Ranking Mets' Edwin Díaz, Phillies' Jhoan Duran and Every MLB Closer
The importance of a good bullpen, and especially a reliable closer who can slam the door in the ninth inning, is often magnified during the stretch run and into October when the pressure ramps up to another level.
The value of quality late-inning relievers was abundantly clear at the trade deadline, when contenders paid a steep prospect price to acquire guys such as Jhoan Durán (PHI), Mason Miller (SD), David Bednar (NYY), Kyle Finnegan (DET), Ryan Helsley (NYM), Camilo Doval (NYY), Phil Maton (TEX), Tyler Rogers (NYM) and others.
Ahead, we've ranked every team's closer, focusing on the player who is currently occupying that role, so injured players and guys who have been demoted were not part of the conversation.
Which closer is baseball's best heading into the late-season pressure cooker?
Nos. 30-28
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30. Victor Vodnik, Colorado Rockies
Stats: 35 G, 2/6 SV, 4.01 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, .264 BAA
With Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley both traded at the deadline and rookie Seth Halvorsen nursing a shoulder strain, Vodnik is the de facto closer in Colorado. However, save chances have been few and far between for baseball's worst team, and they have converted just 20 of 40 opportunities on the year.
29. Sean Newcomb, Athletics
Stats: 36 G, 0/3 SV, 3.08 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, .278 BAA
Newcomb started the season as the No. 5 starter in Boston, eventually joining the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations on May 27. The 32-year-old has a 2.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 in 24 appearances since joining the A's. And with Mason Miller gone, he is the best option in an all-hands-on-deck approach to the late innings.
28. Andrew Saalfrank, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stats: 12 G, 0/1 SV, 0.69 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, .208 BAA
Justin Martínez, A.J. Puk, Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson are all on the injured list, while Shelby Miller was traded at the deadline, leaving the D-backs with a bullpen full of unproven options. Saalfrank has solid numbers and was trusted with late-inning work on Monday, but his next save will be the first of his career.
Nos. 27-25
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27. Jose A. Ferrer, Washington Nationals
Stats: 54 G, 1/3 SV, 4.79 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, .274 BAA
The Nationals traded closer Kyle Finnegan at the deadline after he racked up 86 saves over the past three seasons, leaving the club without a proven option in the ninth. Ferrer has late-inning stuff with a fastball that averages 97.5 mph and a changeup that is generating a 42.0 percent whiff rate.
26. Justin Topa, Minnesota Twins
Stats: 44 G, 1/3 SV, 3.70 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, .269 BAA
After trading away Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart and Danny Coulombe during their deadline fire sale, the Twins have a new look at the back of the bullpen. Topa is a late-bloomer who enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Mariners as a 32-year-old in 2023, and he is now the go-to arm at the back of the Minnesota relief corps alongside Cole Sands.
25. Keegan Akin, Baltimore Orioles
Stats: 45 G, 2/6 SV, 3.56 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, .247 BAA
An injury to Félix Bautista robbed the Orioles of one of their most intriguing trade chips and also created a void at the back of the bullpen. The O's have just two saves in August, and both of them belong to Akin, who broke out last season with a 3.32 ERA and 11.1 K/9 in 66 appearances.
Nos. 24-22
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24. Calvin Faucher, Miami Marlins
Stats: 48 G, 11/16 SV, 3.40 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, .235 BAA
The Marlins have given some late-inning looks to 25-year-old Ronny Henriquez, and he looks like the closer of the future. However, he has more frequently pitched in a setup role to get the ball to Faucher, who has logged a career-high 11 saves while keeping hitters off-balance with his five-pitch repertoire.
23. Grant Taylor, Chicago White Sox
Stats: 21 G, 4/5 SV, 3.75 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 11.6 K/9, .238 BAA
Taylor spent his draft season watching LSU win a national championship while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he showed enough potential pre-injury to still be a second-round pick in 2023. After dominating Double-A hitters early in the year, he has pitched his way into the closer's role, though his future might still be in the White Sox rotation.
22. JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals
Stats: 46 G, 3/3 SV, 1.98 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, .231 BAA
Romero has taken the reins in the ninth inning after Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton were both traded at the deadline, and he has gone 3-for-3 on save chances in August. He has been rock solid in a setup role since coming over from the Phillies in the deal that sent Edmundo Sosa the other way at the 2022 deadline.
Nos. 21-19
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21. Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stats: 50 G, 7/9 SV, 2.52 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, .196 BAA
Santana had a 6.26 ERA in 23 appearances with the Yankees last season when he was claimed off waivers by the Pirates. The change of scenery worked wonders, and he posted a 2.44 ERA and 10.2 K/9 in 39 games the rest of the way. He served as a lights-out setup option for David Bednar until he was traded to the Yankees, and now he'll have a chance to prove himself in the closer's role.
20. Phil Maton, Texas Rangers
Stats: 45 G, 3/5 SV, 2.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, .200 BAA
Maton entered the season with just five career saves in 415 appearances with the Padres, Guardians, Astros, Rays and Mets. He outperformed his one-year, $2 million deal with the Cardinals to emerge as one of the top relievers on the summer trade market. With Robert Garcia struggling in August, he now looks like the top ninth-inning option for a Rangers team on the fringe of wild-card contention.
19. Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves
Stats: 50 G, 16/21 SV, 4.34 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, .238 BAA
Iglesias had one of the best seasons of his career in 2024, logging a 1.95 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with 34 saves in 66 appearances. The 35-year-old ranks fifth among active pitchers with 240 career saves And after a shaky start to the season, he has a 1.90 ERA over his last 25 appearances. Will the Braves eventually put him on waivers and give him a chance to catch on with a contender before he walks in free agency this winter?
Nos. 18-16
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18. Kyle Finnegan, Detroit Tigers
Stats: 44 G, 23/29 SV, 3.95 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, .234 BAA
Only Emmanuel Clase (115) and Josh Hader (95) have more saves since the start of the 2023 season than the 89 recorded by Finnegan during that span while pitching primarily for the Nationals. The Tigers acquired him at the deadline, and he has tossed 4.1 scoreless innings with three saves in four appearances.
17. Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stats: 50 G, 26/31 SV, 4.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 12.0 K/9, .215 BAA
An All-Star in 2024 as a setup man out of the Phillies bullpen, Hoffman inked a three-year, $33 million deal with the Blue Jays during the offseason. He struggled mightily in May with two losses, three blown saves and a 13.50 ERA in 12 appearances, but he has righted the ship with a 2.78 ERA and 13 saves in 15 chances since June 1.
16. Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stats: 55 G, 4/6 SV, 2.61 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 12.3 K/9, .188 BAA
The Dodgers are paying Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech a combined $45.6 million this year, yet they are currently leaning on a closer-by-committee approach with four of those guys on the injured list and Treinen (13 G, 4.63 ERA, 1.97 WHIP) struggling to find his form. Vesia has served more as a fireman than a true closer, but he has been far and away the team's best reliever.
Nos. 15-13
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15. Carlos Estévez, Kansas City Royals
Stats: 52 G, 30/36 SV, 2.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, .211 BAA
An All-Star in 2023 and 2025, Estévez has emerged as one of the game's more reliable closers since leaving Coors Field after the 2022 season. He leads the AL with 30 saves, though his six blown saves also trail only Tanner Scott (7) for the MLB lead and he is carrying a career-low 19.6 percent strikeout rate.
14. David Bednar, New York Yankees
Stats: 47 G, 18/20 SV, 2.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, .220 BAA
Bednar was a perfect 17-for-17 on save chances with the Pirates this season, but he blew two of his first three opportunities in a Yankees uniform. The two-time All-Star still looks like the club's best option in the ninth inning with Devin Williams ousted from that role, though he could still cede save chances to Luke Weaver or Camilo Doval depending on how the rest of the season unfolds.
13. Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays
Stats: 45 G, 20/24 SV, 2.64 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, .195 BAA
Fairbanks has reached 20 saves for the third consecutive season, and it was a bit surprising to see him stay put at the trade deadline as his salary will jump from $3.7 million this year to $7 million next season, assuming his club option is exercised. That might not sound like much, but it's a significant enough spike for the cost-conscious Rays to make him a clear trade candidate. Expect trade talks to be revisited this winter.
Nos. 12-10
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12. Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians
Stats: 53 G, 5/8 SV, 2.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 12.6 K/9, .208 BAA
One of the most dominant setup relievers in baseball, Smith has been thrust into the closer's role in Cleveland after Emmanuel Clase was placed on leave amid MLB's investigation into his ties to sports betting. Smith, 26, has two wins and two saves over 6.1 scoreless innings in August, but his lack of experience closing games makes it hard to rank him any higher.
11. Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros
Stats: 53 G, 0/4 SV, 1.67 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 13.2 K/9, .163 BAA
Josh Hader was penciled into the No. 1 spot in these rankings before he was placed on the injured list Tuesday afternoon with a shoulder strain. And with no timetable for his return, closer duties now fall to Abreu. His 36.1 percent strikeout rate ranks fifth in the majors, behind only Mason Miller (41.5%), Aroldis Chapman (38.0%), Edwin Díaz (37.4%) and Hader (36.9%), but he has just nine career saves.
10. Randy Rodríguez, San Francisco Giants
Stats: 47 G, 3/6 SV, 1.51 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 12.1 K/9, .178 BAA
Rodríguez fits into the same category as Cade Smith as a dominant setup reliever suddenly elevated to the closer's job with the stuff to thrive in that role but a limited track record. The 25-year-old earned an All-Star nod in his second season in the big leagues. And after Camilo Doval and Tyler Rogers were both traded, he is now the guy in San Francisco.
Nos. 9-7
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9. Daniel Palencia, Chicago Cubs
Stats: 40 G, 15/17 SV, 1.73 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 .189 BAA
The Cubs opened the season with veteran Ryan Pressly and up-and-comer Porter Hodge as the leading candidates for saves, but Palencia pitched his way into the closer's role in mid-May. The 25-year-old was acquired in the 2021 deadline deal that sent Andrew Chafin to the Athletics. And with a high-octane fastball that averages 99.6 mph and a wipeout slider, he fits the prototypical closer mold.
8. Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers
Stats: 44 G, 28/31 SV, 2.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, .197 BAA
The Brewers continue to do a great job passing the torch to the next in-house option at closer, going from Josh Hader to Devin Williams to Megill, who was a first-time All-Star this year. The towering 6'8" righty has 49 saves in 55 chances over the past two seasons, and he did an excellent job filling in for an injured Williams during the first half of the 2024 season to prove his mettle.
7. Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Angels
Stats: 47 G, 22/23 SV, 2.66 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, .195 BAA
Jansen has his sights set on joining Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman as the only players in MLB history with 500 career saves, and he has been almost perfect nailing down save chances this year. The 37-year-old has not allowed an earned run since June 15, racking up 20.1 scoreless innings over his last 21 appearances.
Nos. 6-4
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6. Emilio Pagán, Cincinnati Reds
Stats: 50 G, 25/28 SV, 2.92 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, .161 BAA
In the second season of a modest two-year, $16 million deal, Pagán has anchored a Cincinnati bullpen that entered the season without a set closer as Alexis Díaz nursed a hamstring injury and then struggled mightily once he finally returned. His .161 opponents' batting average is the sixth-lowest among pitchers with at least 40 innings of work.
5. Robert Suárez, San Diego Padres
Stats: 52 G, 33/38 SV, 3.22 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, .206 BAA
Suárez earned his second straight All-Star selection this season and he currently leads the majors with 33 saves, albeit with five blown saves along the way. The Padres have kept him in the ninth-inning role even after paying a King's ransom to acquire Mason Miller at the trade deadline, and he is on track to fly by his previous career high of 36 saves.
4. Jhoan Durán, Philadelphia Phillies
Stats: 53 G, 20/22 SV, 1.86 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, .209 BAA
The Phillies have had a revolving door in the late innings for several years running, and that should finally be halted by the addition of Durán, who is one of baseball's most overpowering relievers. With a fastball that averages 100.3 mph and a lethal splitter/knuckle curve pairing, he has allowed just one hit while logging four scoreless innings and four saves in his first four outings in a Phillies uniform.
Nos. 3-1
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3. Andrés Muñoz, Seattle Mariners
Stats: 47 G, 27/33 SV, 1.37 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, .147 BAA
The six blown saves keep Muñoz out of the top two in these rankings, but he has been as dominant as any reliever in baseball when everything is clicking. His slider is one of the most unhittable pitches in baseball, generating a 50.5 percent whiff rate, despite the fact that he throws it more than any other pitch.
2. Edwin Díaz, New York Mets
Stats: 45 G, 23/25 SV, 1.60 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 13.4 K/9, .163 BAA
Díaz ranks third among all qualified relievers with a 37.4 percent strikeout rate, and after allowing six earned runs in his first 10 appearances, he has a minuscule 0.51 ERA over 35.1 innings going back to April 23. His $21.55 million salary makes him the highest-paid reliever in baseball, but he has been earning that hefty figure here in 2025.
1. Aroldis Chapman, Boston Red Sox
Stats: 50 G, 21/23 SV, 1.18 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, .134 BAA
It looked like Chapman was cooked when he posted a 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and minus-0.2 WAR during his final season with the Yankees in 2022. Three years later, and following stints with the Royals, Rangers and Pirates, he is again one of baseball's elite bullpen arms. The 37-year-old still regularly operates in the upper 90s, and his .134 opponents' batting average is his best since the 2014 season.
