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

Top Fantasy Baseball Closer Handcuffs and Waiver Wire Pickups Worth Stashing for Week 16 (2025)

Bryan Abreu - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Ryan Kirksey's top fantasy baseball closers to stash and waiver wire pickups for Week 16 of 2025. His favorite relief pitchers to add for sneaky waiver wire saves.

The Major League Baseball All-Star break is a good time to take stock of what relievers are still sitting on your fantasy baseball league's waiver wire. Chances are, many closers are about to be traded in the next two weeks, and the direct backups are often free for the taking.

More and more national beat reporters are hearing rumors about which pitchers are available in trade, making those backups necessary pickups in the days ahead. Don't wait until pitchers get moved to try and battle others in FAAB for new closers. The smart move is to take advantage of these few days while other managers are taking a break and make some shrewd, cost-effective pickups.

If you are hunting for saves, then consider stashing some top relievers who currently aren't their team's top option in the ninth inning. In this article, I'll provide some of the top player options to stash, which are widely available in Yahoo leagues. To stay up to date with all the latest developments in the world of relief pitching, be sure to check out our Fantasy Baseball Closer Depth Charts for saves, holds, and bullpens. 

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

 

Fantasy Baseball Closer Handcuffs

In this section, I'll highlight some of the established setup men who are the clear backup to an established, firmly entrenched closer on their team. These teams have absolute clarity for now, but each of these pitchers is just an injury or a sudden cold streak away from being promoted to the closer role. From this group, I believe the one closest to gaining a closer job right now is Cade Smith (after an inevitable Emmanuel Clase trade).

Jason Adam, San Diego Padres (38% rostered)

The Robert Suarez-Jason Adam combo is about as consistent and predictable as it comes. Suarez leads baseball with 28 saves, and Adam has earned a hold in 23 of those. Suarez had three saves last week, and Adam got a hold in each one of them. Suarez has had some shaky moments this year, making Adam and his 1.70 ERA one of the best candidates to stash.

Randy Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants (30% rostered)

The Giants show no signs of demoting Camilo Doval, as he has excelled lately. But if something should happen to him, it is likely Randy Rodriguez, and not the shaky Ryan Walker, that would get the ninth-inning call. Rodriguez still has an ERA under 1.00 and has a 35% strikeout rate this season.

Griffin Jax, Minnesota Twins (21% rostered)

Jhoan Duran is a likely trade candidate, making Griffin Jax a good stash candidate ahead of July 31. The Twins aren't winning the division and would need help with the wild card, so Duran is a good candidate to trade. Jax is still striking out 38% of batters and has 20 holds, so he is familiar with high-leverage situations.

Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros (31% rostered)

Bryan Abreu might be the most dominant non-closer in the game right now. He has been unhittable in the eighth inning, posting a 1.70 ERA with a 38% strikeout rate and a 97-mile-per-hour fastball. Josh Hader isn't going anywhere, of course, but Abreu can be a help in ERA and strikeouts even without getting the saves.

Abner Uribe, Milwaukee Brewers (21% rostered)

No reliever has more than Abner Uribe's 26 holds this season. He did blow a save on Saturday, but that doesn't impact his standing since the only other reliable setup man for Milwaukee is lefty Jared Koenig, who strikes out just 22% of batters. If Trevor Megill gets injured, Uribe will be the next man up.

Luke Weaver, New York Yankees (34% rostered)

Devin Williams has righted the ship with a win and a save this week, so there doesn't seem to be any immediate need to go back to Luke Weaver in the ninth inning right now. But the Yankees will always want someone they trust in there, and should Williams go through another rough patch like early in the season, Weaver is the man they want closing out games.

Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians (10% rostered)

If I had to put money on one closer getting traded this month, it would be Clase. The Guardians have fallen out of the race, but Clase has too much pedigree and closing experience not to be coveted by other teams. Smith did blow a save on Sunday, but that was after he picked up three holds in five days prior to that.

Matt Brash, Seattle Mariners (5% rostered)

Seattle is on a roll right now, and their dominant bullpen is a big part of the reason why. Andres Munoz has been incredible (1.50 ERA and 32% strikeout rate), but Matt Brash has been just as good. Brash has a 0.83 ERA and strikes out almost 10 batters per nine innings.

Seranthony Dominguez, Baltimore Orioles (6% rostered)

Baltimore is another team that has disappointed and will likely look to deal away some veterans for prospects in the coming weeks. That could benefit Dominguez if Felix Bautista is traded away. Dominguez already has a 32% strikeout rate, 12 holds, and two saves this season, and is the logical ninth-inning replacement.

 

Relievers With Closer Potential on Teams With Closer Uncertainty

Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels (11% rostered)

Like the Braves, the Angels are surely showcasing Kenley Jansen right now, despite claims that they will be buyers at the trade deadline. Jansen has a save and a win in the last week, and is now up to 16 saves and a 24% strikeout rate this season. Once a mediocre starter, Detmers has emerged as a lethal bullpen option and is striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings in a setup role.

Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox (7% rostered)

The Red Sox are a tricky team to predict, as they claim they want to add pieces for a playoff run, but trading Rafael Devers suggests that they are content with developing their young players, given the likelihood of them making the playoffs. No one available has more postseason experience than Aroldis Chapman, so if he is moved, this likely becomes Whitlock's job.

Caleb Ferguson, Pittsburgh Pirates (0% rostered)

The Pirates are likely to shop both David Bednar and Dennis Santana, as their team isn't expected to make the playoffs again this season. If both are moved, what few saves are available could go to Caleb Ferguson and his 2.70 ERA and nine holds. A sneaky dark horse in this bullpen is Isaac Mattson and his 29% strikeout rate.

Orion Kerkering, Philadelphia Phillies (20% rostered)

Orion Kerkering is listed as a co-closer, but Matt Strahm continues to receive opportunities ahead of him. Jordan Romano has self-imploded again (7.29 ERA this season), so I like the idea of stashing Kerkering if something were to happen to Strahm in the last two months of the season.

Dylan Lee and Pierce Johnson, Atlanta Braves (9% and 1% rostered)

Raisel Iglesias had back-to-back saves this week, which is exactly what the Braves wanted to pump up his value ahead of July 31. Both Dylan Lee and Pierce Johnson have 27% strikeout rates, and their ERAs are within 0.1 of each other, both in the mid-2.00s. One or both of these guys should have the ninth inning soon for Atlanta.

Tommy Kahnle, Detroit Tigers (29% rostered)

Will Vest has had a shaky couple of weeks. That doesn't mean that Tommy Kahnle will take over the closer role like he did early in the season, but it's something to monitor. Kahnle has nine saves and 12 holds despite a 4.50 ERA, and Detroit may prefer him in high-leverage situations before the ninth inning.

Brad Keller, Chicago Cubs (4% rostered)

Drew Pomeranz got the hold on Sunday, but that was likely just because the Cubs needed a left-hander at that time of the game. Keller has 14 holds and a 23% strikeout rate behind closer Daniel Palencia. Keller is up to almost 97 miles per hour on the sinker this year and strikes out nine batters per nine innings.

More Fantasy Baseball Advice



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!






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

Nick Kurtz

Leaves Game With Oblique Soreness
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Randy Rodríguez

Tommy John Surgery Recommended for Randy Rodriguez
Corey Seager

Placed on Injured List
Jackson Chourio

to Return From Injured List on Saturday
Jordan Lawlar

Diamondbacks Set to Promote Jordan Lawlar
Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Xander Bogaerts

Suffers Foot Fracture, Set to Hit Injured List
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
De'Von Achane

Should be Ready for Week 1
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Alec Burleson

Lands on Injured List With Wrist Inflammation
Emmanuel Clase

Luis L. Ortiz to Remain On Leave for Rest of Season
Kyle Schwarber

has Historic Performance in Rout of Braves
Boston Red Sox

Payton Tolle Expected to Make Debut on Friday
Green Bay Packers

Packers Acquire Micah Parsons, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jauan Jennings

Remains Sidelined at Practice
Corey Seager

Undergoing Appendectomy on Thursday
Chris Godwin

to Miss First Month of Season, Possibly More
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering Return to College
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice, Expected to Play in Week 1
Jaylen Wright

Undergoes Surgery, Could be Back "Septemberish"
Tyreek Hill

on Track to Play in Week 1
Kyren Williams

to See Reduced Workload?
Jayden Reed

Dealing with Jones Fracture in Left Foot
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Olivier-Maxence Prosper

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months
Malik Nabers

Expected to be Full-Go for Week 1
Freddie Freeman

Out Wednesday With Neck Stinger
Alejandro Kirk

Avoids Major Injury, Remains Out on Wednesday
Travis Hunter

Back at Practice, Will be Ready for Week 1
Luis Robert Jr.

Could Miss the Rest of the Season
De'Von Achane

Not Practicing on Wednesday
Trevor Megill

Brewers Place Trevor Megill on Injured List With Flexor Strain
Luis Robert Jr.

Placed on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Rashee Rice

Accepting Six-Game Suspension to Begin the Year
Kyle Hamilton

Ravens, Kyle Hamilton Finalizing Four-Year Extension
Rashee Rice

NFL Aiming to Place Six-Game Suspension on Rashee Rice
De'Von Achane

Dolphins GM Says De'Von Achane Will be Ready for Week 1
Joe Mixon

Texans GM: "We'll See" if Joe Mixon Plays in 2025
Adam Thielen

Traded to the Vikings
Nick Lodolo

Expected to Return Wednesday Against the Dodgers
Terance Mann

Confident About Having a Big Year in Brooklyn
Zaccharie Risacher

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Skills
NBA

Pistons And Timberwolves Join Race for Malik Beasley
John Tonje

Signs Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Max Strus

to Miss 3-4 Months After Surgery
Blake Snell

Activated From Paternity List Tuesday
Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Still Expect Micah Parsons to Play in Week 1
Luis Robert Jr.

Exits Early With Hamstring Soreness
Willson Contreras

Issued Six-Game Suspension
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez Placed on Injured List
Nikola Jović

Heat Have High Hopes for Nikola Jovic
Golden State Warriors

Cody Martin Drawing Interest From Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves Interested in Reunion With Bones Hyland
Kylor Kelley

Joins Lakers
Colin Castleton

Links Up With Magic
Malik Monk

Kings "Not Actively Engaged" in Trade Discussions Involving Malik Monk
NHL

Jan Rutta Lands in Switzerland
Kirby Dach

Skates on Monday
COL

Tyson Barrie Retires From NHL
Zhang Mingyang

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Johnny Walker

Gets Back In The Win Column
Brian Ortega

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Aljamain Sterling

Proves Too Much For Brian Ortega
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Sergei Pavlovich

Wins Decision At UFC Shanghai
Kevin Borjas

Drops Decision At UFC Shanghai
Sumudaerji

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kiefer Crosbie

Still Winless In The UFC
Taiyilake Nueraji

Gets His First UFC Win
Ryan Blaney

Earns his Second Daytona Cup Series Win
Tyler Reddick

Locks Into the 2025 Playoffs Despite Underwhelming Daytona Performance
Erik Jones

Misses the 2025 Playoffs Despite Top-Five Run at Daytona
Justin Haley

Best Performance of 2025 Falls Short of Victory at Daytona
Kyle Larson

Enters Playoffs As Co-Points Leader
Alex Bowman

Advances to Playoffs Despite Crashing at Daytona
Cole Custer

Finally Shows Signs of Life at Daytona
Daniel Suarez

Lame-Duck Daniel Suarez Delivers Clutch Second-Place Finish

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP