Closers and Saves Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Report for Week 18 (2025)

July 27, 2025

David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 18 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.

Trade Deadline Week is almost here! Always the busiest week of baseball transactions, and always huge changes in many bullpens. But already, on this pre-deadline week, we have tons of bullpen news to cover.

New injuries, a DFA, and maybe finally some clarity on a committee? More trade rumors, some injury recovery, and 21 games without an earned run for a closer we all wrote off earlier this season.

Let's dive into this week's report! As always, stay tapped in with our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. They will be updated frequently throughout the 2025 baseball season as new information becomes available. 

Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues

Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 7% of leagues)
Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 2% of leagues)
Gregory Soto, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 3% leagues)

EDIT: Gregory Soto was traded to the Mets on Friday and will work in a setup role. He is no longer an option in saves-only leagues. 

The Orioles lost their closer, and it wasn't even a trade deadline thing. Felix Bautista (shoulder) called into the dugout on Wednesday to inform his manager that he wasn't feeling right and would not be able to pitch. After the game, he was officially placed on the injured list with what the team is calling shoulder discomfort. The severity of the injury isn't known just yet, but it certainly doesn't sound great.

In his place, Seranthony Dominguez was lined up for the save before the Orioles blew the game, and there was no save chance. In the next game, Dominguez got the fireman inning, facing the middle of the order in the eighth inning before yielding to Gregory Soto for the save in the ninth. Both are likely ninth-inning options for now, but as they're both free agents after this season, the Orioles are likely to move them at the deadline next week. If Dominguez and Soto are moved and Bautista's injury keeps him out longer, Yennier Cano seems like the most likely option for Baltimore to turn to. All three are widely available on waiver wires, with Dominguez the better "get saves right now" option and Cano the possible "get saves for a little longer if you're patient" option.

Over a foot of break on this sweeper from Seranthony Domínguez pic.twitter.com/JBECW6uUIQ

— Alex Fast (@AlexFast8) July 9, 2025

Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 23% of leagues)
Kirby Yates, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 44% of leagues)

EDIT: Ben Casparius earned his first save of the season on Friday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a three-run win. Vesia pitched the eighth and Yates did not appear.

The Dodgers' bullpen took another blow this week, as Tanner Scott was forced to leave a game in the middle of an at-bat. The good news is that an MRI showed no structural damage, so Scott might not miss as much time as initially feared. Still, an already struggling bullpen took yet another hit.

The Dodgers are sure to add to their bullpen before the trade deadline, but for now, a mix of lefty Alex Vesia and righty Kirby Yates will likely cover any save situations that come up. Scott is by far the team leader with 19 saves, followed by Vesia and Yates with three each. Either Dodgers reliever could provide an immediate, albeit temporary, burst to a fantasy bullpen. The severity of Scott's injury will likely determine whether or not the Dodgers bolster the bullpen by trading for more setup guys or if they go all-in and acquire a new closer.

Blake Treinen (forearm) could also be an option soon if his recovery continues without a setback, and Alexis Diaz was called up to take Scott's spot on the roster, although he's more likely to work in earlier innings right now.

Alex Vesia is a UNIT 😤 pic.twitter.com/IRiYQdxg9D

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) June 11, 2025

Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 29% of leagues)
Kevin Ginkel, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 10% of leagues)
Kyle Backhus, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 1% of leagues)

EDIT: Ginkel picked up the save on Friday, locking down a 1-0 win.

The Arizona bullpen was always going to be a mess after their third outright closer of the season went on the injured list. We thought maybe Kevin Ginkel would provide some sort of stability in the ninth inning, but he's been used more like a fireman/high-leverage reliever than a closer. He's the one to roster right now if you need a Diamondback reliever, but:

Rare good news out of the Arizona bullpen, as Shelby Miller (forearm, back) has already completed one session of throwing to live hitters and should have another one today. When he was first placed on the IL with a dreaded forearm designation, many assumed the worst, but it seems like the injury was truly minor and, barring any further setbacks, Miller could be back on the mound soon. If he is able to return, he'd presumably slide right back into the ninth inning.

Don’t look now, but it appears that Kevin Ginkel has his swagger back. pic.twitter.com/epAHDXdhTg

— Alex D’Agostino (@AlexDagAZ) July 7, 2024

Ronny Henriquez, Miami Marlins (Rostered in 39% of leagues)

EDIT: Extremely deep cut, but Josh White has been absolutely killing it in Triple-A and could get a call up if the Marlins move some bullpen pieces at the deadline. 

Could the Marlins actually be buyers at this trade deadline? Maybe not all the way buyers, but they certainly aren't looking like the outright sellers who will blow up the whole team (again) like many expected. Recent reports state that the team is aware they don't have to sell and will only do so if they get offers they essentially cannot refuse.

What does that mean for the Fish Team bullpen? Likely that Ronny Henriquez sticks around and remains in his role as usual closer, but occasional fireman. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough has shown that he is willing to deploy his best bullpen arm when needed and won't save him for a save, but Henriquez is still the most likely reliever in Miami's bullpen to get one, and his strikeout upside certainly makes him worth rostering regardless.

This sweeper is flat out disgusting from Ronny Henriquez pic.twitter.com/Kt6vMmVJNo

— Jeremiah Geiger (@JeremiahGeiger2) July 19, 2025

Jon Gray, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
Robert Garcia, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 20% of leagues)
Shawn Armstrong, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 2% of leagues)

One of the league's messiest bullpens continued with their pattern this week, with Chris Martin (calf) landing on the injured list and Luke Jackson designated for assignment. That leaves Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong as the two relievers in the Texas bullpen with three or more saves this season (three for Armstrong, eight for Garcia). For now, Garcia seems like the likely ninth-inning option, but former starter Jon Gray returned from a broken arm this week and was immediately thrown into a high-leverage situation. It's easy to see him working his way into a more significant role, and it's not too far-fetched to think he could see some saves going forward.

Jon Gray making his season debut and Michael Helman welcomes him back with an outstanding play! pic.twitter.com/WFU4cSuBnx

— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) July 24, 2025

Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues

Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians (Rostered in 27% of leagues)
Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins (Rostered in 22% of leagues)

These are both entirely speculative adds heading up to the deadline, but with the Phillies confirmed to be willing to give up what it might take for a top-tier closer and now the Dodgers also looking like they might need one, we could actually see a huge name ninth-inning guy move. If any team ponies up what it takes to get Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax will take over the ninth inning for the Twins, and if anyone can put together a package that nets Emmanuel Clase, then Cade Smith will likely take the role in Cleveland.

It's a lot of maybe and what if, so certainly not an immediate run to the wire move, but it is a move that could pay off massively down the stretch if you're able to guess correctly.

Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (Rostered in 9% of leagues)

The Angels are flirting with .500 but are very likely still sellers at the trade deadline. Kenley Jansen and his 464 career saves (17 this season) is on an expiring contract and could certainly help out a contending team down the stretch. While he won't be the top target for teams looking to bolster their bullpens, he could be a solid addition to any contending ball club. If (when?) Jansen is traded, Reid Detmers could take over in the ninth inning for the Angels. The converted starter has been excellent out of the bullpen, posting a 1.45 ERA in 30 appearances since May 9.

Reid Detmers, Vicious Sliders...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/zwKDwJXbkZ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 19, 2025

Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes

-This week's saves leader is Clase, with three.

-The holds leaders for the week is Brendon Little, with three.

-David Bednar, who we all thought was completely cooked at the beginning of this season, hasn't allowed an earned run since May 24. He has 11 saves, two wins, and a 26:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that span. He's an elite closer, again.

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