MLB Position Power Rankings: B/R's Top 30 Relief Pitchers
We've come to the final entry in our positional power rankings series—the relief pitchers.
There's not a more fickle group of players in the majors, and that's exactly why the price of proven late-inning arms has continued to skyrocket in recent years.
Aroldis Chapman (five years, $86 million), Kenley Jansen (five years, $80 million) and Mark Melancon (four years, $62 million) all cashed in this winter in free agency, and we saw last summer the prospect value placed on the likes of Chapman and Andrew Miller.
At any rate, our mission here was to rank the game's best relief pitchers. It's important to note that the goal was to identify the 30 best relievers for the 2017 season—and the 2017 season alone.
Someone like Edwin Diaz has more upside than Mark Melancon going forward, but is he going to be better this year? Think of this as a big board for the position if the entire league were to redraft for one all-or-nothing season in 2017.
Previous top-30 series entries: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstops, Third Basemen, Center Fielders, Corner Outfielders, Starting Pitchers
30. RHP Blake Treinen, Washington Nationals
1 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 73 G, 1/3 SV, 22 HLD, 2.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.5 K/9
2016 Advanced: 24.0 K%, 11.8 BB%, 84.0 LOB%, 27.8 Soft%
WAR: 1.9
Player Outlook
Blake Treinen can light up a radar gun with a mid-90s fastball, but it's his bowling-ball sinker that has helped him turn into one of the game's top setup options. Throwing that pitch roughly 60 percent of the time, he induced a 65.9 percent groundball rate last season, good for second among pitchers with at least 50 innings of work—trailing only Zach Britton (80.0 percent).
It looks like Shawn Kelley will get the first crack at closer duties for the Washington Nationals and hard-throwing rookie Koda Glover will also be in the mix at some point, but it's not out of the question to think Treinen could find himself in the ninth-inning role somewhere down the line in 2017.
After a breakout season, he's just coming into his own entering his age-29 campaign.
Honorable Mention: Pedro Baez (LAD), Joe Blanton (WAS), Tyler Clippard (NYY), Chris Devenski (HOU), Sean Doolittle (OAK), Sam Dyson (TEX), Mychal Givens (BAL), Luke Gregerson (HOU), Raisel Iglesias (CIN), Jim Johnson (ATL), Derek Law (SF), Michael Lorenzen (CIN), Hector Neris (PHI), Darren O'Day (BAL), David Robertson (CWS), Francisco Rodriguez (DET), Hector Rondon (CHC), Kevin Siegrist (STL), Matt Strahm (KC), Hunter Strickland (SF), Brad Ziegler (MIA)
29. RHP Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs
2 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 54 G, 0/4 SV, 21 HLD, 2.85 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 11.4 K/9
2016 Advanced: 32.1 K%, 8.0 BB%, 74.3 LOB%, 21.3 Soft%
WAR: 0.7
Player Outlook
Pedro Strop has one of the best sliders in baseball. He threw that wipeout breaking ball over 50 percent of the time last season and held opposing hitters to a .124 average and .124 ISO while racking up 46 of his 60 strikeouts with the pitch. The big key for him is setting it up by locating his mid-90s fastball, something he did much more consistently last season.
Essentially, he's the second coming of Carlos Marmol for the Chicago Cubs, someone who pitches off his plus-plus slider but can get into trouble when he doesn't have his fastball command—sorry to go there, Cubs fans.
Even with Hector Rondon moving out of the closer's role and Koji Uehara added in free agency, it still looks like Strop will be the primary eighth-inning option for the North Siders.
28. RHP Cam Bedrosian, Los Angeles Angels
3 of 30
Age: 25
2016 Standard: 45 G, 1/2 SV, 7 HLD, 1.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 11.4 K/9
2016 Advanced: 31.5 K%, 8.6 BB%, 87.4 LOB%, 11.6 Soft%
WAR: 1.3
Player Outlook
Cam Bedrosian was not exposed to many high-leverage situations last season. However, the continued development of his slider as a second plus offering has made him a viable ninth-inning option for the Los Angeles Angels.
"As far as mastering it, understanding it and making it functional, it took some time for Cam," manager Mike Scioscia told Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. "What he did last year was lights out. I think he’s got the confidence to use it in key situations."
The 25-year-old threw his slider roughly 32 percent of the time behind a 96 mph fastball, holding opposing hitters to a .164 average with just one extra-base hit (a double) against that breaking ball.
He still has to prove he can handle the pressure of closing out games, but the tools are there for him to succeed.
27. RHP Kyle Barraclough, Miami Marlins
4 of 30
Age: 26
2016 Standard: 75 G, 0/4 SV, 29 HLD, 2.85 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 14.0 K/9
2016 Advanced: 36.9 K%, 14.4 BB%, 74.8 LOB%, 19.7 Soft%
WAR: 1.4
Player Outlook
The Miami Marlins shipped ousted closer Steve Cishek to the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline in 2015 in exchange for reliever Kyle Barraclough. A year later, he was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball.
He pitches almost exclusively with a fastball that averaged 96.5 mph and a lethal slider that held opposing hitters to a .110 average, .044 ISO and resulted in a whopping 90 strikeouts thanks to a 51.5 percent whiff/swing rate.
There's still plenty of room for him to improve—most notably his 5.4 BB/9 walk rate—but he's already one of the game's most overpowering relievers and a serious weapon in a loaded Marlins bullpen.
26. RHP Matt Bush, Texas Rangers
5 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 58 G, 1/4 SV, 22 HLD, 2.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 8.9 K/9
2016 Advanced: 25.1 K%, 5.8 BB%, 76.8 LOB%, 23.4 Soft%
WAR: 2.1
Player Outlook
It was a long, tumultuous path to MLB success for Matt Bush. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft never made much progress as a position player and hit rock bottom in 2012 when he spent 39 months in prison stemming from a drunk driving accident.
The Texas Rangers gave him a second chance upon his release and shifted Bush to the mound, where his power arm held plenty of intrigue. The 31-year-old finally realized his MLB dream last season when he made his debut on May 13, and he quickly emerged as one of the top relievers for the AL West champs.
With a fastball that averaged 98.3 mph and a solid curveball-slider combination to back it, he has the stuff to close and could be next in line for that job if Sam Dyson falters.
25. RHP David Phelps, Miami Marlins
6 of 30
Age: 30
2016 Standard: 64 G, 5 GS, 4/10 SV, 25 HLD, 2.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 11.8 K/9
2016 Advanced: 32.4 K%, 10.8 BB%, 84.2 LOB%, 17.2 Soft%
WAR: 2.6
Player Outlook
From time to time, a pitcher who is capable of holding down a spot in the starting rotation is deemed too valuable as a reliever to be moved into a regular starting role. That's where David Phelps finds himself with the Miami Marlins.
The 30-year-old was equally effective in both roles last season:
- Starter: 5 GS, 2-1, 2.22 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 32 K, 24.1 IP
- Reliever: 59 G, 5-5, 2.31 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 82 K, 62.1 IP
Phelps had a clear path to a full-time rotation spot at the start of the offseason, but the Marlins went out and added Edinson Volquez, Dan Straily and Jeff Locke to keep him in the bullpen. The team also added Junichi Tazawa and Brad Ziegler in free agency, which will allow Phelps to move from the eighth-inning role to the multi-inning fireman role that teams have begun adopting in recent years.
24. RHP Will Harris, Houston Astros
7 of 30
Age: 32
2016 Standard: 66 G, 12/15 SV, 28 HLD, 2.25 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 9.7 K/9
2016 Advanced: 27.1 K%, 5.9 BB%, 79.9 LOB%, 17.8 Soft%
WAR: 1.7
Player Outlook
It took nothing more than a waiver claim for the Houston Astros to add Will Harris to their relief corps prior to the 2015 season. Since then, the 32-year-old has posted a 2.07 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 9.1 K/9 while tallying 14 saves and 41 holds, emerging as the most reliable arm in a bullpen that has gone through some ups and downs.
Harris is a two-pitch guy with a cutter that sits in the 93 mph range and a terrific curveball that held opposing hitters to a .174 batting average with zero extra-base hits and accounted for 40 of his strikeouts.
He was an All-Star for the first time last season, and after spending a few months in the closer's role, he'll return to the eighth inning as the primary setup man for young closer Ken Giles.
23. RHP Tyler Thornburg, Boston Red Sox
8 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 67 G, 13/21 SV, 20 HLD, 2.15 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 12.1 K/9
2016 Advanced: 34.2 K%, 9.5 BB%, 81.3 LOB%, 17.8 Soft%
WAR: 2.5
Player Outlook
Tyler Thornburg finally turned potential into production last season for the Milwaukee Brewers. After a platelet-rich plasma injection for a troublesome elbow that shut him down midway through the 2014 season and spending a good chunk of the 2015 season in Triple-A, he carved out a spot at the back of the bullpen, eventually taking over the closer's role when Will Smith and Jeremy Jeffress were traded.
The 28-year-old entered the season with a 3.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 over 152.2 career innings in parts of four season at the MLB level.
However, a sharp downturn in his hits allowed (8.1 to 5.1 H/9) and an uptick in his strikeout rate (8.9 to 12.1 K/9) took him from intriguing arm to standout setup man last season.
He still has the three-pitch mix of a starter—a mid-90s fastball, power curveball and plus changeup—and he's able to keep hitters off balance more than most late-inning relievers as a result.
Thornburg will begin the season on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder, and the Boston Red Sox are counting on a quick return to health after paying a steep price to acquire him this winter.
22. RHP Shawn Kelley, Washington Nationals
9 of 30
Age: 32
2016 Standard: 67 G, 7/9 SV, 13 HLD, 2.64 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 12.4 K/9
2016 Advanced: 35.7 K%, 4.9 BB%, 83.8 LOB%, 16.5 Soft%
WAR: 1.4
Player Outlook
Shawn Kelley has just 11 saves over the course of his eight-year MLB career. Yet, all signs point to a Washington Nationals team with legitimate World Series aspirations trusting him with the closer's role.
The 32-year-old certainly has the swing-and-miss stuff to succeed in that role with an 11.8 K/9 rate over the past four seasons, a mark that ranks eighth among pitchers with at least 200 appearances during that span.
Kelley has the prototypical mid-90s fastball and plus slider that teams look for in a late-inning arm, and the Nationals saw enough in him last offseason to give him a three-year, $15 million deal. That will be an absolute steal if he takes the ninth-inning job and runs with it.
21. RHP Brad Brach, Baltimore Orioles
10 of 30
Age: 30
2016 Standard: 71 G, 2/7 SV, 24 HLD, 2.05 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.5 K/9
2016 Advanced: 29.6 K%, 8.0 BB%, 81.7 LOB%, 20.6 Soft%
WAR: 2.6
Player Outlook
Brad Brach has seen his career take off since joining the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander was acquired from the San Diego Padres prior to the 2014 season in exchange for minor league pitcher Devin Jones, whose pro career ended a year later at the High-A level.
Brach assumed a key setup role during the 2015 season, then took a step forward in ERA (2.72 to 2.05), WHIP (1.20 to 1.04) and strikeout rate (10.1 to 10.5 K/9) and an even bigger step in walk rate (4.3 to 2.8 BB/9).
The 30-year-old has a mid-90s fastball that he backs with a changeup and slider that are both capable of serving as out pitches.
Brach was an All-Star for the first time last season, and with Darren O'Day coming off a less-than-dominant performance, he'll again be counted on as the primary setup option for Zach Britton.
20. RHP Nate Jones, Chicago White Sox
11 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 71 G, 3/12 SV, 28 HLD, 2.29 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 10.2 K/9
2016 Advanced: 29.2 K%, 5.5 BB%, 81.9 LOB%, 21.0 Soft%
WAR: 2.3
Player Outlook
It's only a matter of time before Nate Jones is closing games for the Chicago White Sox. He's probably already a better option than incumbent closer David Robertson, whose hefty salary makes him a prime trade candidate for the rebuilding club.
The 31-year-old lost most of the 2014 season and a sizable portion of 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and back surgery, but he returned with a vengeance this past season. Now that he is back to full health, he's finally showing what he can do.
Jones averages 97.4 mph with his fastball and pairs it with one of the best sliders in the game (.094 BAA, .037 ISO, 66 K), all while hiding the ball well with an unorthodox, short-arm delivery.
If Robertson moves early, he could be the breakout closer of 2017, even on a team that doesn't figure to see a ton of save opportunities.
19. RHP Ken Giles, Houston Astros
12 of 30
Age: 26
2016 Standard: 69 G, 15/20 SV, 18 HLD, 4.11 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 14.0 K/9
2016 Advanced: 35.7 K%, 8.7 BB%, 72.6 LOB%, 19.1 Soft%
WAR: -0.2
Player Outlook
Ken Giles has the stuff to be an elite closer, and he was largely overpowering last season. His ERA was inflated by one truly awful outing in September (0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 6 ER), as he had a 3.31 ERA over his other 68 appearances.
The 26-year-old carried an average fastball velocity of 98.0 mph, and his slider was as effective as any in the game, holding opposing hitters to a .093 average and .093 ISO while tallying 84 strikeouts.
The Astros have plenty of options in the bullpen with Luke Gregerson, Will Harris and Chris Devenski among their relief arms, but it's Giles who will see the bulk of the closer duties.
"Your actions speak louder than any sort of declaration that I (make), and more times than not Ken's going to be at the back of the game. But I always want to leave it open to the fact that I might want to do something a little bit differently," manager A.J. Hinch told Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.
If the pieces fall into place, he could be a top-five closer on a legitimate contender.
18. RHP A.J. Ramos, Miami Marlins
13 of 30
Age: 30
2016 Standard: 67 G, 40/43 SV, 2 HLD, 2.81 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 10.3 K/9
2016 Advanced: 26.3 K%, 12.6 BB%, 78.1 LOB%, 18.7 Soft%
WAR: 1.2
Player Outlook
A.J. Ramos took over the closer's role from a struggling Steve Cishek during the 2015 season. He went on to convert 32 of 36 save chances with a 2.70 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 55 games the rest of the way, before following that up with an equally effective season closing out games in 2016.
That said, his walk rate (3.3 to 4.9 BB/9) and hits allowed rate (5.8 to 7.3 H/9) both spiked last season, leaving him with a less-than-stellar 1.36 WHIP that ranked 14th among the 16 closers with at least 30 saves.
He threw six different pitches last season, but he relies mostly on a low-90s fastball, a good slider and a terrific changeup.
His leash may be a bit shorter than some closers on this list with Kyle Barraclough waiting in the wings in the Miami bullpen, but there's no reason to think Ramos can't be a standout ninth-inning option once again.
17. LHP Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates
14 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 70 G, 15/20 SV, 23 HLD, 3.06 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.7 K/9
2016 Advanced: 21.3 K%, 7.4 BB%, 80.3 LOB%, 19.9 Soft%
WAR: 1.3
Player Outlook
Arguably the best left-handed setup man this side of Andrew Miller entering the 2016 season, Tony Watson found himself thrust into the closer's role after Mark Melancon was traded at the deadline. The 31-year-old held his own in that role, converting 15 of 18 save chances over the final two months of the season, and now he's set to enter his first full season closing out games.
Unlike most closers, Watson's changeup is his best secondary offering (.135 BAA, .081 ISO, 25 K) and it makes him equally effective against left-handed and right-handed hitters.
He also mixes in the occasional slider, which is an effective offering in its own right.
Watson could follow the same path as Melancon this summer as he enters his final year of arbitration.
16. RHP Addison Reed, New York Mets
15 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 80 G, 1/5 SV, 40 HLD, 1.97 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 10.5 K/9
2016 Advanced: 29.9 K%, 4.3 BB%, 81.6 LOB%, 12.5 Soft%
WAR: 2.9
Player Outlook
Addison Reed led the majors with 40 holds last season, and he's no stranger to protecting leads. During his time with the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks from 2012 to 2014, he racked up 101 saves before joining the New York Mets in an August waiver trade in 2015.
The 28-year-old was lights-out setting up Jeurys Familia last season, and he'll briefly fill the closer's role once again this season while Familia serves a 15-game suspension.
He leans heavily on his mid-90s fastball, throwing it over 70 percent of the time, while a wipeout slider that held opponents to a .185 average and .037 ISO serves as his putaway pitch.
Reed will earn $7.75 million in his final year of arbitration, and he stands to cash in when he reaches free agency for the first time next winter.
15. RHP Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays
16 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 57 G, 37/40 SV, 1 HLD, 1.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 11.3 K/9
2016 Advanced: 31.4 K%, 6.6 BB%, 93.0 LOB%, 15.2 Soft%
WAR: 2.2
Player Outlook
A spring injury to Brad Boxberger opened the door for Alex Colome to serve as the Tampa Bay Rays closer at the start of last season.
The former top prospect took that opportunity and ran with it, earning a spot on the All-Star team and converting 37 of 40 save chances.
Colome spent the 2015 season in a swingman role, posting a 3.94 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.2 K/9 in 109.2 innings over 13 starts and 30 relief appearances.
He ditched his changeup and curveball as a full-time reliever last season and became a two-pitch guy with a four-seam fastball that averaged 95.5 mph and a cutter that sat at 89.5 mph and limited opponents to a .143 BAA, .036 ISO and 51 strikeouts.
The 28-year-old won't be a free agent for the first time until after the 2020 season, making him one of the most valuable commodities on the Tampa Bay roster.
14. RHP Seung Hwan Oh, St. Louis Cardinals
17 of 30
Age: 34
2016 Standard: 76 G, 19/23 SV, 14 HLD, 1.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 11.6 K/9
2016 Advanced: 32.9 K%, 5.8 BB%, 80.9 LOB%, 15.3 Soft%
WAR: 2.8
Player Outlook
To say Seung Hwan Oh was a pleasant surprise for the St. Louis Cardinals would be putting it mildly. After piling up 357 saves over 11 seasons pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization and Japanese League, Oh made his way stateside last offseason and signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal that included a $2.75 million option for 2017.
The 34-year-old began the season pitching in middle relief but took over closer duties in place of a struggling Trevor Rosenthal at the start of July. He recorded his first save on July 2 and went on to post a 2.27 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 while converting 19 of 22 save chances over his final 37 appearances.
The South Korean native might not have a lengthy MLB career given his age, but his mid-90s fastball and plus slider should play at a bargain once again in 2017.
13. RHP Kelvin Herrera, Kansas City Royals
18 of 30
Age: 27
2016 Standard: 72 G, 12/15 SV, 26 HLD, 2.75 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 10.8 K/9
2016 Advanced: 30.4 K%, 4.2 BB%, 77.0 LOB%, 14.8 Soft%
WAR: 2.0
Player Outlook
Kelvin Herrera has been one of the league's elite setup men for several years now, and he'll finally get a chance to show what he can do in the closer's role in 2017.
The 27-year-old has appeared in at least 70 games in four of the past five seasons and enters the year with dazzling career numbers. In 351 total appearances, he's pitched to a 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 9.1 K/9, tallying 17 saves and 107 holds along the way.
Herrera can bring the heat with an average fastball velocity of 97.8 mph, and he complements it with a dynamite changeup (.158 BAA, .000 ISO) and a plus slider (.133 BAA, .067 ISO).
After several seasons in the shadows of Wade Davis and Greg Holland, he's finally ready to be the man in the Kansas City bullpen.
12. RHP Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
19 of 30
Age: 27
2016 Standard: 78 G, 51/56 SV, 2.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 9.7 K/9
2016 Advanced: 26.2 K%, 9.7 BB%, 74.8 LOB%, 31.7 Soft%
WAR: 2.0
Player Outlook
Jeurys Familia set a franchise record with 51 saves for the New York Mets last season. However, a strong case can be made that he was a more effective pitcher during the 2015 season.
His ERA (1.85 to 2.55), WHIP (1.00 to 1.21), hits allowed (6.8 to 7.3 H/9), walk rate (2.2 to 3.6 BB/9) and strikeout rate (9.9 to 9.7 K/9) all went in the wrong direction. As a result, he may be a bit lower here than you would have expected given his gaudy save total.
One thing that did trend in a positive direction was his ability to keep the ball on the ground, as his heavy sinker induced a career-high 63.3 percent groundball rate.
11. RHP Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians
20 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 67 G, 32/35 SV, 2.51 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11.5 K/9
2016 Advanced: 33.0 K%, 10.2 BB%, 79.2 LOB%, 13.3 Soft%
WAR: 2.1
Player Outlook
Cody Allen might not be the best reliever on his own team. He's an awfully good reliever, though, and he has been since breaking into the league back in 2012.
Since assuming the closer's role in 2014, he's converted 90 of 101 save chances with a 2.52 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 12.0 K/9. He was also phenomenal in his first postseason pitching in that high-leverage role last October. Allen didn't allow a run in 10 appearances spanning 13.2 innings, recording six saves and one hold while posting a 24:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
The 28-year-old offers up a mid-90s fastball and a terrific curveball that limited hitters to a .113 average and .047 ISO while accounting for 54 of his strikeouts.
10. RHP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
21 of 30
Age: 29
2016 Standard: 73 G, 12/17 SV, 28 HLD, 3.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 15.5 K/9
2016 Advanced: 42.1 K%, 9.4 BB%, 68.4 LOB%, 25.7 Soft%
WAR: 1.1
Player Outlook
Dellin Betances has been an absolute horse for the New York Yankees the past three seasons. He leads all relievers in innings pitched (247) and strikeouts (392) during that span, and his 8.6 WAR trails only Zach Britton (9.3) and Wade Davis (8.9).
As good as he's been in a setup role, he struggled when tasked with closing out games last season, posting a 4.37 ERA and 1.41 WHIP while converting 12 of 14 save chances over the final two months of the year.
He'll be back to pitching in the eighth inning once again after Aroldis Chapman was re-signed during the offseason.
His fastball clocked in at 98.4 mph on the radar gun last season, and his curveball accounted for 103 strikeouts while holding opposing hitters to a .126 average and .052 ISO, all from a good downward plane thanks to his 6'8" frame.
9. RHP Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays
22 of 30
Age: 22
2016 Standard: 72 G, 36/42 SV, 2.68 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 10.0 K/9
2016 Advanced: 28.5 K%, 4.9 BB%, 82.5 LOB%, 25.4 Soft%
WAR: 2.0
Player Outlook
Roberto Osuna was a starter during his time in the minors, but he's quickly carved out a spot as one of the game's best closers here in the early stages of his career.
Still just 22, Osuna was the sixth-youngest player to appear in an MLB game last season, but he performed like a seasoned vet closing out games for a contending Toronto Blue Jays team.
Osuna threw his slider more and his changeup less last season, and that seemed to make both pitches more effective. He'll likely continue to tinker with his repertoire as he sorts out how to best use a starter's arsenal in a late-inning role, but there's no question he has the stuff.
As for returning to starting down the road: "I like to be a reliever because I like to pitch very often," he told John Lott of Vice Sports last spring. "I would get bored if I pitch every few days. I think I'm the guy who wants to be out there every day and help the team in the most ways that I can."
Fair enough.
8. RHP Wade Davis, Chicago Cubs
23 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 45 G, 27/30 SV, 1.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.8 K/9
2016 Advanced: 26.7 K%, 9.1 BB%, 82.7 LOB%, 26.4 Soft%
WAR: 1.8
Player Outlook
There's no question Wade Davis is capable of being one of the game's top-tier relievers. The question is whether the forearm issues that resulted in a pair of trips to the disabled list and his staying put at the trade deadline last season will rear their ugly head again in 2017.
If not for those concerns, he'd be an easy choice for a spot inside the top five.
Since making the full-time move to the bullpen in 2014, Davis has posted a 1.18 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 11.5 K/9 over 185 appearances. That's next-level dominance from a guy who ran up a 4.26 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over his first five seasons in the league and was essentially a throw-in in the Wil Myers-James Shields trade.
There's plenty on the line for the 31-year-old this season as he gets set to enter a contract year with a Chicago Cubs team that's eyeing another title.
7. RHP Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners
24 of 30
Age: 23
2016 Standard: 49 G, 18/21 SV, 13 HLD, 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 15.3 K/9
2016 Advanced: 40.6 K%, 6.9 BB%, 83.9 LOB%, 18.9 Soft%
WAR: 1.4
Player Outlook
Not a bad debut for Edwin Diaz.
A starting pitching prospect working at the Double-A level when the 2016 season began, Diaz made his MLB debut out of the bullpen June 6, and by season's end, he was closing games for a Seattle Mariners team in the playoff hunt.
The Mariners used the 23-year-old in a middle relief role out of the gate, but he quickly worked his way into the eighth inning before taking over closer duties at the start of August.
Over the final two months of the year, he converted 18 of 21 save chances with a 3.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 13.2 K/9, running out of gas down the stretch with a pair of blown saves and a loss in his final five appearances. Still, the future looks bright for the young right-hander.
He worked strictly fastball-slider after making the move to the bullpen, and his slider was nearly unhittable, holding batters to a .141 average and .035 ISO while accounting for 50 of his 88 strikeouts.
His 15.3 K/9 rate is ridiculous, but it's not unsustainable with his stuff either.
6. RHP Mark Melancon, San Francisco Giants
25 of 30
Age: 32
2016 Standard: 75 G, 47/51 SV, 1.64 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 8.2 K/9
2016 Advanced: 24.1 K%, 4.4 BB%, 80.6 LOB%, 30.2 Soft%
Player Outlook
After watching the relief corps flounder down the stretch and on into the postseason, the San Francisco Giants were thrilled to add Mark Melancon on a four-year, $62 million deal in free agency.
"It gives the club peace of mind, with so many close games that we play, that we have a lockdown guy for the ninth inning," general manager Bobby Evans told Chris Haft of MLB.com.
Melancon is not the prototypical closer, as he throws a low-90s cutter and a looping curveball more than his four-seam fastball, but he's been every bit as effective as the power guys in recent years. Going back to the start of 2013, he's posted a 1.80 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 8.3 K/9 while converting 147 of 162 save chances.
Nothing wrong with a 90.7 percent success rate when it comes to nailing down games.
5. RHP Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox
26 of 30
Age: 28
2016 Standard: 57 G, 31/33 SV, 1 HLD, 3.40 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 14.1 K/9
2016 Advanced: 37.7 K%, 13.6 BB%, 70.9 LOB%, 14.6 Soft%
WAR: 0.9
Player Outlook
Craig Kimbrel didn't have the best season of his career in his Boston debut.
His ERA (3.40) was a career worst, and his walk rate (5.1 BB/9) wasn't far behind. His 31 saves were the lowest full-season total of his career, but that was partially due to him missing nearly a month with a meniscus tear in his left knee.
The 28-year-old is still as electric as any reliever in the game, though.
His fastball was as explosive as ever, with a 98.1 mph average velocity, and hitters were baffled as always by his power curve. Against it, they managed a meager .095 batting average and .016 ISO while striking out 41 times.
With the knee injury now behind him, Kimbrel is once again poised to turn in elite numbers out of the Red Sox bullpen.
4. LHP Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians
27 of 30
Age: 31
2016 Standard: 70 G, 12/14 SV, 25 HLD, 1.45 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, 14.9 K/9
2016 Advanced: 44.7 K%, 3.3 BB%, 95.7 LOB%, 19.1 Soft%
WAR: 3.9
Player Outlook
You're looking at the future of the MLB bullpen, folks.
Andrew Miller might not be designated as the Cleveland Indians' closer, but there's little question he's the team's best reliever. After he arrived in Cleveland at the trade deadline, manager Terry Francona used him in a hybrid role in an effort to best utilize his biggest weapon.
In his 26 regular-season appearances with the Indians, Miller recorded four wins, three saves and nine holds while working multiple innings eight different times and often coming into the game when the first sign of trouble arose.
Armed with perhaps the single best pitch in baseball—an unfair wipeout slider—Miller often tore through opposing lineups with little resistance. He threw that slider over 60 percent of the time, and opposing hitters could only muster a .170 average and .126 ISO against it while striking out a dizzying 123 times compared to just 10 walks.
A healthy Michael Brantley and the addition of Edwin Encarnacion will be big for the Indians this season, but a full season of Miller might wind up making the biggest difference.
3. LHP Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
28 of 30
Age: 29
2016 Standard: 69 G, 47/47 SV, 0.54 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 9.9 K/9
2016 Advanced: 29.1 K%, 7.1 BB%, 89.7 LOB%, 30.9 Soft%
WAR: 4.3
Player Outlook
If these rankings were based solely on 2016 performance, Zach Britton would be the clear choice for the No. 1 spot.
The Baltimore Orioles relief ace was a perfect 47-of-47 on save chances with a pristine 0.54 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in his 69 appearances. To put that another way, he allowed a grand total of 38 hits, 18 walks and four earned runs in his 67 innings of work.
Opposing hitters simply can't avoid beating his sinker into the ground.
His 80.0 percent groundball rate was nothing short of absurd, and it was right in line with the 79.1 percent mark he posted the year before. However, his BABIP took a sharp downturn from .308 to .230, despite his soft contract rate also declining from 34.0 to 30.9 percent.
In other words, Britton's great 2016 season was aided by a fair amount of good luck. It's likely wise to expect at least some level of regression in 2017, perhaps from historically good to just very good.
2. RHP Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers
29 of 30
Age: 29
2016 Standard: 71 G, 47/53 SV, 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 13.6 K/9
2016 Advanced: 41.1 K%, 4.4 BB%, 80.2 LOB%, 20.1 Soft%
WAR: 2.5
Player Outlook
Everyone in the ballpark knows what pitch is coming, and yet the batter still can't touch it.
No, we're not talking about Mariano Rivera. We are referring to the same cut-fastball that made him the greatest closer in baseball history, though.
It's Kenley Jansen who now wields the game's best cutter.
The 29-year-old threw that pitch 88.1 percent of the time last season, mixing in the occasional slider and sinker. Despite that level of predictability, hitters still managed to hit just .153 with a .117 ISO and 105 strikeouts against the cutter.
The fact that he uses his other two pitches so sparsely also makes them more effective, as they tend to catch the batter off guard. He threw 143 total sliders and sinkers last year, allowing just two hits and striking out 21. His 0.67 WHIP last season was also a career-best, as he allowed just 4.6 H/9 and 1.4 BB/9.
1. LHP Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
30 of 30
Age: 29
2016 Standard: 59 G, 36/39 SV, 1.55 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 14.0 K/9
2016 Advanced: 40.5 K%, 8.1 BB%, 80.5 LOB%, 22.8 Soft%
WAR: 2.5
Player Outlook
There's no one else like Aroldis Chapman.
The flame-throwing lefty averaged 101.1 mph with his fastball last season. He also found a new level of command, walking batters at a career-best 2.8 BB/9 clip after entering the season with a 4.4 BB/9 rate for his career.
The Chicago Cubs leaned on him heavily during the postseason, and he gave up some big hits in some unfamiliar situations. It's fair to say, however, that the team likely doesn't take home a title without him.
Chapman landed a record deal for a reliever in free agency, and it's fair to ask how effective he'll be once his velocity starts to head in the other direction—an inevitability in the years to come.
For now, though, there's not a more dominant arm in the sport.
Standard stats and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball Reference. Other advanced stats (K%, BB%, LOB%, Soft%, etc.) courtesy of FanGraphs. Pitch data (mph, BAA, ISO) comes from Brooks Baseball. Contract information via Spotrac.
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