RADIO
Michael Florio reviews fantasy baseball closers, saves, and waiver wire pickups for Week 14 of 2025. He analyzes changing bullpens and RP risers with elite ratios.
This week is Fourth of July. First of all, I hope everyone reading this has a great holiday! I hope you get to eat lots, have some adult beverages, or however it is you like to celebrate, with whoever you choose to celebrate with!
The Fourth of July is always a big day on the fantasy baseball calendar. It indicates a halfway point of the season and is a big reminder that the trade deadline is quickly approaching. You should be giving your team and your place in the standings a good, hard look this week.
If you have a chance to go on a run in the saves category, then you need to be prepared to be aggressive, grabbing closers as moves happen! It is never a bad idea to try to get out in front of trades.
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Changing Bullpens for Fantasy Baseball
After Dylan Lee picked up a save last week, the Braves' lone save in the last week went to Raisel Iglesias. He should still be viewed as the favorite to save chances in Atlanta, but he is certainly on thin ice. He no longer provides strong ratios and strikeouts like he once did, so the save chances are the only reason he remains fantasy viable. Still, as long as he sees those chances, he should start.
Lee looks to be next in line, but the Braves also have Pierce Johnson, who not only has a history of closing but has closed out a game for the Braves already this season. This is a murky bullpen and not one to be too aggressive with. The Braves are also in a position where the next few weeks will greatly determine whether they are buyers or sellers.
in raisel iglesias’ first 25 appearances (24.0 IP), he threw to a 6.75 ERA.
he just completed his 8th consecutive scoreless outing (6.2 IP), to lower his season ERA to 5.28.
— Ryan Foster (@ryan05foster) June 29, 2025
The lone real save chance for the Phillies this past week went to Matt Strahm. Alan Rangel also picked up a save, but that was because he pitched the final five innings of a game. Strahm should be viewed as the top Phillies closer option moving forward. There is no guarantee that every save chance goes his way, but the bulk of them have lately. His biggest competition appears to be lefty Orion Kerkering, but he has just two saves on the year.
Jordan Romano still leads the Phillies in saves on the season, but his last save came on May 29th. This is a bullpen I very much so expect to be shaken up in the coming weeks, as the Phillies are always aggressive at the trade deadline.
Matt Strahm stuns after recording his 5th save of the season! pic.twitter.com/VOwkAaUZKX
— Strahm Crave (@StrahmCrave) June 29, 2025
The thought was that Luke Weaver may return to the closer role for the Yankees, but that has not been the case since he returned from the IL. Weaver returned on June 20th and has pitched four times in that span. He does not have a save. In that time, both of the Yankees' saves went to Devin Williams, who seems to have righted the ship after some early season struggles.
Williams is back to a must-start option in fantasy baseball. However, I would still opt to hold onto Weaver in Roto formats. He provides strong ratios and strikeouts and is next in line for saves. We still are not 100 percent sure he is fully removed from the saves picture, too.
Calvin Faucher and Ronny Henriquez each picked up a save for the Marlins in the last week. On the year, Faucher has a team-high eight saves, compared to three for Henriquez. It is fair to say that Henriquez has surpassed all other options in this bullpen. While Miami may not be a one-set closer bullpen at any point this season, Faucher is the lead option. He has twice as many saves as anyone else on the team.
Faucher should start by saving needy teams in Roto formats. Henriquez is a deeper option, but if you need cheap saves, he certainly helps. The usage does make it much more difficult to trust in head-to-head formats. I would look elsewhere in points leagues if possible. Also, expect the Marlins to be sellers, which could shake this bullpen up even more.
Speculative Saves for Fantasy Baseball
The Padres have a set closer in Robert Suarez, and I am not saying that is changing. However, I would be remiss if I did not point out that he has allowed nine runs in his last seven appearances. Dating back to June 14th, Suarez has an 18.69 ERA, with a 3.69 WHIP. He has a 14 percent strikeout rate, the same as his walk rate. Batters have hit .500 against him in this period.
Luck has not been on his side, but if he continues to have a tough go of it, could we see the Padres go in another direction with their save chances? Adrian Morejon has two saves on the year, including one in the last week. Jeremiah Estrada has two saves, and Yuki Matsui has one. Jason Adam also has some closer experience in this pen. I would have Morejon as next in line, but with so many quality options, it is worth keeping a close eye on this bullpen in the coming weeks.
Robert Suarez’s ERA in June is now 6.30. It was 4.35 in May.
We’re not far from needing to have a conversation about him.
— Ryan Phillips (@RumorsandRants) June 29, 2025
The Angels are hanging around .500, but I still believe they will be sellers. At least with Kenley Jansen, who is an expiring contract that other teams would be willing to give something of value to obtain. Jansen is a must-start option as long as he is closing out games, but I do think it is smart for fantasy managers to prepare for the chance he could be dealt.
If he is, Ryan Zeferjahn is a strong candidate to replace him as the Angels closer. He picked up their lone save in the last week and is second with two on the year behind Jansen. Reid Detmers also has two saves, and he would be another option for Los Angeles. So would Hunter Strickland and Hector Neris, who each have closer experience. Still, vets like that could also be shipped out. Keep an eye out this month for any trade rumors regarding this bullpen.
The Pirates bullpen is not changing … yet. I am not suggesting that David Bednar will lose his job. It does seem likely that he could be traded, though. The Pirates are not contending this year, and Bednar is a proven, reliable closer who is 30 years old and only has a year left of team control. This will be a seller's market and a good time for the Pirates to cash in.
If they do trade Bednar, Dennis Santana is next in line for saves. It would not be a bad idea to stash him now if you need saves.
Daniel Palencia has been an extremely efficient closer for the Cubs this season. Chicago is competing and needs to add bullpen arms. Would it opt to add a proven closer that could bump Palencia? Perhaps it adds someone, and Palencia holds onto the job. If you are doing well in saves, though, floating his name on the trade block just to see what you could get is not a bad idea.
Elite Strikeouts and Ratios for Fantasy Baseball
The Royals have struggled to duplicate last year's success. Could that lead to them trading Carlos Estevez? A proven closer with another year of team control will be in high demand on this market. If so, Lucas Erceg does not have the strikeouts like in years past, but he has been very effective regardless. He has pitched to a 2.05 ERA, 3.67 xERA, and a 1.01 WHIP. He picked up 14 saves last year, so he has the experience. He is a strong stash candidate right now.
It has been an extremely disappointing season for the Orioles. One thing I have speculated is that they would trade Felix Bautista to help build for the future. If so, Yennier Cano, Seranthony Dominguez, and Bryan Bakercould be replacement options. Keep a close eye on this bullpen in the coming weeks.
It could be a busy trade deadline for teams in the DMV. The Nationals will be sellers, and a proven closer like Kyle Finnegan would be in demand. If they opt to move on from him, Jose A. Ferrer seems like the next in line. He does not provide elite ratios or strikeouts, but if you need saves and hear Finnegan’s name mentioned in trade rumors, stash him.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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