Closing Time 7/22: Ranking the Top 40 Closers Every Tuesday

There have only been three days’ worth of games since the last update, so the list is mostly quiet this week as we get closer to trade deadline season. The Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox, Rays, Rangers, Guardians, Angels, Royals, and Twins are all fighting for wild card spots in the AL at the moment, all within five games or less of a spot, so we may not see too many relievers on the move from this group. Aroldis Chapman, Pete Fairbanks, and Kenley Jansen still seem like the most likely closers to be moved from this group. The Orioles will be the team to watch in the AL as they will likely deal Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto, but they could also part with Félix Bautista if the price is right. There’s been some mixed messages about whether or not Mason Miller is available, but right now I’d say there’s only about a 20% chance he moves.

The NL may have some more clarity come next Thursday, as of right now it looks like there are about four teams fighting for that last wild card spot with the Padres having a 3.5 game edge on the Reds, Giants, and Cardinals. IF those three teams fall further out and decide to entertain selling, that will certainly open up the reliever market as we could see Emilio Pagán, Camilo Doval (and Tyler Rogers), Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton on the move. Shelby Miller is apparently healthy and won’t need surgery after seeking a second opinion, so he will likely be dealt. I can’t see the Marlins parting with Ronny Henriquez, but perhaps they’d make Anthony Bender available? That leaves Raisel Iglesias, Kyle Finnegan, and David Bednar as closers who should be traded by next week, but it’s still far from a guarantee.

 

Notes

 

• There is not a lot to talk about this week due to the lack of games, but we should probably mention the David Robertson signing in Philadelphia. Robertson will start in AAA but should be up at some point in August. I have some doubts about how effective he will be as he is 40 years old and hasn’t pitched this year, but perhaps the time off will be beneficial. I don’t think this is the Phillies’ answer to their closer woes, though, and I fully expect them to make a bigger splash by next Thursday night.

 

• Tanner Scott left last night’s game with forearm tightness and will undergo an MRI today. Regardless of the results, Scott is likely to go on the IL today, leaving the closer role open at the moment. Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates will probably form some sort of committee in the interim, but if the injury is long-term term I’d expect the Dodgers to add a closer at the deadline. Even if the injury isn’t long-term, I’d expect the Dodgers to make a splash in the RP market just because they can.

 

Rank	Pitcher	Team	Change
1	Josh HaderT1	HOU	-
2	Edwin Díaz	LAD	-
3	Devin Williams	NYM	-
4	Trevor Megill T2	MIL	-
5	Andrés Muñoz	SEA	-
6	Mason Miller	SD	-
7	Emmanuel Clase	CLE	-
8	Jhoan Duran	PHI	-
9	Jeff Hoffman	TOR	-
10	Aroldis Chapman T3	BOS	+2
11	Ryan Helsley	BAL	+2
12	Daniel Palencia	CHC	+2
13	David Bednar	NYY	+3
14	Emilio Pagán	CIN	+1
15	Will Vest	DET	+2
16	Robert Suarez	ATL	+3
17	Raisel Iglesias	ATL	+1
18	Kenley Jansen T4	DET	+3
19	Camilo Doval	NYY	+1
20	Pete Fairbanks	MIA	+2
21	Carlos Estévez	KC	+2
22	Kyle Finnegan	DET	+2
23	Ronny Henriquez T5	MIA	+2
24	Grant Taylor	CWS	+2
25	Robert Garcia	TEX	+2
26	Matt Strahm	KC	+2
27	Alex Vesia	LAD	+8
28	Kevin Ginkel	ARI	+1
29	Seth Halvorsen	COL	+1
30	Griffin Jax T6	TB	+1
31	Kirby Yates	LAA	+UR
32	Randy Rodríguez	SF	+1
33	Dylan Lee	ATL	-1
34	Adrian Morejon	SD	+2
35	Reid Detmers	LAA	+2
36	Cade Smith	NYY	+2
37	Orion Kerkering	PHI	-3
38	Anthony Bender	MIA	+UR
39	Jordan Hicks	CWS	-
40	Yennier Cano	BAL	+UR