These are the top 20 RP heading into the 2025 MLB season:
1. Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
Clase enters 2025, coming off a third-straight season with 42+ saves. 2024 was Clase’s best of his career, setting career highs in saves (47), ERA (0.61), and WHIP (0.66). The Guardians closer is the first closer taken in drafts with a 42.8 ADP, and his projected 43+ saves would see him finish with a fourth consecutive season reaching 42 saves or better.
2. Devin Williams, New York Yankees
After finishing 2023 with a career-high 36 saves, Williams saw his 2024 season debut delayed due to stress fractures in his back. Last season, in 22 appearances, Williams recorded 14 saves while posting a 1.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts in 21.2 IP. The 30-year-old enters 2025 with the Yankees and will lock down the 9th innings in New York. Fantasy baseball players should expect 35+ saves and 90+ strikeouts in 60+ IP.
3. Josh Hader, Houston Astros
Hader has been one of the most dominant relievers during his career and finished 2024 with 30+ saves and 100+ strikeouts for the fourth time in his career. There are times when surrendering hits and home runs become an issue, but Hader continues to rebound from any struggles. Fantasy baseball players can confidently draft Hader, expecting another 30+ saves and 100+ strikeouts.
4. Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
Diaz missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a patellar tendon injury during the 2023 WBC. He returned in 2024, but inconsistencies plagued him for much of the season, finishing with a 3.52 ERA and 20 saves. Entering 2025, Diaz should be past any issues of a season ago, and fantasy baseball players should expect a rebound with Diaz reaching 30+ saves.
5. Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
Helsley took over the ninth innings duties in St. Louis, finishing with a 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 79 strikeouts, and league-leading 49 saves. His elite arm should once again see him reaching 35+ saves while reaching 70+ strikeouts.
6. Mason Miller, Athletics
If Miller pitched for any other team, he would be the top closer for the foreseeable future. He finished 2024 with 28 saves, 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings. The Athletics are not projected to be better, but 2025 should see Miller finish with 30 saves and 100+ strikeouts.
7. Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves
Iglesias has back-to-back seasons with 33+ saves and 68 strikeouts. He enters 2025 in the last year of his contract, poised for a big payday following the season. The six closers ahead of Iglesias are drafted by the 7th round, but the Atlanta closer carries value given his production at his current ADP (82.2). He is projected for another 30+ saves and 65+ strikeouts.
8. Ryan Walker, San Francisco Giants
Ryan Walker assumed the closer role following Camilo Doval’s struggles. Last season, he made 76 appearances, finishing with a 1.91 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 10 saves, and 99 strikeouts in 80 IP. Walker is set to start 2025 as San Francisco’s close,r and fantasy baseball players should project him to finish with 23 saves and 90+ strikeouts.
9. Felix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles
Bautista missed 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He ended the 2023 season with 33 saves and 110 strikeouts in 61 innings. Bautista is set to enter 2025 as the closer for Baltimore and projects to reach 30+ saves and 80+ strikeouts.
10. Andres Munoz, Seattle Mariners
Munoz finished his first season as Seattle’s full-time closer, posting a 2.12 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 22 saves, and 77 strikeouts in 59.1 innings. He enters 2025 with a monster season ahead of him. Fantasy baseball players should project Munoz to reach 30+ saves and 80+ strikeouts.
11. Robert Suarez, San Diego Padres
Suarez’s first season as San Diego’s full-time closer saw him finish with 36 saves, 2.77 ERA, and 1.05 WHIP. His 11th-round ADP is a steal after the first 10 closers come off draft boards. Suarez should be projected for another 35+ season in 2025.
12. Jhoan Duran, Minnesota Twins
Duran possesses elite strikeout potential and is coming off two straight seasons with 20+ saves and 66+ strikeouts. 2024 saw regression as Duran’s ERA and WHIP increased, but a rebound is expected in 2025. Duran should be projected for a career-high 30+ saves while seeing his strikeout total back in the 70s.
13. Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays
Hoffman enters 2025 as the favorite to be Toronto’s closer. In the past two seasons with Philadelphia, Hoffman averaged a 2.29 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 16 holds. Hoffman should be projected for 25+ saves, 2.98 ERA, and 1.05 WHIP.
14. Ryan Pressly, Chicago Cubs
Pressly’s end as Houston’s closer came after the team acquired Josh Hader. After reaching 30+ saves in 2022 and 2023, he managed four saves in 2024. He enters 2025 with the Cubs and will be the favorite to close out games on the Northside of Chicago. Pressly can be a steal in fantasy drafts with a modest projection of 25+ saves.
15. Bowden Francis, Toronto Blue Jays
Francis started 2024 in Toronto’s rotation, but issues forced him to the bullpen after a handful of starts. He was called back up and pitched out of the bullpen before being optioned to AAA until July. Upon his July return, Francis had a 1.68 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in 65 IP. Throughout his time in the minors, he was better than a strikeout per inning but gave up many home runs. As a mid-round draft target, his electric arm makes him a true boom-or-bust player.
16. Alexis Diaz, Cincinnati Reds
Diaz finished 2023 with 37 saves while posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 86 strikeouts in 67.1 IP. His control issues caused a regression in 2024 as he recorded 28 saves while finishing with a 3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts in 56.1 IP. If Diaz can fix his issues from a year ago, he should be projected for 30+ saves and 70+ strikeouts.
17. David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
Bednar finished the 2023 season with a 2.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 39 saves. Entering 2024 he was looking like a top-tier closer, but a slow start ensued, and he was unable to regain form. He finished last season with an inflated 5.77 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 23 saves in 30 chances. His stock takes a hit entering 2025 drafts, but a rebound would ensure value at his current 19th-round ADP. Fantasy baseball players can expect Bednar to right the ship in 2025 and reach 29+ saves with a 1.15 WHIP.
18. Tanner Scott, Los Angeles Dodgers
Scott joins the Dodgers after finishing 2024 with career highs in saves (22) and ERA (1.75). The last three seasons saw Scott perform well as a member of Miami and San Diego, and Los Angeles should give him ample number of opportunities to outperform his career year of a season ago. A 30+ save season would outperform his 16th-round ADP and supplant him as a top-10 closer.
19. Justin Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks
After a cup of coffee in 2023, Martinez appeared in 64 games a season ago. He finished with a 2.48 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts in 72.2 innings. Martinez will compete with A.J. Puk for the closer role, but should he open the season as Arizona’s closer, his high strikeout rate could see him finish the season as a top-10 fantasy baseball closer.
20. Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers
Before Devin Williams’ return from injury, Megill solidified Milwaukee’s ninth-inning role, finishing with 21 saves, 2.72 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 46.1 innings. He’s a safe bet to close out games for Milwaukee in 2025 and can provide great value for a closer reaching 25+ saves that had a 19th-round ADP.
