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David's closers and saves fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bullpen report for Week 19 (2025). His relief pitcher updates, and closers to add for saves.
Every year, everyone says something like, "That was a wild trade deadline," but like...that was a wild trade deadline, right? As always, new closers are joining new teams, and old setup guys are also becoming closers.
There's a lot to look at and maybe (hopefully) a lot of fantasy value suddenly on the waiver wire, so let's get right to it and see how you can make your fantasy team better while real-life teams are done trying to do the same.
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.
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Waiver Wire Pickups For Standard Leagues
Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates (Rostered in 21% of leagues)
EDIT: Well, not the best start to Santana's ride as closer: Santana got only one out but allowed five runs on four hits and a walk, taking a loss in a wild game against the Rockies.
The Pirates traded their closer, David Bednar, to the Yankees before the trade deadline. Despite an incredibly robust reliever market, they did not trade Dennis Santana, who will now slot in as the team's closer for the rest of the season. Santana has been excellent, posting a 1.36 ERA, six saves, and 12 holds. He'll be set up by some combination of Isaac Mattson and Ryan Borucki, but Santana is the one to look for on most waiver wires.
Dennis Santana has to be one of the most underrated relievers in baseball. He’s gonna be absolutely electric on a contender ⚡️pic.twitter.com/40CmXUhnF6
— SleeperPirates (@SleeperPirates) July 22, 2025
Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians (Rostered in 46% of leagues)
EDIT: Smith pitched two innings, facing just six batters and striking out three to earn his third win of the season on Friday.
EDIT: Hunter Gaddis got Saturday's save.
Cade Smith has ascended to the closer's role right around the trade deadline, but not for the usual reason. Emmanuel Clase, who was mentioned among some trade rumors earlier this month, is now missing time as part of the non-disciplinary paid leave list for MLB's sports-betting investigation.
Smith's first time in the closer's role didn't go great, as he took a blown save and a loss on Monday, but he's clearly the best reliever left in that bullpen and should have a reasonably strong hold on the ninth inning for the rest of the season.
Cade Smith blew a save and suddenly we "don't have a closer"
fwiw he's just as good if not a little better than he was last year. I realize we've been through the wringer but let's not forget who this guy is pic.twitter.com/VqjCq69VUx
— Andrew (Steven Kwan Enjoyer) (@manzosmustache) July 29, 2025
Kevin Ginkel, Arizona Diamondbacks (Rostered in 9% of leagues)
The Diamondbacks' bullpen was waiting on Shelby Miller (forearm) to come back and close their games, but a trade sent him to Milwaukee instead. Miller isn't quite ready to pitch yet, but it won't be for Arizona again once he is. Instead, the trade pretty much solidifies Kevin Ginkel as the closer in the desert, likely for the remainder of the season.
Ginkel has three saves and should be the saves leader for the D-backs by the time the season ends.
Jose A. Ferrer, Washington Nationals (Rostered in 3% of leagues)
The Nationals sent their closer of the past five years, Kyle Finnegan, to the Tigers before the deadline. He'll work in a setup role in a crowded bullpen in Detroit for the rest of the season. In his place in D.C., Jose A. Ferrer will take over closing duties. Ferrer has a 4.78 ERA but a 3.07 FIP and a solid 44:11 K:BB.
He's available on almost every league's waiver wire right now and can be mostly expected to fill a full-time closer role for the remainder of the season and possibly beyond if he succeeds. Cole Henry and Konnor Pilkington are the likely main setup guys for the Nats.
The time seems to be now for Jose A. Ferrer (0.2IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) of the @Nationals. The hard throwing LHP spun a great changeup - winning our RP Pitch of the Day pic.twitter.com/td5BDXJymK
— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) April 7, 2025
Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants (Rostered in 31% of leagues)
EDIT: Rodriguez got the save in an extra inning win on Friday, and it seemed like he was being saved for a save chance.
One of the more surprising bullpen deals of deadline day was the Giants' trading of Camilo Doval to the Yankees. That leaves an open spot in the San Francisco bullpen, which Randy Rodriguez will fill. Rodriguez has been excellent, posting a 1.20 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 45 innings, with only nine walks.
He has the upside to be an elite closer both in fantasy and on the real mound, as long as the Giants let him hold that role permanently. "Randy Rod" should be one of the first guys to look for on waiver wires this weekend.
Randy Rodriguez's 2Ks in the 8th pic.twitter.com/RHL5zlHksY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 5, 2025
Waiver Wire Pickups For Deeper Leagues
Blake Treinen, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 17% of leagues)
Alex Vesia, Los Angeles Dodgers (Rostered in 26% of leagues)
The Dodgers are hoping to get Tanner Scott (elbow) back soon, as he has started a throwing progression after not pitching since July 21. Once he's back, he'll likely resume his role as the main guy in the Dodgers bullpen, but until then, someone else will need to be on the mound for save chances.
Alex Vesia figures to continue to see his share of chances, but now he may also be joined by Blake Treinen, who is back in the Dodgers bullpen after inhabiting the injured list since April 13. Either Treinen or Vesia would likely be temporary, but could pile up saves quickly and will be holds league assets regardless.
Corbin Martin, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 3% of leagues)
Keegan Akin, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 2% of leagues)
Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles (Rostered in 4% of leagues)
EDIT: Akin got the save on Saturday after Martin pitched the sixth inning.
The Orioles got some bad news about their closer, Felix Bautista (shoulder), who is expected to be "out a while," according to manager Tony Mansolino. They then traded their fill-in closer, Seranthony Dominguez, to the division-rival Blue Jays, and another late-inning guy, Gregory Soto, to the Mets.
That leaves them with a committee consisting of Corbin Martin, Keegan Akin, and Yennier Cano. Cano has struggled mightily since May, so he may be on the outside looking in, while Martin seems to be the slight favorite and recorded his first save earlier this week.
Cole Sands, Minnesota Twins (Rostered in 2% of leagues)
Justin Topa, Minnesota Twins (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
EDIT: Sands pitched the eighth inning in a tie game on Friday.
The Twins traded...just about everyone on their team. That included the top three guys in their bullpen, Jhoan Duran (to the Phillies), Griffin Jax (to the Rays), and Louis Varland (to the Blue Jays). That leaves Cole Sands and Justin Topa as the presumed save options, although we shouldn't expect the Twins to win too many games from here on out.
Still, saves are saves, and Sands or Topa could presumably work their way into five or six of them before the season ends.
Jack Perkins, The Athletics (Rostered in 8% of leagues)
Michael Kelly, The Athletics (Rostered in 1% of leagues)
EDIT: It wasn't a save situation, but Sean Newcomb got the ninth inning in a 5-1 win on Friday.
The A's were part of probably the biggest deal of the deadline, sending closer Mason Miller (and starter JP Sears) to San Diego for a huge prospect return. It's unclear how the Padres' bullpen will shape up, but it looks like the A's will go with a mix of Jack Perkins and Michael Kelly for their save opportunities. Perkins gets the edge here and is available in most leagues.
Robert Garcia, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 30% of leagues)
Phil Maton, Texas Rangers (Rostered in 15% of leagues)
EDIT: Robert Garcia was in for the save chance on Friday and took the loss after allowing a two-run walkoff homer to J.P. Crawford. Danny Coulombe and Phil Maton both pitched scoreless innings before Garcia came in.
EDIT 2: Garcia left Saturday's game with an injury, the severity is yet to be determined but if he misses time, Maton would likely step in.
The Rangers were buyers at the deadline but weren't able to add an outright closer, leaving Robert Garcia at the top of the bullpen hierarchy. Phil Maton was acquired from the Cardinals and should slot into an eighth-inning role and could see a save or two, but this deadline was undoubtedly good news for the fantasy value of Garcia.
JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals (Rostered in 10% of leagues)
Kyle Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals (Rostered in 3% of leagues)
EDIT: JoJo Romero earned the save in Saturday's game by getting the last four outs.
The Cardinals traded their closer, Ryan Helsley, to the Mets. They then traded their presumed next-in-line closer, Maton, to the Rangers. That will leave JoJo Romero for most save chances, and he'll likely have some help from Kyle Leahy.
Short Relief: More Bullpen Notes
-This week's saves leader is Kenley Jansen, with three.
-The holds leaders for the week is Hunter Gaddis, with three.
-It's unclear what the Padres will do in their bullpen, but with Robert Suarez and Miller, they have two of the best closers in baseball on the same team.
-The Yankees bullpen is suddenly absolutely stacked, with Doval, Luke Weaver, Bednar, and Devin Williams all in there.
-The Mets bullpen got a lot stronger, too, but Edwin Diaz remains the guy there.
-Jansen keeps his job as closer on an expiring contract as the Angels choose to go for it in 2025.
-Ryan Pressly was designated for assignment by the Cubs. Daniel Palencia will continue his outstanding first season as closer.
-The Marlins held on to almost everyone and will continue to use Anthony Bender, Ronny Henriquez, and Calvin Faucher at the ends of ballgames.
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