Florio's Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report: Making Sense of All the Trades!

August 7, 2024

Michael reviews fantasy baseball closers to add off the waiver wire for saves in Week 20 (2024), changing bullpens, and relief pitcher risers with elite ratios.

The trade deadline has come and gone! I picked a great time to go on vacation last week, didn’t I?

After weeks, err months, of promising that the relief pitcher position would see a big shake-up, that is exactly what we got. There were a ton of relievers traded and now we have just about a week to make sense of everything. 

Hopefully, you spent your FAAB or used your waiver claims if you need to save. This is the last real big opportunity to find them unless injuries or poor performance shake up bullpens the rest of the way. 

Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball

The Diamondbacks did not make a major trade but they are still one of the many bullpens changing right now. Paul Sewald, despite picking up 16 saves this season, has an ERA over four and four blown saves. He has been removed from the closer role, but I am not ready to say this will be a move that lasts all season. Manager Torey Lovullo has been a Sewald supporter all season. If you need saves you can try to trade for him for cheap if your deadline has not passed. If so, be ready to pounce with a cheap bid if he is dropped. 

In the meantime, Ryan Thompson has two saves in the last week, while newly acquired A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez each have one. Thompson is the top target to add here. I would spend up to 10 percent of my FAAB budget if I needed saves. Puk and Martinez are also worth a speculative add as this is a fluid situation. 

The Marlins traded closer Tanner Scott to the Padres and setup man Puk to the Diamondbacks. They have picked up one save in the last week and it went to Calvin Faucher. He is the top add in this new Miami bullpen. If you need saves, you can spend up to 10 percent of your FAAB to nab him. Just understand, that the Marlins may not win a ton of games down the stretch. Andrew Nardi is also a name to watch here. He could form a committee with Faucher, or at the very least see some save chances here and there. He can be had for a minimum bid. 

The Angels also traded away their closer at the deadline, shipping Carlos Estevez to the Phillies. They didn’t stop there, as they also sent setup man Luis Garcia to the Red Sox. Do not fret, they are in good hands with Ben Joyce. He picked up a save against the Mets this weekend and looked dominant in doing so. He is the top add here and someone I would send 10 to 15 percent of my remaining budget if I needed saves. Roansy Contreras has also picked up a save and is clearly the number two option here for those in need in deeper leagues. Hunter Strickland is third in the pecking order here. 

Ben Joyce over his last 19 app

22.2 IP
8 H
0 ER
20 SO
10 BB#Angels

— Jared Tims (@Jared_Tims) August 5, 2024

The Phillies bullpen got a shot in the arm by acquiring Estevez from the Angels. They did so after their closer Jose Alvarado had been struggling as of late. The Phillies were already a committee when it came to save chances and I do not expect that to fully change. Estevez will likely see the bulk of save chances down the stretch, so he remains a must-start fantasy option until we see otherwise. Jeff Hoffman has been elite this season and I expect him to stay in that secondary closer role, allowing the Phillies to pick their spots with their relievers. Alvarado will remain involved in the later innings, but he could become third in the saves pecking order. He is on cut watch right now. 

The A’s did not trade Mason Miller but they still have life without him, at least for the time being. Miller is on the IL as he recovers from a fractured finger in his non-throwing hand. He has already faced hitters and is eligible to return on Friday, although it is not clear if he will need more time. Miller is an absolute must-start in fantasy when he is healthy. If you need some cheap saves while he is out, Tyler Ferguson seems like the best bet. 

The White Sox traded their former closer Michael Kopech to the Dodgers, where surely he will not become a dominant force or anything like that. They also never win games, and that is not even an exaggeration. So my advice would be to stay far away from this bullpen. But hey, people are always desperate for saves and if you are, John Brebbia would be the top option to add. 

Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball 

The Dodgers are in full committee mode with their bullpen usage. Before the deadline, we saw Daniel Hudson start to get more and more save chances while Evan Phillips worked back to form. In the week since the deadline, we have seen Hudson and Anthony Banda each pick up a save. Phillips has not had one in that span. Phillips is officially the top one to roster on this team. Banda and Phillips are both secondary options you can take a shot on if you need saves. Michael Kopech could also work his way into the late-inning picture very quickly here. 

Daniel Hudson Adds To Saves Total https://t.co/5zNll2ZIzc

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) August 6, 2024

I had been screaming to pick up Devin Williams for weeks before he returned from injury. It did not take long for the Brewers to throw him back in as the closer. He becomes a must-start fantasy option. Trevor Megill is on the IL but when he returns he remains an elite strike-out and ratio pitcher who would be next in line for saves here. 

Who is the Orioles closer? I am not sure they fully know the answer right now. Craig Kimbrel has picked up a bunch of saves, but he has really struggled especially as of late. Since the deadline, Yennier Cano has picked up their lone save. He is a must-start option as of right now and would be the top option to roster here. Kimbrel though is still worth holding onto if you need saves. He could always work his way back in at any point. They have added Seranthony Dominguez and Greg Soto who could provide deeper options if things go south with Cano as well. 

Yennier Cano has allowed 1 run in his last 11 appearances (9 2/3 IP) with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks allowed.

The one run came in that weird win against San Diego where they were having all batted ball luck soft bouncers for hits in the 9th.

— Dillon Atkinson (@DillonTAtkinson) August 4, 2024

The Royals traded for Hunter Harvey before the deadline and now they are in an all-out closer committee. In fact, in the last week, the lone save has gone to Harvey. However, James McArthur and Lucas Erceg remain in the picture. Harvey should be added if he is still out there on waivers in shallower leagues. McArthur is a name I would still hold onto until we get more calrity here. Erceg is purely for deeper leagues at least as of now. 

Quatraro postgame on Hunter Harvey:"We're gonna take our chance every time we go to the 9th 3-1 with him on the mound." #Royals pic.twitter.com/caJwGiH38Z

— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) August 4, 2024

The Rockies traded Jalen Beeks to the Pirates but they remain in a full closer committee. Since the deadline, Victor Vodnik has picked up two saves, while Tyler Kinley has nailed one down. These two seem like the top two options in this bullpen moving forward. I would take a shot on Vodnik and spend between five to 10 percent on him. Just remember, this is a committee on a team that may not win many games and they still have to pitch half their games in Coors Field. You’ve been warned! 

Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio. 

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