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Week 16 MLB Closers and Saves Report

David A Marcillo looks at Week 16 closer performances around MLB for 2018, including bullpen changes. He identifies fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and adds for saves.

Another mostly quiet week in bullpens around baseball, leading up to what is sure to be a wild trade deadline in a couple of weeks. A big name closer said a big word and got himself sent to the minors. A guy who was a closer very recently is a closer again due to an injury. A couple of committees seem to be working themselves out.

Guys like Zach Britton, Shane Greene, Brad Brach, Joe Jimenez, and Kyle Barraclough (among many others) are looking at potential new roles once the calendar turns to August. Things have stayed more or less the same for the last few weeks, but it's just the calm before the storm. Rumors have been flying already, and we're still more than two weeks away from the trade deadline. The early Herrera-to-the-Nationals trade didn't spark any more early trades, as some expected.

All that and more in this week's Closers and Saves Report, so let's dive into the news, the best performers, and any suggested moves for your fantasy team this week:

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

 

Bullpen News for Week 16

Houston Astros

One of the most frustrating bullpens in fantasy baseball mostly worked itself out with Hector Rondon taking the ninth inning and running away with it. Ken Giles was still somewhat hanging around and making Rondon's fantasy owners nervous, but he got himself sent all the way to Fresno, as he was optioned to Triple-A this week. Giles' performance likely merited a demotion, but his reaction to his manager on the mound definitely did. He greeted manager A.J. Hinch with some less than friendly words as he was being removed from a game. It'll be Giles' first time in the minors since 2014, his rookie year. He can be safely dropped in all fantasy formats, with Rondon getting a nice little bump here.

Washington Nationals

The Nationals picked up Kelvin Herrera from the Royals to deepen their bullpen, and now he'll serve as closer once again. All-Star closer Sean Doolittle landed on the disabled list this week with a toe injury so Herrera will scoot up to the ninth inning while Doolittle is out. There's no closer controversy here at all, as Doolittle will get his inning back once he's ready to return, but Herrera could be a useful temporary pick up.

San Francisco Giants

The Giants have been going with a committee for their ninth inning lately, but it seems to be working itself out, with Will Smith rising to the top. Manager Bruce Bochy has lately preferred the late-inning combination of Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, and Will Smith. While no announcement has been made officially, another save or two from Smith should be enough to call him the full-time closer in San Francisco.

Detroit Tigers

Tigers closer Shane Greene should be back from the disabled list soon, and he'll immediately resume his ninth inning role. For now. Greene is a likely trade candidate and probably won't stay in the ninth inning with his new team, but he should have some temporary value in standard leagues and will retain some value in holds leagues as he's almost certain to remain in the late innings. Joe Jimenez has been filling in while Greene has been out, and will regain the ninth inning if Greene gets traded.

 

Roster Moves of the Week

Adds

Shane Greene, Detroit Tigers- Some owners may have dropped Greene when he landed on the disabled list, but he'll resume his role in the ninth inning and should put up some fantasy value between now and the trade deadline. He'll lose most if not all of his value if he's traded, so this may be more of a temporary add in standard leagues.

Joe Jimenez, Detroit Tigers- Related to Greene above, Joe Jimenez has been filling in as closer but will move back into a setup role. That may lead a lot of owners to drop Jimenez in fantasy leagues. Greene is a very likely trade candidate, and Jimenez is sure to step back into the ninth inning if Greene leaves. He may not have much fantasy value for a week or two, but owners who jump on Jimenez now could get him for very little and see some nice returns in August and September.

Will Smith, San Francisco Giants- Will Smith seems to be the reliever who has risen to the top of the San Francisco committee. He has the upside and the experience to be a very strong fantasy closer, and he seems to be maybe a save or two away from officially taking the ninth inning to himself.

Kelvin Herrera, Washington Nationals- The Nationals will turn to the newly-acquired Kelvin Herrera for a bit as closer Sean Doolittle heads to the disabled list. This is certainly a temporary add, as Doolittle will keep his closer role once he's healthy, but Herrera could have some nice temporary value in the meantime.

Drops

Ken Giles, Houston Astros- The Astros bullpen has finally figured itself out, and this week that included Ken Giles heading down to Triple-A Fresno. He's been struggling, and he cursed out his manager on the mound. That's as good a recipe for a demotion as any.

 

Best of the Week

Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners- 3 IP, 7 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP

A perfect week from Mariners closer Edwin Diaz, who is certainly making a bid for best closer in baseball honors this season. Diaz faced nine batters, retired all nine (seven via strikeout) and saved three games in the process.

Felipe Vázquez, Pittsburgh Pirates- 4 IP, 9 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP

Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez has had a bit of an up-and-down season, but this week was definitely an up. He struck out nine batters in four innings, saving three games while allowing no runs despite three hits and two walks.

Sergio Romo, Tampa Bay Rays- 3 2/3 IP, 5 K, 3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.55 WHIP

Rays closer/opener Sergio Romo had a strong week, striking out five batters in 3 2/3 innings. He saved three games, allowing no runs and just two hits across his four games. He's currently owned in fewer than 40% of fantasy leagues. While the Rays bullpen can certainly be called "quirky and unpredictable," Romo seems like a safe bet to provide solid fantasy value going forward.

 

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Adds




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Josh Naylor

Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Pat Bryant

Off to a Good Start
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
Cody Barton

Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
Montaric Brown

has Worked With Starters
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Josh Jung

Sent to Triple-A
Jurickson Profar

Officially Reinstated and Hitting in Five-Hole on Wednesday
Spencer Schwellenbach

Going on Injured List With Fractured Elbow
Maxwell Hairston

Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Tai Felton

Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
LeQuint Allen Jr.

to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
Justin Walley

Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
Jamari Thrash

Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Grayson Murphy

Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Joe Andreessen

in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Bhayshul Tuten

Needs to Improve Pass Protection
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Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Brandon Woodruff

Likely to Pitch on Sunday in Miami
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Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
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Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
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Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
EDM

Andrew Mangiapane Signs Two-Year Pact With Oilers
SEA

Ryan Lindgren Joins Kraken on Four-Year Contract
PHI

Christian Dvorak Heads to Philadelphia
Logan Stankoven

Signs Long-Term Extension with Hurricanes
NYI

Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Hunter Goodman

Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
Grant Holmes

Strikes Out 10 in Scoreless Outing
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
T.J. Watt

Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Willson Contreras

Doubtful for Wednesday
George Springer

Clubs Two Homers in Seven-RBI Day
Joshua Palmer

Could be a Sleeper
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Laviska Shenault Jr.

on the Bubble
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Raheem Blackshear

to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Rico Dowdle

Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Chuba Hubbard

Should See Majority of Touches in 2025
Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
Josh Naylor

Scratched From Tuesday's Lineup Against Giants
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
San Francisco Giants

Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Josh Naylor

Back in Action on Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Suffers Setback
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Nolan Arenado

Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Brandon Woodruff

Ready for Season Debut
Garrett Mitchell

Out for the Rest of the Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Jakob Poeltl

Agrees to a Contract Extension With Raptors
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Dealt to Bucks on Tuesday
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
Atlanta Hawks

Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

Aiming to Prove He is "Still One of the Best in the League"
T.J. Watt

Steelers Not Planning to Trade T.J. Watt
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
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