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Saves and Holds: AL East Bullpen Depth Chart

With the 2016 fantasy baseball season approaching, bullpen depth charts can be tricky to decipher when entering your fantasy drafts. Projections of who will be vital to their respective team and to your fantasy team will be analyzed over the course of the next two months.

Below I've identified the projected AL East closers, setup men, and some of the noteworthy relievers that bridge a lead from starter to closer. The first and second names appearing after the closers below will mostly likely act as primary setup men, and be in line for holds. Bear in mind, most left-handed relievers identified will be used in specialist roles that make them more ideal in leagues with holds and will be a distant candidate for saves.

Don't forget that our closer depth charts are also updated all season long, so be sure to bookmark that page. And in case you missed it, our rankings dashboard has been loaded up with lots more preseason content to help you dominate your drafts.

 

AL East Depth Chart - Saves and Holds

Toronto Blue Jays: Drew Storen (closer), Roberto Osuna, Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup

New York Yankees: Aroldis Chapman (closer), Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances

Baltimore Orioles: Zach Britton (closer), Darren O'Day, Mychal GivensBrad Brach, T.J. McFarland

Tampa Bay Rays: Brad Boxberger (closer), Danny Farquhar, Xavier Cedeno

Boston Red Sox: Craig Kimbrel (closer), Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Carson Smith

 

Quick Hit Bullpen Analysis

For the American League East, many of the projected closers can almost etch their names into stone for their respective teams. Chapman, Britton and Kimbrel have entrenched themselves into the ninth inning through past success and will likely succeed again in 2016.

Leading the American League in saves with 41 in 2015, Brad Boxberger projects to close out games for Tampa Bay. With Jake McGee recently traded, Danny Farquhar will take on the setup duties. Farquhar has experience in the late game innings from his time with the Seattle Mariners so he can be a serviceable reliever for Holds.

Reliever Drew Storen could find he sits on a warm closer's seat come midseason. Drew Storen's exit from Washington was in large part due to his inability to close out the big games. If Storen has not shaken that monkey from his back, look for 20-year-old Roberto Osuna to stop adding to his Holds and start adding back to his Saves.

With such established closers also comes reliable setup relievers. Of the notable projected late game relievers; Miller and Betances give the Yankees a potential nine up, nine strikeout finale to games. Darren O'Day is a constant of eighth inning relief; and lastly, Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa and Carson Smith form a very formidable bridge from starting games to ending games that should not be overlooked in regards to Holds as the Red Sox look to bounce back from last to first yet again. All of the relievers mentioned here should be high on your list of options for Holds in your fantasy league.

 

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