Fantasy Baseball 2015: Ranking the Top 45 Relief Pitchers
With the top 150 fantasy baseball players all ordered and ranked on the initial 2015 Big Board, we've been rolling out the individual position rankings. All told, there will be (count 'em) 300 players ranked.
After providing some sequencing to the starting pitchers last time out, last—but not least—up is relief pitchers, a position dominated by those who get saves, the one category to which no other player can contribute.
As such, the top half of the names on this list are ninth-inning arms, and those who provide robust strikeout totals in addition—like Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and Greg Holland—are the very cream of the crop.
But you'll also find two other kinds of relievers in this ranking: 1) ones who have a chance to earn save opportunities on teams whose closer situations may be in flux (think: Joakim Soria and Ken Giles); and 2) ones who are more strictly setup men but capable of putting up huge strikeout numbers and killer ratios over 60-plus innings (think: Wade Davis and Danny Farquhar).
Let's finish off the rankings rundown with the top 45 overall fantasy relief pitchers and a few others you should watch, including potential impact rookies.
These rankings consider three factors:
First, everything is based on 10- or 12-team mixed leagues with standard 5x5 rotisserie scoring (BA, R, HR, RBI, SB for hitters; W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV for pitchers).
Second, lineup construction accounts for 22 active roster positions consisting of: one each for catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner infield, middle infield and utility, along with five outfielders and nine pitchers.
And third, to be eligible at a particular position, players either must have played at least 20 games there in 2014 or be in line to start there in 2015.
The Relief Pitcher 'Watch List'
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Jeurys Familia, RP, New York Mets
One of several live-armed late-inning relievers on the Mets staff, Familia is behind Jenrry Mejia and maybe even Bobby Parnell (if he's healthy) for ninth-inning work, but the 25-year-old was impressive as a rook (2.21 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 8.5 K/9). Given his youth and size (6'3", 240), Familia should be good to approach his 77.1 frames again, a total that tied as the sixth-most in MLB last year.
Josh Fields, RP, Houston Astros
Fields has one of the most electric fastballs in the game, regularly tickling triple digits, which is why he's been thought of as a closer-in-waiting for years now. While the 29-year-old doesn't always know where it's going, something seemed to finally click for him after a few early season blowups. His ERA through May 6 was a ghastly 12.00. From that point on? Try 2.32 with a WHIP just under 1.00 and a 55-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 42.2 frames.
Jake Diekman, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
There's a good chance you've never even heard of him before right now, but Diekman, 28, was one of only seven relievers to whiff at least 100 batters in 2014, checking in at 100 even. His 3.80 ERA and 1.42 WHIP aren't especially appetizing for a reliever, but the lefty's 2.65 FIP is much more digestible.
Neil Ramirez, RP, Chicago Cubs
The player to be named the Cubs picked up after the July 2013 trade that sent Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers, Ramirez's first taste of the majors went really well, if practically unnoticed. A converted starter, the 25-year-old's repertoire played up in relief, as his 1.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 over 43.2 innings proves.
Dominic Leone, RP, Seattle Mariners
Leone, 23, was the latest reliever to have an impact as a rookie with the Mariners, who have shown a knack for breaking in young bullpen arms. In Leone's case, he made the jump from Double-A to the majors last spring and proceeded to put up a 2.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 in 66.1 frames. Just remember: Because Seattle's pen is so mighty (and deep), there aren't likely to be saves in his near future.
Kevin Quackenbush, RP, San Diego Padres
Another 2014 rookie—notice a trend, folks?—Quackenbush used his deceptive delivery to great success, posting a 2.48 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 while also picking up six saves in seven tries. The 26-year-old filled in admirably after Huston Street was traded and Joaquin Benoit battled shoulder inflammation in August and September. That makes Quackenbush next in line should something go wrong with 37-year-old Benoit again.
Nos. 45-41
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No. 45: Rafael Soriano, RP, Free Agent
For now, it's hard to rank Soriano any higher than this because he's, uh, still a free agent. That said, wherever he signs—and yes, he will sign—the 35-year-old is likely to be either his new team's closer or at least in the mix for ninth-inning work. He fell apart down the stretch (6.48 second-half ERA), costing him the stopper's gig with the Washington Nationals, but he did register an 0.97 ERA and 0.811 WHIP in the first half.
No. 44: Pat Neshek, RP, Houston Astros
Neshek looks to be behind fellow new Astro Luke Gregerson for save chances, but if you play in a deeper format that values a ratios specialist of sorts, the 34-year-old is a quality option after his 1.87 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. And it wouldn't be crazy to see him pick up a handful of saves (or more) just by default, considering he scored six while setting up for Trevor Rosenthal with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2014.
No. 43: Joe Smith, RP, Los Angeles Angels
Smith, who will be 31 in late March, is still getting it done with that side-winding delivery as he enters his ninth MLB season. Last year was his best yet, as he notched a 1.81 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 74.2 innings—all career bests—and even filled in with 15 saves when Ernesto Frieri lost it.
No. 42: Darren O'Day, RP, Baltimore Orioles
While Smith comes from a tough angle, O'Day is a true submariner who also compiled career bests in ERA (1.70), WHIP (0.89) and innings (68.2). While left-handed batters have been a problem in the past, the 32-year-old O'Day held them in check last year, allowing just 18 hits in 95 at-bats (.189).
No. 41: Tony Watson, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
Watson, 29, finally scored some recognition in being selected for the NL All-Star team last summer, but he's still not widely known despite three strong years as a lefty setup man for Pittsburgh. If you play in a league that counts holds as a category, Watson is a must-target as an RP3 after he notched 34 (second-most) in 2014 to go along with his 1.63 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
Nos. 40-36
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No. 40: Sergio Romo, RP, San Francisco Giants
Romo lost his closer job with the Giants in the middle of 2014, but the 32-year-old only had one really bad stretch. In eight appearances from June 13 to July 6, he allowed 11 earned runs on 12 hits in 6.2 frames while blowing three saves.
He recovered nicely, with a 1.54 ERA and a 30-to-3 strikeout-to-walk rate over his final 23.1 innings (27 games). Re-signed for two years by the Giants this winter, he enters camp still behind Santiago Casilla, but it wouldn't be surprising at all if Romo returned to the ninth at some point in 2015.
No. 39: Aaron Sanchez, RP, Toronto Blue Jays
This ranking could prove way too low if Sanchez, a 22-year-old rookie with crazy stuff who put up a 1.09 ERA and 0.70 WHIP in 33 innings in Toronto last year, winds up winning the closer role over his main competitor, Brett Cecil. But for now, Sanchez says he'd like to start, according to John Lott of the National Post. He'll have fantasy value in either role, but there actually might be more, a least initially, if he is the Blue Jays stopper.
No. 38: Kelvin Herrera, RP, Kansas City Royals
Herrera, 25, throws as hard as any pitcher not named Aroldis Chapman, what with an average fastball velocity of 96.4, so it's a bit surprising that he whiffed only 7.6 per nine in 2014, especially after an 11.4 mark in 2013. That could mean he's due for an uptick, but even if not, Herrera's 51.1 percent ground-ball rate for his career and 1.41 ERA and 1.14 WHIP last year indicate what he can do as a top setup man.
No. 37: Danny Farquhar, RP, Seattle Mariners
While fantasy owners await the day that Farquhar, 28, gets another shot at closing after his great late-season stretch in 2013, they should be happy to own a guy who last year proved he's very much for real with a 2.66 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 71 innings.
No. 36: Andrew Miller, RP, New York Yankees
For now, it seems this new Yankees reliever is behind incumbent Dellin Betances to replace David Robertson. Regardless, as long as the 29-year-old Miller comes anywhere close to last year's performance (2.02 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 14.9 K/9), it's hard to imagine a scenario where he won't pick up some saves as the primary setup man.
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Nos. 35-31
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No. 35: Ken Giles, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
You might've heard that Jonathan Papelbon has been at the center of trade speculation this winter, and while his contract could get in the way, there's a good chance some contender will come calling between now and July 31.
And even if that doesn't happen, the 24-year-old Giles and his triple-digit heater is this club's closer of the (near) future and will be worth owning for the strikeouts, as he racked up 64 in just 45.2 innings after coming up as a rookie last June 12.
No. 34: Joakim Soria, RP, Detroit Tigers
Soria is a sneaky pick this season, as he'll pitch the eighth inning behind Joe Nathan, who was perhaps the most consistently shaky closer not to lose his job in 2014. The 30-year-old Soria wasn't good after coming over from the Texas Rangers via trade last July (4.91 ERA), but he had put up a 2.70 ERA, 0.087 WHIP and 11.3 K/9 prior to that. He also boasts 178 career saves.
No. 33: Brad Boxberger, RP, Tampa Bay Rays
Boxberger was one of those seven relievers to reach the 100-strikeout mark a year ago in what was a breakout campaign in just his third season and first with the Rays. The 26-year-old looks to be the top candidate to cover the ninth for Tampa Bay, with Jake McGee not likely to be ready for the start of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery in December.
"We looking for [McGee] just to take it slowly and make sure he's ready," Rays president of baseball ops Matt Silverman said via Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida. "If it's in April, that's great. But that's sort of the time frame that we're looking at there."
While McGee should regain his role once healthy, the fact that he's a lefty and Boxberger is right-handed could make this interesting, especially if Boxberger is pitching well.
No. 32: LaTroy Hawkins, RP, Colorado Rockies
The 42-year-old Hawkins recently let out that he's retiring after this year, but until then, he'll have one last season—his 21st in MLB—in which to compile some saves for fantasy owners. But because he pitches in Coors Field half the time and might not crack 40 strikeouts for the season, this isn't more than an RP3.
No. 31: Wade Davis, RP, Kansas City Royals
Davis did so many impressive things in 2014, it's hard to determine which was the most so. Was it his 1.00 flat ERA? Or his microscopic 0.85 WHIP? Or his whopping 109 strikeouts? Or how 'bout that he surrendered just five extra-base hits—and no homers—in 72.0 innings? If something happens to Greg Holland, Davis would become a top-five closer. And he's worth owning either way.
Nos. 30-26
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No. 30: Brett Cecil, RP, Toronto Blue Jays
Cecil as Toronto's closer makes sense, but the 28-year-old is going to have to overcome the conventional practice of using lefties as setup men rather than full-time stoppers. With an 11.5 K/9 the past two seasons, he sure has the stuff, including a put-away curve, to get the job done, especially after proving he can get right-handed hitters out. In fact, he was better against opposite-side batters (.569 OPS) than lefties (.714) in 2014.
No. 29: Santiago Casilla, RP, San Francisco Giants
Casilla has done well as the Giants sometimes-closer the past three years, including the 19 saves he turned in after taking over for Sergio Romo midseason. But in that 2012-14 span, the 34-year-old also owns a 7.2 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9, neither of which is all that good for a stopper.
No. 28: Luke Gregerson, RP, Houston Astros
Although Gregerson never has been a closer before—his nine saves in 2012 represent a career high—the 30-year-old inked a three-year, $18.5 million deal with the Astros with the expectation that he will not only take on the ninth but handle it well. Gregerson doesn't throw as hard as he used to, mostly around 90 mph, but his slider is still a weapon—and one he throws about 50 percent of the time.
No. 27: Neftali Feliz, RP, Texas Rangers
Feliz, who took a while to recover from Tommy John surgery, spent much of 2014 at Triple-A when his stuff backed up on him last spring. His fastball isn't the overpowering 98 mph blazer it was when he broke into the bigs, but at 93-94, he still brings plenty of heat and converted 13 of his 14 save opportunities after regaining the closer role once Joakim Soria was traded. Just don't overpay based on his 1.99 ERA when his FIP was 4.90.
No. 26: Jenrry Mejia, SP/RP, New York Mets
Mejia is one of the few relievers who also is eligible at starter in fantasy, which can be valuable if you choose to insert a saves-getter at an SP spot. But the 25-year-old is more than just a quirk in the eligibility system—he's good. In 56.1 innings out of the bullpen (he also made seven starts), Mejia had a 2.72 ERA and struck out 60. His WHIP was 1.42 as a reliever, which is very high, but blame a .346 BABIP that will drop.
Nos. 25-21
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No. 25: Addison Reed, RP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Reed did have a crooked 4.03 FIP last season, in large part because he allowed a ridiculous 11 home runs in 59.1 innings. It's worth noting, however, that he set career bests in strikeout (10.5 K/9) and walk rate (2.3 BB/9) and did manage 32 saves for the team with the worst record in baseball.
No. 24: Joe Nathan, RP, Detroit Tigers
Look, Nathan might well be done as a reliable ninth-inning option after what looked like a potential cliff season, with a 4.81 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and seven blown saves in 2014. He is 40 years old after all, and his average fastball velocity dipped below 92 mph for the first time in his 14-year career, which could explain why his .324 BABIP against was more than 60 points higher than his career mark of .258.
It's also possible that Nathan could fare slightly better in 2015 because of that latter point, and even if he pitches to the tune of his 3.94 FIP from a year ago, that could be enough to rack up 30-plus saves for the 10th time.
No. 23: Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Milwaukee Brewers
Just re-signed by the Brewers in time for spring training, K-Rod looked revitalized last year, what with a 2.58 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 in the first half. The 33-year-old's numbers dropped off noticeably after the break, though, including a 3.97 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 8.3 K/9. While you might not have realized it based on that strong first few months, Rodriguez's FIP finished at 4.50—a career worst, by a lot—and he surrendered a crazy 14 home runs, most among relievers.
No. 22: Tyler Clippard, RP, Oakland Athletics
Clippard has been one of baseball's top setup men the past handful of seasons (2.64 ERA, 1.03 WHIP since 2009), but he's ranked this highly because he is the A's top option to fill in for the injured Sean Doolittle after being traded to Oakland by the Nationals over the winter. Clippard, 30, does have a 32-save season on his resume in 2012, so he can do the job for as long as the club needs him to.
If you draft Clippard, though, you ultimately wind up with an eighth-inning arm after a month-ish, so handcuffing him and Doolittle is not a bad idea. In fact, it's recommended.
No. 21: Sean Doolittle, RP, Oakland Athletics
Speaking of Doolittle, the A's discovered a slight rotator cuff tear in his left shoulder in January and are going to be without him at the outset of the season. Just how long, though, remains to be seen, even after the 28-year-old had a platelet-rich plasma injection in the area to address the inflammation and irritation, as Jane Lee of MLB.com reported at the time.
Were he healthy (or dealing with a non-shoulder ailment), Doolittle would be in the top 10 on this list following his success as a first-time closer in 2014, when he struck out 89 against a mere eight walks over 62.2 innings. Listen for any positive reports between now and your draft, because Doolittle would be a good one to gamble on if so.
Nos. 20-16
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No. 20: Jake McGee, RP, Tampa Bay Rays
While McGee is injured just like Sean Doolittle, he actually underwent surgery this offseason (on his elbow) rather than attempting the rehab route. As such, the 28-year-old lefty won't have the same injury-aggravation cloud hanging over his head once he's ready to return, likely by late April. By that point, you'll be glad you snagged a guy who is coming off a 1.89 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 11.4 K/9.
No. 19: Hector Rondon, RP, Chicago Cubs
A 2012 Rule 5 draft pick, Rondon came into his own while earning—and keeping—the Cubs closer gig in 2014 with a 2.42 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 63 whiffs in 63.1 innings. Oh, and he handled 29 of 33 save opportunities. Just be wary: Chicago has some quality fallback options in Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop and Jason Motte, formerly the Cardinals closer.
No. 18: Joaquin Benoit, RP, San Diego Padres
Even at 37 years old, Benoit continues to use his changeup effectively, notching a 1.49 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 10.6 K/9 over 54.1 frames, good for his best-ever 2.32 FIP. Having spent parts of the past two seasons closing, Benoit enters a season with the job for the first time in his 13-year-career. He'll cut it as an RP2 as long as he's healthy.
No. 17: Zach Britton, RP, Baltimore Orioles
A failed top prospect in the O's system as a starting pitcher, Britton found his niche as a late-inning arm last year, compiling an incredible 37 saves (in 41 chances) despite not taking over for Tommy Hunter and getting his first save until May 15. While the 27-year-old's 1.65 ERA and 0.90 WHIP were stellar, his 7.3 K/9 keeps him out of the elite class of closers, as does his .215 BABIP allowed, which ranked as the seventh-lowest in the sport.
Then again, if Britton is going to come close to matching his absurd 75.3 ground-ball percentage again—No. 1 in MLB—it might not matter if the strikeouts don't improve much.
No. 16: Glen Perkins, RP, Minnesota Twins
Following a fantastic season-and-a-half as the Twins stopper, Perkins was merely good in 2014. The 32-year-old's ERA jumped to 3.65, but at least his WHIP remained a respectable 1.18 and his 66-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio was still superb. A lot of the ERA damage, it needs to be noted, came as Perkins was battling through a late-season forearm strain, which can be attributed to the eight earned runs he allowed in his final 6.1 innings.
No. 15: Jonathan Papelbon, RP, Philadelphia Philies
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 2 W, 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 63 K, 39 SV (66.1 IP)
Although Jonathan Papelbon is 34 and the constant subject of trade speculation, with the rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies trying to unload his contract, let's at least acknowledge that he proved the rumors of his demise to be greatly exaggerated, at least in 2014.
The 10-year vet pitched to his best ERA since 2009 and his best WHIP since 2008, showing he still can close effectively, even with a diminished fastball. There's going to be some regression here, but it's safe to count on another 30-save season—yes, even if he stays with the woeful Phillies all year—and the ratios shouldn't hurt.
If Papelbon is your second reliever, you'll be just fine.
No. 14: Fernando Rodney, RP, Seattle Mariners
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 1 W, 2.85 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 76 K, 48 SV (66.1 IP)
One of these years, Fernando Rodney, who turns 38 on March 18, is going to lose it. At least that's what most fantasy owners are waiting for, given how erratic the righty can be. Plus, the Seattle Mariners have a deep, talented bullpen behind him that boasts several fallback options should Rodney falter one time too many.
But as long as Rodney's high strikeout rate and low homer totals help him to continue getting out of the constant high-wire acts he puts himself in, it's not hard to see that his end-of-season totals will provide what you pay for.
You just won't want to watch Rodney along the way, unless you like the idea of biting off your fingernails.
No. 13: Steve Cishek, RP, Miami Marlins
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 4 W, 3.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 84 K, 39 SV (65.1 IP)
Steve Cishek flies under the radar, but he's been a quality closer for two-and-a-half years now.
The 28-year-old's ERA bumped up nearly a run from 2013's 2.33 mark, but he countered that by striking out a career-high 84 and sporting a 2.17 FIP that also was his best yet.
While he's starting to become expensive—his 2015 salary is $6.65 million—the Miami Marlins appear to be going after it this year, so we may not have to worry about the possibility of Cishek being swapped. For once.
No. 12: Koji Uehara, RP, Boston Red sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 6 W, 2.52 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 80 K, 26 SV (64.1 IP)
It's no secret that Koji Uehara faded badly in September, even being removed from the ninth inning by the end of the season, in part because the Boston Red Sox were so far out of contention.
From Aug. 16 to Sept. 4, Uehara allowed 10 earned runs on 14 hits—including four homers—in 4.2 innings as fatigue set in and had its way with him. Bad as that stretch was, his ERA still never went above 2.64 at any point last year.
Uehara is one of the older players in MLB—he turns 40 on April 3—so expecting a third straight campaign of 60-plus innings is asking a lot, but while he's going well, his ratios should be among the elite.
No. 11: Huston Street, RP, Los Angeles Angels
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 2 W, 1.37 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 57 K, 41 SV (59.1 IP)
Impressively, Huston Street came up with the best season of his 10-year career in 2014.
The 31-year-old, who had been a prime trade candidate for years, finally was dealt, going from the San Diego Padres to the Los Angeles Angels in July. Pitching the ninth for the team with the best record in the sport helped Street notch his first 40-save campaign, while his 1.37 ERA was his lowest.
Street's strikeout total won't break 60—or maybe even 50—because he doesn't throw as many innings as other high-end closers. In fact, the last time he topped 60 innings was in 2009. But as long as he's healthy, which has been his biggest bugaboo, few will have a lower ERA or WHIP.
No. 10: Drew Storen, RP, Washington Nationals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 2 W, 1.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 46 K, 11 SV (56.1 IP)
If Drew Storen offered the potential for more strikeouts, he might have placed a couple of spots higher. The 27-year-old has but one season with more than 58 in his five-year career, and his strikeouts-per-nine mark is 8.2 for his career.
That said, Storen got past a tough 2013 with a 1.12 ERA and 0.98 WHIP that were personal bests. And now he has the closer's role all to himself after being supplanted by Rafael Soriano in '13 and the first four months of last season before Storen took it back.
In handling the ninth behind the deepest pitching staff and arguably the top team on paper in baseball, Storen certainly could rack up 40-plus saves, just like he did with 43 back in 2011.
No. 9: Cody Allen, RP, Cleveland Indians
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 6 W, 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 91 K, 24 SV (69.2 IP)
After beginning 2014 behind John Axford in the pecking order, Cody Allen showed he should have been the team's top choice all along, going from the closer of the future to the closer of the present by May.
The 26-year-old improved on his impressive 2013 rookie season (2.43 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 88 K's) by posting a lower ERA and WHIP and compiling more strikeouts.
With a full year's worth of save opportunities ahead of him, Allen is likely to surpass the 30-save threshold—and be an RP1—for the first time.
No. 8: Mark Melancon, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 3 W, 1.90 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 71 K, 33 SV (71.0 IP)
After splitting closing duties with an injured Jason Grilli in 2013, Mark Melancon took over from the slumping 38-year-old last May and never looked back
The right-hander, who will be 30 at the end of March, pitched exactly 71 innings for the second year in a row, and while he came close to repeating his 1.39 ERA from 2013, he more than doubled his saves total (up from 16) and had an even better WHIP (0.96 in '13).
It's about time Melancon opened the year as the ninth-inning man. He's earned it.
No. 7: Dellin Betances, RP, New York Yankees
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 5 W, 1.40 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 135 K, 1 SV (90.0 IP)
It took him quite a while to get to the majors and stick, but former top prospect Dellin Betances arrived in 2014.
Used as an all-around relief ace, the monstrous, 6'8", 260-pounder, who turns 27 on March 23, racked up 135 strikeouts over 90 innings to lead all relievers—by 26—and net the highest total by a reliever since 2010.
The New York Yankees let David Robertson walk this offseason, in part because of what Betances showed last year. While he'll have to have a good spring to fend off free-agent signee Andrew Miller, Betances has top-five closer potential based on his ratios and, especially, the promise of more than 100 strikeouts.
No. 6: Kenley Jansen, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 2 W, 2.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 101 K, 44 SV (65.1 IP)
Think of Kenley Jansen this year much the way you did Aroldis Chapman last year, when the latter was hit in the head by a comebacker, costing him just about all of spring training and the first six weeks of the regular season.
Sure, you have to downgrade Jansen, 27, a couple of spots—he would have ranked No. 4 here—because the surgery he recently underwent to remove a growth from his left foot is expected to sideline him until late April at least, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
But ultimately, Jansen will be productive and likely a top-five closer once he's back on the mound, piling up strikeouts and saving oodles of games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chapman missed about 10-12 appearances and probably a half-dozen save opportunities, which really isn't all that much in the end.
Jansen may not reach the 100-whiff mark for a third straight year, but 30-plus saves and 90 K's is still just about top-notch.
No. 5: Trevor Rosenthal, RP, St. Louis Cardinals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 2 W, 3.20 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 87 K, 45 SV (70.1 IP)
Trevor Rosenthal's follow-up to an excellent rookie season in 2013 went well, but there was one noticeable dip in his performance.
Acting as the full-time closer entering the year for the first time, the 24-year-old's walk rate jumped dramatically to 5.4 per nine. Thus his unacceptable 1.41 WHIP, which some might see as reason not to rank him this highly.
Except Rosenthal sported a quality 3.1 walks-per-nine rate in four minor league seasons, and in 98 big league innings across 2012-13, the mark was just 2.5 per. This isn't a pitcher with poor control, but one who had a bit of a fluky year in that department, perhaps because he pitched in more games than all but two closers.
All told, Rosenthal still registered a whopping 45 saves and 87 strikeouts, and with a little better control, that WHIP will come right back down to respectability.
No. 4: David Robertson, RP, Chicago White Sox
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 4 W, 3.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 96 K, 39 SV (64.1 IP)
It's time to see what David Robertson can do now that he's not only no longer a New York Yankee, but also a $46 million man.
Although 2014 was his first year as a closer, Robertson, who turns 30 in early April, was long one of the sport's top setup men before that. He has been incredibly consistent and remained so even after taking over for none other than Mariano Rivera last season. In fact, over the past four seasons, he has pitched between 60.2 and 66.2 innings and never had a WHIP lower than 1.04 or higher than 1.17.
Oh, and he's struck out 12.3 batters per nine over that time, which is, uh, pretty great.
While Robertson fell just shy of 40 saves a year ago, he could reach that plateau in 2015, and his ratios will be just a click below the elite.
No. 3: Greg Holland, RP, Kansas City Royals
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 1 W, 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 90 K, 46 SV (62.1 IP)
Armed with his mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider, Greg Holland has put together two outstanding seasons as the full-time closer of the Kansas City Royals, the club with arguably baseball's best bullpen.
The 29-year-old has back-to-back years with 40-plus saves (47 in 2013, 46 last year), and here are his ratios in that time: 1.32 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 13.4 K/9.
Yikes.
It's amazing, then, that Holland is only No. 3 on this list, but then, you already know the top two.
No. 2: Craig Kimbrel, RP, Atlanta Braves
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 0 W, 1.61 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 95 K, 47 SV (61.2 IP)
You knew Craig Kimbrel was going to check in around here; the only question was whether he would be at the top.
Really, that call is akin to saying one prefers Coke to Pepsi, as Kimbrel and the guy one spot ahead of him essentially do the same thing without any discernible difference.
The 26-year-old is as good as it gets among fantasy relievers. He is, after all, coming off four straight seasons in which he's both led the NL in saves—never fewer than 42 in any one year—and struck out at least 95 batters.
His ERA and WHIP since 2011? Only 1.51 and 0.88, respectively.
If you want to take Kimbrel as the top reliever overall, go right ahead. We can't argue...
No. 1: Aroldis Chapman, RP, Cincinnati Reds
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2014 Fantasy Stats: 0 W, 2.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 106 K, 36 SV (54.0 IP)
...but that doesn't mean we can't try.
As utterly dominant and consistent as Craig Kimbrel has been and still is, Aroldis Chapman is much the same—but maybe even a little more, especially of the former.
To wit, the 27-year-old owns a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and a 16.2 K/9 rate in his three seasons as closer. That last number, well, it's utterly ridiculous.
Consider: Of the 202 batters Chapman faced last year after returning in May from that scary line drive to the face in spring training, he struck out 106. That translates to 52.5 percent, which is only the highest rate in MLB history. What's more, Chapman's last three seasons all place in the top six in this category—of all time.
While he surprisingly has yet to get to 40 saves in a season, there's no reason that can't happen in 2015. And there's pretty much a guarantee of 100-plus strikeouts here. With a full season slated this time, it's really going to be fun to watch what Chapman can do.
Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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