Nobody enjoys talking about the economy, but when looking at the closer landscape for saves in 2026, it’s inevitable. Scarcity of traditional closers has created tough decisions for the “never pay for saves” enthusiasts.

Reliable relievers have seen their price points increase incrementally. Instead of finding late targets with upside, opportunity cost has pushed closers into the first three rounds in many formats. Of the 30 MLB teams, five are prepared to begin the season with a matchups-based approach in the late innings:

Colorado Rockies
St. Louis Cardinals
Tampa Bay Rays
The Athletics
Washington Nationals

There are also four camps with competitions for the closer role, which could mean multiple relievers getting save chances in early-season contests:

Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Angels
Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers

There’s also confusion in Detroit. Not only did the team re-sign Kyle Finnegan, but it also added Kenley Jansen to the leverage ladder. The Tigers would be the first franchise with three relievers who recorded at least 20 saves in the previous season on the Opening Day roster. Fantasy managers assume Jansen has the advantage, and he may be the preferred closer, but his role is less defined than in past seasons, capping his upside.

Last, but certainly not least, the back-to-back National League Manager of the Year winner, Pat Murphy, has not said who he’ll call on for saves between Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe, causing consternation among fantasy managers trying to discern which pitcher will be a bargain at his current price point.

This will be a fatiguing year covering bullpens. However, context remains paramount when trying to put relievers into tiered rankings. There is no number that will ensure a fantasy team’s success in the volatile category, but looking at the 80th- and 90th-percentile finishes from the NFBC’s 12-team overall contest (Online Championship) can provide a baseline:

NFBC Online Championship saves for 80th- and 90th-percentile finishes

Year80th90th

2025

74

79

2024

78

85

2023

76

83

2022

82

79

2021

78

85

The number of saves needed for fantasy success decreased last year and may decline again this season, depending on how many teams deploy a shared save concept.

Rankings

Here are my rankings and tiers for 2026. These can change quickly, so I’ll update them next week, before the last weekend of preseason drafts.

Tier 1
Mason Miller (SD)
Edwin Díaz (LAD)
Cade Smith (CLE)
Jhoan Duran (PHI)

Miller and Smith are closers with the capability of producing at least 100 strikeouts, which enhances their appeal. Díaz may not have as gaudy a strikeout number as he did in past seasons, but a lighter workload while anchoring a deep bullpen on the two-time defending World Champions should result in a bevy of save opportunities. Duran has been tweaking his arsenal this spring and has ended Rob Thomson’s “floating closer” concept. I, for one, benefit from this.

Tier 2
Devin Williams (NYM)
Andrés Muñoz (SEA)
David Bednar (NYY)
Aroldis Chapman (BOS)

Part of the problem with rankings is that a case can be made for and against each reliever in the second tier; it’s less than optimal. Two of these relievers were removed from the closer role at some point last season, twice for Williams. Chapman’s on the precipice of his age-38 season. Will his improved command hold? Can Muñoz stay healthy and maintain velocity throughout 2026?

Tier 3
Jeff Hoffman (TOR)
Ryan Helsley (BAL)
Pete Fairbanks (MIA)
Daniel Palencia (CHC)
Emilio Pagán (CIN)

Despite allowing 15 home runs last year, Hoffman still recorded 33 saves. He’s better than the numbers he posted in 2025, and with a year under his belt at closer, a bounce-back season lies in the offing. Helsley has added a splitter, the hip thing to do in Baltimore’s bullpen apparently, and seeks redemption after his struggles with the Mets.

Fairbanks comes with risk given his medical history, and his new team will use him as the highest-leverage reliever in some games rather than a traditional closer. Palencia burst onto the scene, racking up 22 saves. He also missed some time with a shoulder issue. His velocity has shown no cause for concern, but his contact rate rose as 2025 progressed. Pagán had a career year. Paying for them and expecting repeats in fantasy baseball defines inherent risk. However, they should each get plenty of runway in the role.

Tier 4
Ryan Walker (SF)
Raisel Iglesias (ATL)
Kenley Jansen (DET)
Carlos Estévez (KC)
Josh Hader (HOU)
Trevor Megill (MIL)

It’s not that Walker is a target or worthy of his ranking, but have you checked out his supporting cast in that bullpen? He will have to implode in high-leverage situations, as he did last year, to lose his role, so stay tuned. Iglesias endured a rough patch last year but finished with 29 saves. He cannot afford another one this year — there’s an obvious alternative in place now.

Jansen needs three more saves to move into third place all-time in the category. But will he record more than 20? If he secures 24, he will become the third reliever ever with 500 saves. Estévez has been pitching with reduced four-seam fastball velocity and is a fly-ball pitcher. Fun fact: His team moved the fences in at Kauffman Stadium.

Hader will open the season on the injured list and ended last year there, though the team maintains the injuries are unrelated. Are you feeling lucky? Is it Megill or Uribe? If Milwaukee wants to save arbitration money and move Megill later this season, he may begin the year in the role. However, he had a PRP injection over the winter for a forearm flexor strain suffered last season.

Tier 5
Dennis Santana (PIT)
Seranthony Domínguez (CHW)
Abner Uribe (MIL)
Bryan Abreu (HOU)

Two of these relievers could finish in or near the top 10 at the position if given the opportunity to be the closer or preferred save share: Abreu and Uribe. Santana has flourished in Pittsburgh, though his underlying data portends migration toward the mean. Domínguez has the ninth inning, or at least that’s what has been stated publicly. Staying there remains a problem for him. Monitoring his results against left-handed hitters is pivotal, as it determines whether he’s still the closer in June.

All the relievers from this point forward are in competition or in the mix for saves with their respective teams.

Tier 6
Griffin Jax (TB)
Robert Suarez (ATL)
Garrett Whitlock (BOS)
Garrett Cleavinger (TB)
Grant Taylor (CHW)
Jeremiah Estrada (SD)
Tanner Scott (LAD)

It’s easy to forecast Jax for a tremendous rebound campaign. What we do not know is if he can break from the pack and get Fairbanks’ vacated role, or if the Rays revert to 2022, when five relievers had at least five saves without any of them reaching double digits. Suarez will be one of the most popular closers-in-waiting picks this season. Whitlock helps ratios and will get ancillary saves. If anything happens to Chapman, wheels up. Cleavinger represents the left-handed complement to Jax and teammates for save chances based on matchups. Taylor could provide a return on investment if Domínguez struggles, or he racks up 100 strikeouts as he builds toward becoming a starter next season. Estrada and Scott will accumulate strikeouts and a handful of saves.

Tier 7
Kirby Yates (LAA)
Robert Garcia (TEX)
Paul Sewald (ARI)
JoJo Romero (STL)
Hogan Harris (ATH)
Clayton Beeter (WSH)

Pick your poison if you wait for saves. Reunited with Mike Maddux in Los Angeles, Yates may rekindle his 2024 magic. Garcia should be the preferred save option for Texas, but he struggled in high-leverage innings last year. Sewald has added some velocity and has Torey Lovullo’s trust as the bridge to A.J. Puk’s return (see below). Romero led the team in saves after the trade deadline last year, but could be moved as the year progresses. Harris has also added velocity and has been very good to this point in spring appearances. Beeter’s command scares me.

Tier 8
Riley O’Brien (STL)
Taylor Rogers (MIN)
Chris Martin (TEX)
Bryan Baker (TB)

As for O’Brien, see Beeter above. Rogers and Martin hope they provide some saves before Father Time comes for them. Baker’s in the mix with Edwin Uceta opening the season on the injured list.

Sleepers

Relievers I like better than the consensus, or who have a potential pathway toward a preferred save share:

Zach Agnos (COL): Agnos was considered a closer of the future and started strong last year before hitters adjusted. He’s been terrific this spring, posting a swinging-strike rate over 20%. He may not open the year at the top of the leverage ladder, but he’ll finish there for an improved Rockies bullpen.

Matt Svanson (STL): Most fantasy managers prefer O’Brien. However, his command remains tenuous, and he’s not as young as you think he is (at age 31). Svanson has converted 44-of-46 minor league save chances, and a perfect 33-for-33 with the St. Louis franchise. Some patience may be required, but he could be worth the wait. Among NL relievers in 2025, Svanson ranked first in opponent batting average (.163), seventh in ERA (1.98), and fifth in WHIP (0.90).

Cole Henry (WSH): Beeter has better velocity and a nasty slider, but lacks command. This may open the door for Henry, who pitches well but had three rough outings in late September that harpooned his ratios.

Tyler Wells (BAL): Wells can fill in capably for save chances when Helsley needs rest and has appeal for those in leagues with starting pitcher designations (SPARP). He works best in shorter bursts and may be an X-factor in the Orioles’ leverage ladder. Drew Anderson of the Tigers is another intriguing SPARP option for 2026.

Elvis Alvarado (ATH): He has the velocity, and if the command improves, he could earn a larger leverage role as the season progresses in a wide-open bullpen.

Stashes

The following players are only for leagues with deep rosters or injured reserve slots.

A.J. Puk (ARI): Puk could be back in early June and will take over as the closer until Justin Martinez returns after the All-Star break. For now, Puk’s a nice play with Sewald as his bridge.

Ben Joyce (LAA): Joyce was emerging in 2024, then missed most of last year because of injury. In a bullpen rife with aged veterans, Joyce represents one of the few beacons of hope for a beleaguered franchise.

Projections

For The Athletic’s subscribers, my save projections fused with Ariel Cohen’s ATC projections (as of March 8, 2026) are available for download. Please do not share them.

► Download: Jewett’s RP Save Projections

Statistical Credits: Fangraphs.com, Baseball-Reference.com, BaseballSavant.com, BrooksBaseball.net; ATC rankings, courtesy of Ariel Cohen.