2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Relievers (RP) - February Update

Last month, we brought you RotoBaller's preliminary relievers fantasy baseball rankings. The February update is here. We'll be releasing all the other positional rankings updates this week, with analysis from all the RotoBaller writers on their favorite risers and fallers at each MLB position.

Make sure to also check out our MLB Fantasy Baseball Rankings blog, along with all of RotoBaller's reliever rankings content. 
 

2015 Fantasy Baseball Reliever Rankings

Brad Johnson (Lead MLB Editor)

At the moment, there are a few teams to watch for reliever turnover. The Phillies continue to shop Jonathan Papelbon, which could open the door for Ken Giles. Assuming health, he should perform somewhere between the 2014 version of Trevor Rosenthal and vintage Craig Kimbrel.

The Blue Jays and Brewers are suitors for Papelbon due to uncertainty in their own pens. Toronto has lefty Brett Cecil and top prospect Aaron Sanchez as potential ninth inning options. Cecil seems primed for the job, but most teams prefer to avoid using a lefty closer. Sanchez may need more experience.

Milwaukee's pen is even flakier. The best option to close is a throwback - Jonathan Broxton. He's a useful middle reliever, but it's been awhile since he demonstrated closer stuff. Francisco Rodriguez and Rafael Soriano remain unsigned and could factor into either bullpen.

In Oakland, Sean Doolittle is sidelined with a shoulder injury. He's expected to return early in the season, hence a relatively high ranking. Tyler Clippard is expected to close in the interim.

 

Kyle Bishop (MLB Writer and Editor)

Right now I've got Jake McGee 10th and Brad Boxberger 22nd. If Boxberger grabs the ninth, you can just flip those. And if the Phillies ever do manage to trade Jonathan Papelbon or launch him into the sun or whatever, Ken Giles shoots up the list. For now, though, I'm holding steady with what I put forth last month.
 
 
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Kyle Braver (MLB Writer)

In a deal that flew somewhat under the radar, the Giants signed Sergio Romo to a 2 year, $15 million deal over the offseason. Of course, a two year deal doesn't mean that Romo will break camp as the Giants' closer, nor that he would even be effective in such a role were it to be handed to him. It does demonstrate the Giants' trust in the slider-happy righty. The Giants have won a World Series with Romo on the mound, Bruce Bochy trusts him to get the job done, and Santiago Casilla is no Aroldis Chapman. A strong Spring could be all Romo needs to vault himself quickly up my rankings.

 

Jeff Kahntroff (MLB Writer)

Steve Cishek struck out 11.57 batters per nine innings last year.  That was not a flash in the pan; he has struck out over a batter an inning each year since 2011.  He is only 28, and he is in a division with the Phillies and Braves with what is (debatably) an improved team around him.  Factoring in all of these, he should be gone way before where others have him ranked, as the 12th best closer (which includes my ranking of 5th).

Koji Uehara would rank much higher than 10th for me if I made these rankings in July of last year.  In fact, I’d have him in my first tier.  However, I dropped him due to his age and his struggles in August/September of last year.  Even though those struggles were reportedly due to back issues and not signs of wearing down, I have decided to take other closers before him.

 

Josh Leonard (MLB Writer)

I love watching Koji Uehara pitch. He only throws strikes. With an average fastball of 89 mph, it is truly amazing to see all the swings and misses. I remember listening to an interview with Pedro Martinez and he spoke about how both he and Uehara relied on a similar deceptive delivery to keep batters from identifying the type of pitch coming out of their hand. Koji is definitely a top 5 closer.

Also, I am really looking forward to seeing some Ken Giles highlights. I don't actually plan on watching any Phillies games, I just want to see him pitch. I would draft Giles over most closers, especially if your league counts K/9 and HLDs.

 

Harris Yudin (MLB Writer and Editor)

Given that he's not going to close to start the year, it's hard to put Luke Gregerson in my top 20, but he is someone to keep an eye on. Chad Qualls turns 37 in August and is coming off of a season in which he blew six of his 25 save opportunities. Gregerson, on the other hand, posted a 2.12 ERA and a 1.61 GB/FB ratio, both career bests. I would not be surprised to see Gregerson take over as Houston's closer by May or June. He can be a really nice sleeper, especially in deep leagues that see middle relievers rostered.

 

Alex Roberts (MLB Writer and Editor)

Aside from the Kenley Jansen injury, there hasn't been much closer news since we released our initial fantasy baseball relief pitcher / closer rankings. I dropped Jansen down from four to eight. Either way I'm not drafting him as he violates two of my Golden Rules of Drafting Closers which I'll get into without delay.

Golden Rule #1: Don't pay for top closers. When your league mates spend a fourth to sixth round pick on Kimbrel, Chapman, and Holland, that will leave more solid bats and starting arms on the draft board for you. Good on them. I'm upset Jansen got injured not only because I love watching him pitch but also because it's one less player who I can count on to push the guys I want to draft farther down on the board.

Golden Rule #2: Don't draft injured closers. Closers get injured, maybe more than starting pitchers, maybe less, I'm not sure. The difference is when a closer gets injured, someone fills his role and often times they don't give it up. There are countless examples where a mediocre closer who showed signs of injury in February and March gets injured in April only to never regain his job. You're stuck holding sed former closer on the DL for months, only to drop him in frustration. The only exception is drafting a top injured closer. They have job security, but because of rule #1 they won't be on my team.

Golden Rule #3: Draft closers with high-K rates. Remember when Jim Johnson had 50+ saves in 2012 and 2013? Remember when he was a complete bust in 2014? Remember when he didn't strike anyone out? Strikeouts allow closers to get out of jams. If a batter isn't putting bat on ball, the fielding team has a big edge in preventing runners from scoring. Shoot for closers with a K/9 rate above nine.

If you follow these three rules, you will drastically reduce your chances of screwing up which closers you draft. Deeper research is always necessary to identify breakout potential (hint, look for high K-rate pitchers who are new to their roles), but these guidelines should help you avoid overspending and stay away from the big busts.

 

2015 Fantasy Baseball Reliever Rankings