Fantasy Baseball: Closer Report

It’s that point in the fantasy baseball season that you can really start assessing your roster and making moves to prepare you for success either in this year’s playoffs, or if you’re in a dynasty league, start moving some of your players that are off to hot starts for pieces that could be of value for your future run of dominance. Today, let’s talk closers.

I am in a couple of dynasty baseball leagues, one is with a bunch of the folks from this site that is super deep (16 teams, 40-man rosters), and the other is less deep where I inherited a crap team before last season. I’ve been wheeling and dealing in order to try and make them more respectable, and so far this season has been going much better than last.

Enough about my league. Let’s talk about some moves you could make that could help you win your league!

Relievers are a fickle bunch. Mark Melancon entered the season as one of the better relievers on the board and was heading to a perennial contender, which should have meant tons and tons of saves. Instead, it’s Greg Holland, coming off of Tommy John and pitching in the Rockies that is leading the way. Aroldis Chapman is missing time with the Yankees, the Nationals have yet to nail down the ninth, Sam Dyson was so bad he was traded, the list goes on and on.

More from Call to the Pen

With so few sure things, it may be time to capitalize on one of the closers on your roster and swap him out for another position or category that you could use help with. I traded Holland earlier this week in the less deep dynasty league, figuring that I could snatch up a new closer if needed to later on. I went closer heavy in the draft, taking Edwin Diaz, Cam Bedrosian and Holland, and when someone dropped Dellin Betances earlier in the season, I grabbed him too for his high strikeout rate and low ERA. He’s also a nice handcuff to have.

While Bedrosian is nearing a return and Diaz has survived his brief demotion, Betances will have to hand the job back to Chapman as soon as next weekend.

If you have Holland and could use some help, send out some feelers to your league. The same goes for some of the other big name guys. If you have Brandon Kintzler of the Twins, I’d hold onto him. His name value isn’t quite as high as someone like Holland or Craig Kimbrel, so the return wouldn’t be as high. Plus, if you’re dangling someone that isn’t as known in your league and you guys re-draft every year, you certainly don’t want to bring an under-the-radar option to their attention. It’s all a part of the dance.

If you do decide to move on from one of your big-name closers, Cam Bedrosian is a name to consider looking up on the waiver wire. He’s only owned in 23.9% of ESPN leagues, and while he isn’t guaranteed to take the reigns as the Angels’ closer right away, he’s their best option moving forward. Sean Doolittle of the Oakland Athletics would be another option on the table, as he was getting opportunities in the ninth before hitting the disabled list. He should be back before long and is only owned in 2.3% of leagues.

Other waiver wire names to check out: Jim Johnson (65.4%), current Angel closer Bud Norris (54.1%), Addison Reed (48.5%) and A.J. Ramos (60%). They’re not the best of the best, but they should be able to help your team accumulate saves. Reed may be the best of the bunch since he’s on the team that is still thought of as a contender, but Ramos has arguably underperformed while Johnson and Norris are solid vets.

Next: A's Youth Movement Continues

If you have the opportunity to make a move to improve your club and it’s going to take a closer to do it, check the waiver wire, see what’s available, and get the most value out of your asset–especially if you have an older reliever and you’re in a dynasty fantasy baseball league.

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