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Top 150 relief pitcher (RP) fantasy baseball rankings, draft tiers for closers, saves in roto leagues (January updates). Nick Mariano's tiered RP fantasy baseball draft rankings.
At RotoBaller HQ, we have been publishing our fantasy baseball positional rankings, and we close the series for roto leagues with relief pitchers. Below you will find our updated 2026 fantasy baseball relief pitcher/closer rankings and tiers for roto leagues (5x5 category mixed leagues). These January rankings cover the top 150 relief pitchers for 2026. Closers are challenging to rank and can vary. The unwritten rule is to never pay for saves as MLB teams use committees, will often swap out a struggling closer, or even trade their current closer once out of the playoff picture.
After signing with the Dodgers this offseason, Edwin Diaz will be LA's primary closer and is our No. 1-ranked reliever. Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, and Andres Munoz are the only other relievers in the first tier, along with Diaz. There are also several news items, recent transactions, and rumors floating around about trades/signings this offseason involving relief pitchers, which affect the rest of our rankings. Seranthony Dominguez signs with the White Sox, Ryan Helsley lands in Baltimore, while Devin Williams heads to the Mets. All three relievers will close for their respective teams.
The relief pitcher rankings below are specifically designed for traditional roto leagues, put together by RotoBaller's lead MLB forecaster Nick Mariano. We're also writing fresh articles all throughout the off-season for fantasy baseball prospects, fantasy baseball dynasty, and so much more. Win more in 2026!
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Updated Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Rankings (January)
Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher (RP) News
Seranthony Dominguez, Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have signed free agent reliever Seranthony Dominguez to a two-year, $20 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. The deal includes a mutual option for 2028. The White Sox recently traded away outfielder Luis Robert Jr., and now, they're allocating that extra money to bolster their bullpen.
Dominguez is a 31-year-old right-hander who split the 2025 season between Baltimore and Toronto. He posted a solid 3.23 xFIP with 11.4 K/9, but his walk rate soared to a career-high clip of 5.2 BB/9. There's a lot to like about his repertoire, though. Dominguez's sweeper grades out at 130 Stuff+ by FanGraphs' model, and it generated whiffs at a phenomenal 49.1% clip with a .112 xBA.
His splitter is similarly dominant with 118 Stuff+, a 49.5% whiff rate, and a .141 xBA. Dominguez offers an analytically intriguing arm out of the White Sox' bullpen, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he's expected to be the team's closer.
He will be a key piece for the White Sox down the stretch if they play competitive baseball in 2026. If not, he'll be an intriguing name to monitor at the trade deadline with a year and a half left on his contract.
Craig Kimbrel, New York Mets
The New York Mets have signed free-agent relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. It feels odd seeing Kimbrel sign a deal with a team that already has an established late-inning option. Kimbrel is one of the most successful relievers of all time with 440 career saves, which puts him fifth on the leaderboard. The 37-year-old isn't the same pitcher who earned four straight All-Star appearances.
Kimbrel can still be a viable option in the bullpen, and his veteran presence and leadership alone are enough to sign him to an MLB deal. He most recently posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 17/7 K/BB ratio across 14 games with the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros in 2025. The expectation is that Kimbrel could serve as a late-inning option with occasional save chances when Devin Williams needs a breather. That's assuming Kimbrel makes the team, as he'll need to compete for a roster spot during camp.
Taylor Rogers, Minnesota Twins
Free-agent relief pitcher Taylor Rogers is coming back to Minnesota after agreeing on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Twins. Rogers spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Twins, posting a career-high 30 saves in 2019 and earning an All-Star selection in 2021.
He spent time with the Padres, Brewers, Giants, Reds, and Cubs over the four seasons since his departure, and last year he posted a 3.38 ERA and a 4.38 FIP over 50 2/3 innings with the Reds and Cubs. The 35-year-old lefty could be a key part of the Twins' bullpen in 2026, and he could even be in the mix for saves since the rest of the bullpen is relatively inexperienced.
Luis Garcia, New York Mets
The New York Mets have signed free-agent relief pitcher Luis Garcia to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The deal includes an additional $1.25 million in potential incentives. The veteran right-hander turns 39 years old next week and split last season with the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels.
He made 58 relief appearances in 2025, amassing a 3.28 FIP with 7.8 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, and 0.3 HR/9. He had some issues with control but consistently forced weak contact, as evidenced by his respectable 49.7% ground ball rate. New York might not deploy him in a high-leverage role, but he's capable of eating relief innings and lighting up the radar gun with a fastball that averages 97 mph.
Josh Sborz, Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have signed free-agent right-hander Josh Sborz to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Sborz returns to the organization he has spent the past five seasons with. The 32-year-old relief pitcher missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from shoulder surgery.
Over his six-year major league career, Sborz has posted a 4.96 ERA (3.94 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts across 163 1/3 innings. From a fantasy perspective, it's unlikely Sborz breaks camp with the big league club, and even if he does, he is not expected to be fantasy relevant. Although the Rangers' bullpen roles aren't crystal clear, most drafters expect Robert Garcia to open the 2026 season as the primary closer, with Chris Martin and Cole Winn also in the mix.
Brent Suter, Free Agent
According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, free-agent pitcher Brent Suter continues to draw interest among many clubs on the open market. Murray noted that the left-hander is currently evaluating his options. In 2025, Suter spent the entire campaign with the Reds and logged 67 2/3 innings, primarily as a reliever (three starts).
He posted a modest 4.52 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. He struck out just 53 batters but did limit hard contact, generating a 32.9% hard-hit rate with a 7.8% barrel rate. Additionally, Suter showed strong command, serving up free passes at a low 6.2% rate.
Managers in deeper leagues that reward holds should monitor his status as he could become a late-inning option for a team. However, he is not expected to compete for any closer role, as he has tallied just three saves in his 10-year MLB career.
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