X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Closers and Saves Report for Fantasy Baseball - Spring Training 2023

Fantasy baseball closers, saves, and bullpen waiver wire pickups for Spring Training 2023. David's relief pitcher and bullpen updates, and potential closers to add.

It's 2023, folks. Two thousand twenty-three. I'm aware that it's basically mid-March, but I'm still a little shocked every time I look at the date. With MLB Spring training in full swing and the World Baseball Classic underway, it's time to take our first look at the bullpens around the league to see what's changed and what's stayed the same.

With seemingly more and more leagues taking on an SVHD (saves and holds) format, top setup men are becoming more and more fantasy-relevant as well. But the standard is still saves, and closers are still the most important relievers in fantasy baseball, so let's take a closer look at what's gone on since we last spoke!

Be sure to also keep an eye on our RotoBaller Fantasy Baseball Closers and Saves Bullpen Depth Charts. They will be updated daily, or sometimes even more often throughout the 2023 baseball season. 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

AL East

It's early, but the American League East might have one of the more exciting sets of bullpens in the league this season. The New York Yankees should have a healthy Clay Holmes back in their ninth inning, with Jonathan Loaisiga and Lou Trivino setting him up. Wandy Peralta and Tommy Kahnle, once he's healthy, should get some meaningful late-game innings as well.

The Boston Red Sox brought in three new arms to bolster their bullpen, including closer Kenley Jansen. They also picked up Chris Martin and Joely Rodriguez, who will both work in setup roles along with John Schreiber.

The Toronto Blue Jays return most of their bullpen arms from last season, with Jordan Romano set as closer while Yimi Garcia and Adam Cimber will work in setup roles. New Blue Jay Erik Swanson should work in a key role as well.

The Baltimore Orioles bullpen might look a little different at the beginning of the season, as closer Felix Bautista is a little behind after rehabbing a knee injury. He's the closer for the Orioles but may need a little time before seeing a ninth inning in the regular season. If so, expected setup men Cionel Perez and Bryan Baker could see some temporary ninth-inning work.

Finally, the Tampa Bay Rays, everyone's favorite bullpen to try to figure out, will almost certainly continue using a committee approach. They have plenty of guys who can do it, but Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam figure to be on the mound most often in save situations.

 

AL Central

The American League Central has a lot of ifs and maybes in its bullpens. The AL Central has one of the best closers in baseball and then a whole lot of question marks. The Detroit Tigers traded closer Gregory Soto this offseason, so their ninth inning is an open competition. Alex Lange seems to be the early favorite, but Jose Cisnero, Jason Foley, and Will Vest figure to get some chances, too. The Tigers may opt to go with a committee, using all of those guys if no one emerges as a standalone option. They also signed Trevor Rosenthal as a reclamation project, so a solid showing from him could vault him into the ninth before long.

The Chicago White Sox bullpen will miss closer Liam Hendriks as he receives treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Kendall Graveman figures to take the ninth inning, but Aaron Bummer, Joe Kelly, and Reynaldo Lopez could mix in as well.

The Cleveland Guardians have one of the best closers in baseball in Emmanuel Clase, and he'll be set up by James Karinchak, who has continuously proven extremely difficult to hit. Trevor Stephan should get some key earlier inning work as well.

The Kansas City Royals signed veteran closer Aroldis Chapman this offseason, but after a solid 2022, Scott Barlow seems to be entering this year as the KC closer. Dylan Coleman should see some setup work alongside lefties Chapman and Amir Garrett. There's a chance Chapman sees some save chances to boost his trade value before the deadline, but Barlow is the safer bet.

Wrapping up the Central is the Minnesota Twins. Jhoan Duran is one of the best relievers in baseball, but he's likely to continue sharing save chances with Jorge Lopez at the back of the Twins' bullpen. Griffin Jax and Emilio Pagan should see hold chances along the way as well.

 

AL West

The American League West has some undeniable superstars across the starting lineups and starting rotations. In the bullpens, though? Not so much. Only one AL West bullpen has a certain "for sure" closer at this point in Spring training. That's the Houston Astros, whose bullpen returns mostly intact. Ryan Pressly will close, with Rafael Montero slated for the main setup role after signing a three-year extension. Bryan Abreu should see some significant innings as well, along with Hector Neris.

The Texas Rangers bullpen has upside and uncertainty, with Jose Leclerc leading the way. The oft-injured reliever is the early favorite for the Texas ninth inning, but he's already dealing with neck tightness, which could open the door for Joe Barlow, Jonathan Hernandez, or the newly signed William Smith.

The Los Angeles Angels signed former Rockies closer Carlos Estevez to help their bullpen, and while his career numbers aren't great, his 3.51 ERA away from Coors Field is a little more encouraging. He's the early favorite to close in Anaheim, but Jimmy Herget, Matt Moore, and Ryan Tepera could factor into the competition and will at least land as setup men.

Next up, the Oakland A's bullpen is one of the most wide-open in baseball. They traded A.J. Puk in the offseason and signed Trevor May. May seems like the favorite to close due to his experience, but Domingo Acevedo, Dany Jimenez, and Zach Jackson should see important late-inning work, too.

Finally, the Seattle Mariners have a ton of high-power, late-inning arms in their bullpen. Paul Sewald, Diego Castillo, Andres Munoz, and Matt Brash all have "closer stuff" and Sewald and Castillo have been effective in the role in the past. The most likely scenario here is another committee, although Munoz certainly has the best stuff and could run away with the ninth inning if the other guys slip up.

 

NL East

Over in the National League East, we see some very strong bullpens and a lot fewer question marks than in most other divisions. The Atlanta Braves had Raisel Iglesias in a setup role last season, but he'll get promoted to the closer's role this year. He'll be set up by A.J. Minter, Joe Jimenez, and Kirby Yates in what should be one of the best bullpens in the league.

The Miami Marlins also strengthened their bullpen this offseason, adding A.J. Puk in a trade with the A's and Matt Barnes in a deal with the Red Sox. Dylan Floro, Tanner Scott, and Steven Okert all return from last season and pitched important late innings. New manager Skip Schumaker has already stated that he doesn't see himself using a specified closer, so this will almost certainly be a committee.

The New York Mets should have one of the best bullpens in baseball along with the Braves. They'll have Edwin Diaz back to close, with Adam Ottavino back as a primary setup man. Newly acquired David Robertson and Brooks Raley figure to see significant high-leverage innings as well.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a recent history of struggling bullpens, but solid returners from last season and new additions could change that narrative this season. Seranthony Dominguez was excellent last season and will compete for the closers role alongside veterans Craig Kimbrel and Gregory Soto. Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm, and Andrew Bellatti figure to see hold chances as well in what could be a sneaky-good bullpen.

Last up, the Washington Nationals aren't likely to have a good season in 2023 as they continue to rebuild, but their bullpen could be decent and should produce some fantasy value. Kyle Finnegan returns as a closer with Hunter Harvey, Carl Edwards Jr., and Alex Colome working ahead of him.

 

NL Central

The National League Central, outside of one team, is all solid bullpens with pretty well-established closers, at least at this point of Spring training. That's nice after seeing how wild some other divisions are getting. Let's get the one uncertain bullpen out of the way first. The Chicago Cubs have a few closer-capable arms but no one with any significant ninth-inning experience. Brad Boxberger is the most experienced, with 82 career saves but only six since 2018. Michael Fulmer also has the late-inning experience, along with Brandon Hughes. Manuel Rodriguez and Keegan Thompson will see late-inning work as well in what could end up being a season-long committee.

The Cincinnati Reds have Alexis Diaz as their closer, with Lucas Sims and Buck Farmer looking like the primary setup men. Tejay Antone should join the late innings once he's healthy as well.

The Milwaukee Brewers likely have the best bullpen in this division, with Devin Williams entrenched in the ninth inning. Matt Bush, Peter Strzelecki, and Javy Guerra will bridge the game from the starters to Williams.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in another rebuilding year, but their bullpen shouldn't be the reason they lose games. Starting at the top with closer David Bednar, the Pittsburgh bullpen is solid throughout. Wil Crowe, Robert Stephenson, and Chase De Jong all figure to have prominent roles in holding the leads the Pirates are able to take this season.

Finally, the St. Louis Cardinals will (hopefully) get a full season of flamethrowing closer Ryan Helsley. Giovanny Gallegos will serve as the main setup guy and step into the closer role if necessary, and Jordan Hicks will work meaningful innings as well.

 

NL West

The National League West has an interesting mix of stable, ready-to-go bullpens, and chaotic, who-knows-what-will-happen bullpens. Let's start with the easy ones. The San Diego Padres will bring back most of their late-inning relievers, with Josh Hader set to close and Robert Suarez and Luis Garcia in setup roles. Tim Hill, and Drew Pomeranz are all talented as well and could see some late-inning work, but the Garcia-Suarez-Hader three-headed monster should be seen in most games that the Padres lead. Nick Martinez, who was excellent out of the bullpen last season, is being stretched out into a starter this spring.

The Colorado Rockies have a set-in-stone bullpen as well, with Daniel Bard at the top in the closer's role. Brad Hand, Dinelson Lamet, and Pierce Johnson will work in setup roles ahead of the veteran Bard.

Next up, the San Francisco Giants look to be entering 2023 with an actually solidified set of roles in the bullpen. Camilo Doval will close most games, with Taylor Rogers, John Brebbia, and Tyler Rogers working ahead of him. We know a "solid" closer isn't quite as solid on a Gabe Kapler-led team as on others, but Doval is still a strong fantasy option.

Now looking at a pair of less solidified bullpens, starting with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have already said that they don't plan to name an official closer before Opening Day, but Evan Phillips seems to be the early favorite for at least most of their save chances. Daniel Hudson will play that role as well once he's healthy, with Alex Vesia and Brusdar Graterol also pitching in important late-inning situations.

Last up are the Arizona Diamondbacks, who came into Spring training with an all-out bullpen battle. Mark Melancon, Kevin Ginkel, Joe Mantiply, Miguel Castro, Cole Sulser, Andrew Chafin, and Scott McGough all have the chance to either close or setup in this bullpen. Things will settle themselves to some extent as Opening Day approaches, but for now, this DBacks bullpen seems to be a pretty strong "avoid" in most fantasy leagues.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Logan Gilbert

Fans 10 In Return Start Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers, DeShon Elliott Agree to Two-Year Extension
Ryan Pepiot

Strikes Out 11 in Win
Hunter Goodman

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Stephen Curry

"Not Even Close" to Retirement
Jonathan Kuminga

Linked to Bulls, Heat
Kevin Durant

Has "No Desire" to be Traded to Minnesota
Isaac Paredes

Returns as DH on Monday
New York Giants

Mike Kafka Expected to Reclaim Play-Calling Duties
Jon Runyan

Limited During Minicamp
Saquon Barkley

Feels Great Physically
Justin Simmons

Panthers Have Talked With Justin Simmons
Jordan Addison

Trial Date Set for July 15
New York Jets

Jets Sign Kingsley Jonathan, Marquis Hayes
Jarace Walker

Remains Sidelined for Game 5
Justin Verlander

Returning to the Rotation on Wednesday
Tony Finau

Finishes Tied For 38th at U.S. Open
Bud Cauley

Misses The Cut at U.S. Open
Cameron Young

Finishes Tied For Fourth at U.S. Open
J.J. Spaun

Wins U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 12th at U.S. Open
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Second at U.S. Open
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 42nd at U.S. Open
Vershon Lee

Vikings Ink Undrafted Offensive Lineman Vershon Lee
Luke Clanton

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
San Francisco 49ers

C.J. West Signs Rookie Deal with San Fran
Jaylen Warren

Training to Handle Larger Workload
Giancarlo Stanton

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Will Campbell

Ends Minicamp as Top Left Tackle
Sam Cosmi

Making Good Progress From Torn ACL
Kamaru Usman

Gets Back In The Win Column
Adonai Mitchell

Impresses at Minicamp
Joaquin Buckley

Winning Streak Comes To An End
Miranda Maverick

Drops Decision At UFC Atlanta
Bradley Chubb

Fully Healed, Looking Disruptive
Jonnu Smith

Contract Talks "Still Fluid"
Rose Namajunas

Wins Decision At UFC Atlanta
Andre Petroski

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Edmen Shahbazyan

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Raoni Barcelos

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Chase Elliott

Ends Mexico City with A Great Finish of Third
Christopher Bell

has A Strong Runner-Up Performance At Mexico City
Chase Briscoe

Wild Day Ends with A Top-10 Finish
Michael McDowell

Leaves Mexico City with A Top-Five Finish
Cody Garbrandt

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Brundage

Defeated After Accidental Clash Of Heads
Cody Brundage

Mansur Abdul-Malik Defeats Cody Brundage By Technical Decision
Oumar Sy

Suffers His First Loss
Alonzo Menifield

Scores Upset Win
Alex Bowman

Delivers Bravura Performance After Michigan Injury
Tyler Reddick

Inexplicably Mediocre on his Once-Best Track Type
John Hunter Nemechek

Canny Strategy Gives John Hunter Nemechek Best Career Road-Course Finish
Cole Custer

Earns Best Finish Since Cup-Series Comeback at Mexico City
Grant Holmes

Punches Out 15 in Loss
Elly De La Cruz

Goes Yard in Fourth Straight Game
Will Vest

Dealing With Finger Injury
Jackson Merrill

Placed on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
J.J. McCarthy

Looking "a Lot Stronger"
Shohei Ohtani

Will Be Dodgers' Starting Pitcher Monday
Roki Sasaki

Shut Down From Throwing
Garrett Wilson

Receives New Contract Offer
Jordan Hicks

Headed to Boston
Kyle Harrison

Traded to Red Sox
Travis Kelce

Slims Down During the Offseason
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Restart Contract Discussions
Brady House

Nationals Promoting Brady House to Major Leagues
Rafael Devers

Traded to San Francisco
Logan Gilbert

to Start on Monday
Jayden Higgins

Impresses During Minicamp
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

on the Move to Memphis
Cole Anthony

Dealt to the Grizzlies
Seattle Seahawks

DeMarcus Lawrence Making an Impression With his New Team
Tyler Mahle

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Luis Robert Jr.

Scratched with Thumb Soreness
Desmond Bane

Traded to Orlando
Byron Buxton

Scratched from Sunday's Lineup
Brendan Donovan

Returns to the Lineup
Steven Adams

Rockets Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension
Ty Dillon

Is a Respectable Cap Flexiblity-Focused DFS Option For Mexico City
Corey Perry

Produces 10th Postseason Goal
Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in the Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front-Row Start
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong of a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014
Erik Jones

Mexico City Will Likely be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports' Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Worst Track Type
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF