10 Relief Pitchers Who Will Immediately Help Your Fantasy Team

Each year, fantasy owners are plagued by closers who continually under-perform and seem determined to take the rest of the team down with them. Despite your growing suspicion of collusion, you stick with them until it’s too late.

Before you know it, your team has established permanent residency in the bottom of the standings.

To make matters worse, when you finally try to trade such a player, all offers seem anything but favorable, and at times insulting considering the amount that you paid on draft day.

It’s like betting on the favorite in a point spread and then watching them get blown out and lose their best player to a season-ending injury.

However, there is hope.

Even in the shallowest of fantasy leagues, the value of a hitter will usually always outweigh the value of a pitcher.

For fantasy owners in leagues with at least 12 teams, you can always find great value in the unowned, middle-relief pitchers on the waiver wire.

Other than closers, there are very few relief pitchers owned in more than 10 percent of ESPN leagues.

Many of these pitchers possess the stuff to close and will likely graduate to such a role within a few years. However, with the July trade deadline rapidly approaching, it is essential to consider that some of these guys may receive an opportunity to close games earlier than they had anticipated.

Here are 10 relief pitchers who can immediately help your fantasy team and are sure to increase in value over the remainder of the 2010 season.

Although these guys cannot consistently guarantee you saves, they will continue to stymie opposing hitters and put themselves in a position for more wins, holds, and some saves.

Arthur Rhodes, LHP: Cincinnati Reds

2010 Season: 2-1, 31 IP, 15 H, ER, 10 BB, 29 K, 0.29 ERA, 0.81 WHIP

*Owned in 1.3 percent of all ESPN leagues*

At 40 years young, Arthur Rhodes is in the midst of what may ultimately be the best season of his career. During his 19-year career, he has been one of baseball's best lefty specialists—a guy that most teams always make room for in their bullpen.

This season, Rhodes has surrendered only one earned run in 31 IP, giving him a video-game-like 0.29 ERA. Furthermore, since giving up that earned run on April 10th, Rhodes has gone 29 IP without doing so again.

It's inevitable that CoCo Cordero will hit the DL again, and when he does, I believe that Rhodes will receive some save opportunities.

Andrew Cashner, RHP: Chicago Cubs

2010 Season: 8.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.84 WHIP

*Owned in 0.1 percent of all ESPN leagues*

Cashner, the Cubs' first round selection (19th overall) in the 2008 First Year Player Draft, was recalled from AAA on May 31st after his torrid ascent through the minors this season.

The 6'6", 210 lb. right-hander will be used late in the game and for situational matchups—both scenarios that often lead to holds and vulture wins.

Only a Carlos Marmol injury would put Cashner in contention for some saves.

Joaquin Benoit, RHP: Tampa Bay Rays

2010 Season: 18 IP, 6 H, ER, 4 BB, 26 K, 1 sv, 0.50 ERA, 0.56 WHIP

*Owned in .5 percent of all ESPN Leagues*

After too many unsuccessful years as both a starter and reliever with the Texas Rangers, Joaquin Benoit has reinvented himself as a reliever for the Tampa Bay Rays.

At 32, Benoit is as filthy as ever, and based upon his 6.50 K/BB ratio, it appears that his control issues are a thing of the past.

According to FanGraphs, Benoit's 17 percent swinging strike percentage is the best among all relievers. Considering that he already has one save under his belt and is striking out 13 per nine innings, don't be surprised if Benoit notches a few more saves this season.

He seems like the ideal candidate for a two-inning save or if Rafael Soriano needs a night off.

Evan Meek, RHP: Pittsburgh Pirates

2010 Season: 3-1, 40 IP, 24 H, 3 ER, 9 BB, 36 K, 1 sv, 0.68 ERA, 0.83 WHIP

*Owned in 7.7 percent of all ESPN leagues*

Like Benoit, Meek has turned the corner in 2010 by eliminating the control problems that have plagued him in recent years. He has been a glaring bright spot on an otherwise depressing Pirates pitching staff.

Running his fastball as high as 97mph, Meek undoubtedly has the stuff to close, and many believe it will happen at some point this season.

It has been speculated that Octavio Dotel might be gone come the trading deadline, so I highly suggest snagging Meek while he is still available.

Ryan Webb, RHP: San Diego Padres

2010 Season: 2-1, 25.1 IP, 16 H, 2 ER, 7 BB, 17 K, 0.71 ERA, 0.91 WHIP

*Owned in 0.1 percent of all ESPN leagues*

A fourth-round pick by Oakland in 2004, Ryan Webb is the latest success story to emerge from the San Diego Padres bullpen. Lost in the mix of Heath Bell, Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams, and Edward Mujica is the 6'6" Webb, who currently sports a 0.71 ERA through 25.1 IP.

If Heath Bell ends up being traded, Webb is a long shot for closer. It is more than likely that Adams or Gregerson would receive the bulk of the opportunities.

Darren Oliver, LHP: Texas Rangers

2010 Season: 31.1 IP, 21 H, 5 ER, 7 BB, 37 K, 1.35 ERA, .89 WHIP, 1 sv, 9 holds

*Owned in 0.4 percent of all ESPN leagues*

Like Arthur Rhodes, Darren Oliver has made a career out of being a left-handed pitcher and is currently putting together the best season of his career.

Since moving back to the American League with the Angels in 2007, Oliver has been lights out, going 15-3 with a 3.15 ERA. It is unlikely that D.O. will see any more save opportunities this season behind Neftali Feliz and Frank Francisco.

But if the past three seasons have taught us anything, it's that he is good for four to six wins and 20-plus holds.

Luke Gregerson, RHP: San Diego Padres

2010 Season: 1-2, 35.2 IP, 14 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 43 K, 1.51 ERA, 0.48 WHIP

*Owned in 5.4 percent of all ESPN leagues*

Before the season even started, there were rumors circulating regarding Heath Bell being traded away at some point this season. Due to the massive proportions in which it was discussed, it seemed as though the Padres were expecting a dismal 2010 campaign.

However, they currently sit at 41-29, good for first in the National League West and 1.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants. In my opinion, the Padres should trade Heath Bell for another bat; they have nothing to lose in letting Gregerson or Adams close games.

With a 14.33 K/BB ratio, Gregerson continues to exhibit Maddux-esque control and will undoubtedly be asked to close games at some point this season.

Jason Motte, RHP: St. Louis Cardinals

2010 Season: 2-2, 29 IP, 20 H, 7 ER, 10 BB, 35 K, 2 sv, 5 holds, 2.17 ERA, 1.03 WHIP

*Owned in 1.6 percent of all ESPN leagues*

The Cardinals have been riding the Ryan Franklin train for far too long, and they know it.

At the beginning of the 2009 season, Jason Motte was given the very first save opportunity of the year, which he promptly blew. Little did we know that that game would foreshadow his entire season: 4-4, three blown saves, 15 holds, 4.76 ERA.

However, we should see Motte and his 98-mph heater break through as the Cardinals closer at some point this season. Every time the man takes the mound, he is overflowing with so much intensity that he screams profanities into his glove after recording an out—the best ones come before the first batter and after the last out of each inning.

Last week, Franklin acknowledged that he is contemplating retiring after the 2011 season. Now, it's just a matter of whether the Cardinals want to stay on the train...

Sergio Santos, RHP: Chicago White Sox

2010 Season: 21.2 IP, 19 H, 6 ER, 14 BB, 28 K, 8 holds, 2.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP

*Owned in 0.1 percent of all ESPN leagues*

Sergio Santos is possibly this year's best American League rookie, and most baseball fans have probably never heard of him.

Santos was actually drafted in the first round (27th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002...as a shortstop. After trolling through the minors for six seasons, reaching AAA five different times but never getting the call, the White Sox signed Santos as a pitcher prior to the 2009 season.

That year, in just his first season as a professional pitcher, he was fast-tracked through the minor league system despite struggling equally at each level.

This spring, Santos showed up to spring training in better shape (at 6'3", I have seen him listed as anywhere from 210-240 lbs) and was the talk of the camp.

Despite his minimal minor league experience, both Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams saw a fledgling star in Sergio. With a 94-97 mph fastball, power slider, and ever-improving changeup, he has become the White Sox primary right-handed setup man for Bobby Jenks.

Although there has been talk regarding the sale of Jenks, it looks as though the White Sox might need him after winning 11 out of their last 12 games. If Jenks does get moved, Santos should get the nod to close over Matt Thornton, who has an unimpressive track record closing games.

Drew Storen, RHP: Washington Nationals

2010 Season: 2-1, 16.1 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 12 K, 5 holds, 2.08 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

*Owned by 1.8 percent of all ESPN leagues*

With all of the well-deserved hype surrounding Stephen Strasburg, some people may have forgotten about the other pitcher that the Nationals drafted last year in the first round (10th overall).

In his 53.2 IP in the minor leagues, Storen contended that there was nothing left to prove at that level by going 2-1 with 15 saves, a 1.68 ERA, and a 0.82 WHIP. I wouldn't be overly concerned with the seven BB in 16.1 IP that he has issued since being called up; it has never been a criticism of Storen.

Rather, I would attribute it to the discipline of major league hitters—even Strasburg doesn't have hitters chasing his filth like he did in the minors. If the Nationals ever decide to throw in the towel and part ways with Matt Capps, Storen will assume closing duties.

Storen has been tagged as the Nationals' closer of the future since he was drafted, so I would expect things to happen sooner rather than later in D.C.