 40-plus saves in the last three years with a 0.84 WHIP over 221.2 innings. Although he’s on a team-friendly deal, it escalates in 2025 and reaches ten million in 2027. For a franchise that prefers keeping payroll down, he could be moved when his stock’s at its peak. Stay tuned. Dynasty league players will track Andrew Walters closely.
Detroit Tigers – A.J. Hinch mixed and matched with aplomb while getting his team into the playoffs. Jason Foley led the team with 28 saves through 161 games. Tyler Holton recorded seven wins, eight saves, and 14 holds through 66 appearances. How far the team goes and how the bullpen performs may determine how it’s structured in 2025. For now, plan on much of the same next year unless the team targets a free agent closer for the preferred save share.
Kansas City Royals – Although most believed Hunter Harvey would usurp the closer role from James McArthur, Lucas Erceg emerged since his acquisition. In his 23 games with the Royals, he’s converted 11 of his 13 save opportunities with 31 strikeouts against three walks across 25 innings. Despite the meltdown that injured Vinnie Pasquantino, Erceg’s been almost lights out. He should enter 2025 as the closer.
Minnesota Twins – What felt like a slam dunk has become murky. Jhoan Durán took a step back, though it’s possible his oblique injury affected his performance throughout the season. It feels like he should get a mulligan for 2024, but his spring performance should be tracked closely. Griffin Jax emerged as a trusted high-leverage option, but the team has spoken about him potentially being used as a starter. Stay tuned.
American League West
Houston Astros – With Josh Hader signed on a long-term deal, it’s no surprise he’s the projected closer for 2025. Ryan Pressly can opt out of his contract, which may put him in play for another team’s ninth-inning duties.
Los Angeles Angels – Good news will come in two parts next year: an emerging Ben Joyce and the return of Robert Stephenson. Joyce introduced a “splinker” into his arsenal on June 16 and produced 25 scoreless appearances in his last 27 games with 33 strikeouts against 11 walks across 31 innings. His velocity and experience at the end of the season should ensure his role as the closer in 2025.
Oakland A’s – Many did not believe Mason Miller would be used as the closer this season. All he did was set the franchise record for saves by a rookie with 28, including throwing the last pitch at Oakland Coliseum. Reports indicate he will remain in this role moving forward, which makes him a terrific target for 2025. He’s recorded 104 strikeouts with a 0.88 WHIP through 65 innings across 55 appearances.
Seattle Mariners – Forced into the closer role because of injuries throughout the leverage ladder, Andrés Muñoz converted 22 of 27 save chances with a 0.96 WHIP through 57.1 innings. He pitched through lingering back tightness and elbow soreness at the end of the season. Returns by Matt Brash and Gregory Santos will be pivotal for the team’s progress, but Muñoz remains atop the hierarchy, barring injury, on Opening Day next year.
Texas Rangers – Despite hitting the jackpot on its one-year deal with Kirby Yates, he and José Leclerc will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. David Robertson can also opt out of his player option. This means turnover may affect the entire bullpen hierarchy, though a team which sees itself as a World Series contender next year will be aggressive in rebuilding the leverage ladder. Yates went 7-2 while converting 33 of 34 save chances for the Rangers and may return on a deal beneficial for both sides. Those in keeper leagues will monitor how Marc Church develops as a high-leverage option.
National League
National League East
Atlanta Braves – Since his debut with Atlanta on August 5, 2022, Raisel Iglesias has logged 150 appearances, posting a 1.86 ERA (second lowest in this timeframe) with 11 wins, 67 saves, and a 0.907 WHIP. He will be entering the final year of his contract in 2025, which means change may be coming at the closer position in 2026, but for next year, he remains a reliable target for saves.
Miami Marlins – After the team traded Tanner Scott, Calvin Faucher received the majority share of saves until he was sidelined with an injury. Jesús Tinoco took over as the most trusted high-leverage option over the last six weeks, and this may be a spring battle for roles. However, there’s no clear plan in place for the franchise, making the closer role speculative at best. There will be aging veterans with closer experience, or the team could be aggressive and trade for a reliever like Camilo Doval, who needs a change of scenery. Stay tuned.
New York Mets – Riding a second-half resurgence buoyed by throwing more four-seam fastballs and being less reliant on his slider, Edwin Díaz reestablished himself as a top-tier closer. Can he maintain this throughout the entirety of 2025? Here’s hoping so. He will be a top target in preseason drafts and rankings.
Philadelphia Phillies – After using the “floating closer” concept most of the season, Rob Thomson used Carlos Estévez as his closer after the trade deadline. However, Estévez and Jeff Hoffman will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Will the Phillies try re-signing them or turn to Orion Kerkering as the closer of the future?
Washington Nationals – Entering his last season under team control, Kyle Finnegan will be the closer on Opening Day. However, as a team on the rise, the Nationals may enhance their leverage ladder this winter via free agency or trades. Coming off a career-high in saves, Finnegan may be a fade depending on his preseason price points.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs – Porter Hodge ended 2024 with 18 scoreless appearances over his last 19 games, converting eight of nine save chances with 26 strikeouts against nine walks. Because the front office’s modus operandi has not included overpaying for a closer, a pieced-together bullpen may be in store again next season. This puts Hodge at the top of the list for being the closer on Opening Day, but off-season roster construction will determine if this happens.
Cincinnati Reds – Streaky in his performances in high-leverage events and spotty at times with his command, Alexis Díaz remains a fantasy enigma. He’s recorded 55 saves in the last two years, but his declining K-BB percentage and rising WHIP do not foster trust from fantasy managers. He projects as the Opening Day closer, but his potential volatility makes him a risky investment for 2025.
Milwaukee Brewers – Tough decisions await the Brewers this winter. Devin Williams will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025 season. Fantasy players recall past situations where this franchise traded players at their peak ahead of free agency. Will this happen once again? “The Airbender” was terrific after missing the first four months of the season but converted 14 of 15 save chances while being scoreless in 20 of his 22 regular season appearances, recording 38 strikeouts against 11 walks. Those in keeper leagues should track Craig Yoho‘s progress this spring closely.
Pittsburgh Pirates – What felt like an easy prognostication at the beginning of the season has become much more complex as it concludes. David Bednar was removed from the closer role and was ineffective this season after undergoing two oblique injuries. He’s dealt with side or back injuries in three of the past four seasons. Can he regain his role, or will the team bring pending free agent Aroldis Chapman back on another one-year deal?
St. Louis Cardinals – A revamped bullpen anchored by Ryan Helsley resulted in a franchise record 49 saves. Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Reyes performed well in set-up roles as well. Can Helsley repeat this level of production in 2025?
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks – Limping toward the finish line, there are more questions than answers about the bullpen at the end of the season. A.J. Puk suffered an ugly loss in a “must-win” game and Justin Martinez showed flashes of brilliance, mixed with traffic-induced save situations. Based on in-season usage patterns, Martinez should open 2025 as the closer, but a match-up-based approach could also be deployed.
Colorado Rockies – The Rockies had a revolving door at the closer position this season. At the beginning of the season, Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley were the top two relievers in the hierarchy. Victor Vodnik emerged as the closer in early July until he landed on the injured list in late August. Kinley reemerged, converting all six save chances until he was on the injured list in September. Rookie Seth Halvorsen took over the top of the hierarchy, and a spring battle will decide who gets the gig on Opening Day. Based on underlying indicators, plan on Kinley (if healthy) or Halvorsen, with Jaden Hill, a potential contender, by the second half of 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Targeting Michael Kopech at the trade deadline, he helped stabilize the backend of the bullpen. He recorded four wins, converted six saves, and notched seven holds with 27 strikeouts versus ten walks across 23 innings. Evan Phillips and Blake Treinen also operated in the late innings, but Treinen will be a free agent at the end of the season. As for Opening Day next season, we lean toward Kopech. Still, those in keeper leagues will track Edgardo Henriquez‘s development closely unless the team makes a trade for a more reliable closer this off-season.
San Diego Padres – Robert Suarez was dominant in the first half, throwing his four-seam fastball and converting 22 of his first 24 save chances. Fatigue and predictability affected his results in the second half. One should not run from the Padres closer, but a more diverse use of his arsenal will prevent further migration toward the mean. He will be the closer on Opening Day, but his runway was reduced slightly by the second-half struggles ahead of the playoffs.
San Francisco Giants – It’s too early to give up on Camilo Doval as a closer, and it’s tough to trust him next season after struggling with a rising WHIP and declining K-BB percentage. Things become trickier with the emergence of Ryan Walker. He took over as the closer and converted all ten save chances from August 10-on with 28 strikeouts versus five walks during his last 17 appearances, spanning 19.2 innings. Doval may need a change of scenery, and Walker was the team’s best reliever, making him our projected closer for 2025.
Free Agents for 2025
- Carlos Estévez
- Tanner Scott
- Kirby Yates
- Aroldis Chapman
- Kenley Jansen
- Jeff Hoffman
- Blake Treinen
- Clay Holmes
- Chris Martin
- Paul Sewald
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
Statistical Credits:
