Below is a chart of every American League reliever covered in MLB.com's 2008 Fantasy Preview, a rundown that includes established big leaguers and up-and-coming prospects.
The list features dollar values compiled by our MLB.com staff based on standard 23-man, $260, 5x5 AL-league play. We included projected stats for the 2008 season as well as a one-liner prediction that encapsulates every player's value in 10 words or fewer. This page will be updated throughout the spring to reflect the impact of inevitable transactions, injuries and changing job situations.
An indispensable part of the draft-day kit, the cheat sheet can make the difference between winning and losing your fantasy league. With quick-hitting rankings and forecasts, it'll help you keep the remaining players on the board in order as the draft wears on. The last thing you want to be doing is flipping through some magazine when it's your turn to pick.
So play fair, but don't forget your cheat sheet when you head to your draft.
| Relievers |
TM |
$$ |
W |
SV |
SO |
ERA |
WHIP |
Notes |
| Jonathan Papelbon | BOS | 30 | 4 | 40 | 86 | 1.53 | 0.88 | Young, gifted and bulletproof. |
| J.J. Putz | SEA | 30 | 5 | 41 | 84 | 1.72 | 0.81 | Last year's dominance no fluke. |
| Francisco Rodriguez | LAA | 29 | 4 | 42 | 88 | 2.94 | 1.28 | Lives up to nickname, but command is iffy. |
| Joe Nathan | MIN | 29 | 5 | 44 | 81 | 1.93 | 1.00 | As reliable as they come. |
| Mariano Rivera | NYY | 26 | 4 | 35 | 69 | 2.44 | 1.00 | Still an elite option. |
| Bobby Jenks | CWS | 25 | 6 | 43 | 63 | 2.71 | 0.76 | Has joined upper echelon. |
| Huston Street | OAK | 23 | 5 | 35 | 75 | 2.66 | 1.06 | Could be bargain after injury-plagued '07. |
| Joakim Soria | KC | 18 | 5 | 32 | 72 | 2.71 | 1.02 | Here to stay after unheralded rookie year. |
| B.J. Ryan | TOR | 16 | 2 | 27 | 64 | 2.44 | 1.05 | Question mark after TJ surgery. |
| Joe Borowski | CLE | 16 | 2 | 28 | 57 | 4.66 | 1.45 | Often dances with disaster. |
| Todd Jones | DET | 15 | 1 | 32 | 26 | 4.63 | 1.39 | Warning: Saves come with indigestion. |
| Joba Chamberlain | NYY | 15 | 12 | 0 | 170 | 3.86 | 1.17 | Golden arm expected to ease back into rotation. |
| Troy Percival | TB | 10 | 2 | 20 | 40 | 3.42 | 1.39 | Can he keep partying like it's 1999? |
| Joaquin Benoit | TEX | 7 | 4 | 17 | 83 | 3.22 | 1.39 | Promotion could await top setup man. |
| Jeremy Accardo | TOR | 7 | 5 | 12 | 55 | 2.49 | 1.25 | Must-have insurance for B.J. Ryan owners. |
| C.J. Wilson | TEX | 6 | 3 | 15 | 66 | 3.45 | 1.36 | Will battle Joakin Benoit for closer job. |
| Hideki Okajima | BOS | 3 | 5 | 6 | 60 | 2.45 | 1.05 | Top insurance policy for Jonathan Papelbon |
| Rafael Betancourt | CLE | 3 | 3 | 7 | 72 | 2.45 | 0.99 | Could claim closer job if Joe Borowski falters. |
| Al Reyes | TB | 3 | 4 | 8 | 68 | 3.88 | 1.02 | Insurance for Troy Percival. |
| Pat Neshek | MIN | 3 | 5 | 8 | 80 | 2.34 | 0.83 | Sleeper candidate if Joe Nathan gets moved. |
| Jamie Walker | BAL | 3 | 4 | 8 | 39 | 3.52 | 1.20 | Could see SVO given lack of alternatives in BAL. |
| Scot Shields | LAA | 3 | 4 | 4 | 76 | 3.39 | 1.23 | Expect rebound. |
| Chad Bradford | BAL | 3 | 4 | 8 | 39 | 3.49 | 1.48 | Steady vet in chaotic O's 'pen. |
| George Sherrill | BAL | 2 | 3 | 8 | 59 | 2.94 | 1.00 | Might steal saves in unsettled O's 'pen. |
| Alan Embree | OAK | 2 | 3 | 7 | 45 | 3.81 | 1.40 | Value directly tied to Huston Street's health. |
| Fernando Rodney | DET | 2 | 6 | 5 | 57 | 3.62 | 1.23 | Awaiting Todd Jones' demise. |
| Octavio Dotel | CWS | 2 | 2 | 3 | 54 | 3.94 | 1.34 | Revival hinges entirely on destination. |
| Kazuo Fukumori | TEX | 1 | 4 | 5 | 51 | 3.73 | 1.24 | Japan experience could lead to SVO in young 'pen. |
| Scott Linebrink | CWS | 1 | 4 | 3 | 59 | 4.18 | 1.47 | Could get SVO when Bobby Jenks gets a break. |
| Eddie Guardado | TEX | 1 | 1 | 8 | 48 | 3.45 | 1.46 | Dark-horse closer candidate. |
| Yasuhiko Yabuta | KC | 1 | 3 | 5 | 55 | 4.17 | 1.31 | Could be next in line for SVO if Joakim Soria struggles. |
| Justin Speier | LAA | 1 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 4.01 | 1.06 | Source of Ks and good ratios in AL-only play. |
| Manny Delcarmen | BOS | 1 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 2.88 | 1.02 | Expect continued improvement. |
| Brandon Morrow | SEA | 1 | 3 | 2 | 81 | 3.98 | 1.43 | Could be joining rotation. |
| Matt Guerrier | MIN | 1 | 3 | 3 | 61 | 2.88 | 1.11 | Steady option coming off strong all-around campaign. |
| Justin Duchscherer | OAK | 1 | 4 | 3 | 52 | 3.41 | 1.15 | Expected to try out for starting role. |
| Akinori Otsuka | FA | 1 | 4 | 5 | 37 | 4.09 | 1.24 | Free agent's ability to rebound in question. |
| Dan Wheeler | TB | 1 | 3 | 3 | 70 | 4.06 | 1.27 | Mild rebound candidate. |
| Santiago Casilla | OAK | 1 | 2 | 0 | 64 | 3.77 | 1.13 | Don't expect return to early '07 form |
| Joel Peralta | KC | 1 | 4 | 3 | 71 | 3.75 | 1.31 | In hunt to be Joakim Soria's top setup man. |
| Joel Zumaya | DET | 1 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 3.66 | 1.08 | Expected to return around midseason. |
| Rafael Perez | CLE | 1 | 2 | 0 | 65 | 3.01 | 1.14 | Tough left likely to remain highly effective. |
| Keith Foulke | OAK | 1 | 3 | 4 | 35 | 4.28 | 1.30 | Consider if Huston Street gets dealt. |
| Jason Frasor | TOR | 1 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 4.19 | 1.18 | Good source of Ks, but better alternatives abound. |
| Bob McCrory | BAL | 1 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 4.51 | 1.46 | Future closer with ability to get Ks, grounders. |
| Jim Hoey | BAL | 1 | 2 | 5 | 53 | 4.08 | 1.32 | Cheap relief option could sneak in saves. |
| LaTroy Hawkins | NYY | 1 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 4.15 | 1.35 | Expect rough return to AL East. |
| Edwar Ramirez | NYY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4.55 | 1.40 | Intriguing power reliever. |
| Mike MacDougal | CWS | 1 | 2 | 1 | 56 | 4.09 | 1.33 | Health woes derailed '07 season. |
| Kyle Farnsworth | NYY | 1 | 2 | 0 | 71 | 4.14 | 1.34 | Fading K rate a concern. |
| Chris Ray | BAL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | On long road back from TJ surgery. |
| Ross Ohlendorf | NYY | 1 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 3.97 | 1.38 | Could develop into high-impact setup man. |
| Casey Janssen | TOR | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Out for season with torn labrum. |
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Print