November 28, 2016

Pierre Camus takes a look at the top three breakouts at the relief pitcher (RP) position from 2016 and offers advice when drafting in 2017.

Our review of the 2016 fantasy baseball season continues with a look at some of the top breakout relievers.

Relief Pitcher Breakouts - 2016

Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays entered the season unsure of their closer. Brad Boxberger saved an AL-high 41 games in 2015, but was unavailable for the first two months of the year due to an abductor injury. Some speculated Danny Farquhar would get the nod since he had more game experience on his resume. Instead it was Colome who took the reins, and he didn't let go. He wound up with 37 saves and a sparkling 1.91 ERA. He didn't officially blow a save until July 23 and finished the year with an 11.3 K/9 and his first All-Star appearance.

Colome will be 28 to start the 2017 season, which means he is in the prime years of his career. He should remain firmly planted as the closer in Tampa Bay. Boxberger is still around, but only has one year of closing experience - the same as Colome now. He also struggled mightily in September, allowing 9 ER in 11.2 IP. Colome got stronger as the year progressed, allowing just one ER over the past month. There should be little doubt that Colome is a high quality reliever for 2017.

Sam Dyson, Texas Rangers

Dyson was invaluable to the division champion Rangers, tossing more innings (70.1) than all but three other relievers who served as their team's closer for at least half the season. He was also one of 13 relievers to record double digit holds and saves in 2016. He began the year backing up Shawn Tolleson in the eighth inning. By the middle of May, he was in the ninth inning role permanently. How consistent was Dyson? After allowing a run in his second outing on April 7, Dyson didn't let his ERA rise above 3.00 for the rest of the season.

The acquisition of Jeremy Jeffress was never a legitimate threat to Dyson's role. The Rangers do have a couple of arms that could step in if Dyson were to falter next season, but he shouldn't have to compete too hard to earn the job out of Spring Training. He could stand to improve his 2.39 K/BB rate, but there haven't been any rough spots in his past to indicate Dyson is due for a letdown. Target Dyson as a mid-range closer once the top 10 at the position are gone in 2017 fantasy drafts.

Hector Neris, Philadelphia Phillies

Although Jeanmar Gomez was the man who racked up 38 saves in Philadelphia this season, Neris proved to be the better pitcher. In all honesty, Gomez would not have remained the closer for any team other than the lowly Phillies. His 4.85 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 2.14 K/BB just aren't suited for the ninth inning at any level. Neris, on the other hand, maintained a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 3.40 K/BB in 2016. His main value to fantasy owners came in the form of 28 holds and 102 K in 80.1 IP. Neris also proved to be durable, appearing in 79 games, which was good for fourth in the majors.

Neris sported a superior 15.4% SwStr% on the season, which screams closer material. The team should acknowledge that he has a superior late inning profile and move him into the fireman role to begin yet another rebuilding year in 2017. If he somehow remains stuck as a setup man, draft him as a solid source of strikeouts and as a possible closer-in-waiting for leagues that require multiple RP.