| Relievers |
TM |
$$ |
W |
SV |
SO |
ERA |
WHIP |
Notes |
| Jonathan Papelbon | BOS | 24 | 4 | 39 | 80 | 2.05 | 0.88 | In terms of stuff and stats, as good as anyone. |
| Mariano Rivera | NYY | 24 | 5 | 37 | 68 | 1.85 | 1.00 | Age can't slow him; bid with confidence. |
| Joe Nathan | MIN | 24 | 3 | 35 | 72 | 1.60 | 0.91 | Comfortably entrenched among league's elite. |
| Joakim Soria | KC | 21 | 2 | 37 | 70 | 2.41 | 0.97 | No longer a sleeper pick, but will produce. |
| Brad Lidge | PHI | 21 | 3 | 34 | 94 | 2.70 | 1.30 | Won't be perfect again, but he's finally consistent. |
| Francisco Rodriguez | NYM | 21 | 3 | 41 | 72 | 2.80 | 1.28 | Can carry your team, even without 62 saves. |
| Jose Valverde | HOU | 18 | 4 | 38 | 79 | 3.10 | 1.19 | Finished '08 with a flourish; safer than most. |
| Brian Fuentes | LAA | 16 | 4 | 33 | 79 | 3.20 | 1.12 | Big finish to '08 a good sign and new team helps. |
| Kerry Wood | CLE | 16 | 4 | 31 | 76 | 3.55 | 1.26 | Key to remaining healthy may be relief role. |
| B.J. Ryan | TOR | 13 | 2 | 33 | 71 | 3.11 | 1.19 | Strikeouts down following quick return from Tommy John. |
| Bobby Jenks | CWS | 13 | 3 | 32 | 41 | 2.55 | 1.03 | Strikeouts way down, but stat line remains strong. |
| Francisco Cordero | CIN | 12 | 4 | 34 | 73 | 3.10 | 1.40 | Veteran has a few strong seasons left. |
| Jonathan Broxton | LAD | 12 | 3 | 29 | 91 | 2.95 | 1.14 | Future is now for lights-out fireman. |
| Brian Wilson | SF | 11 | 2 | 33 | 69 | 4.20 | 1.39 | Relatively secure in spite of high walk rate. |
| Matt Capps | PIT | 11 | 3 | 24 | 51 | 3.20 | 1.03 | Brief injury only hiccup in '08; unheralded but steady. |
| Frank Francisco | TEX | 10 | 3 | 24 | 77 | 3.30 | 1.28 | Opening Day closer may fly under radar. |
| Chad Qualls | ARI | 10 | 4 | 26 | 69 | 2.95 | 1.24 | High upside if he can fend off Jon Rauch. |
| Heath Bell | SD | 10 | 5 | 25 | 72 | 3.10 | 1.22 | Ready to step into Trevor Hoffman's shoes. |
| Mike Gonzalez | ATL | 9 | 2 | 21 | 66 | 3.35 | 1.22 | Ready to resume closer status after Tommy John. |
| Joel Hanrahan | WSH | 8 | 4 | 22 | 71 | 3.75 | 1.39 | Has solid grip on Nats closer job. |
| Jason Motte | STL | 8 | 4 | 23 | 67 | 3.24 | 1.25 | Power stuff ideally suited for closer role. |
| Trevor Hoffman | MIL | 8 | 3 | 25 | 39 | 3.38 | 1.28 | Veteran expected to start season on DL. |
| Brad Ziegler | OAK | 8 | 2 | 14 | 33 | 3.08 | 1.15 | Joey Devine's injury gives him first crack at saves. |
| Kevin Gregg | CHC | 7 | 2 | 16 | 57 | 3.75 | 1.25 | May struggle to fend off Carlos Marmol all year. |
| Carlos Marmol | CHC | 7 | 3 | 19 | 89 | 2.50 | 1.06 | Likely to overtake Kevin Gregg by season's end. |
| Matt Lindstrom | FLA | 7 | 3 | 27 | 56 | 3.66 | 1.41 | Has power stuff to succeed as full-time closer. |
| Brandon Morrow | SEA | 6 | 5 | 18 | 71 | 3.32 | 1.27 | Expected to seize closer job once he returns to health. |
| Troy Percival | TB | 5 | 2 | 19 | 35 | 4.20 | 1.21 | Veteran no sure thing to remain healthy. |
| George Sherrill | BAL | 5 | 2 | 14 | 49 | 4.45 | 1.46 | Woeful second half a bad foreboding. |
| Manuel Corpas | COL | 4 | 4 | 19 | 56 | 3.55 | 1.37 | Locked in battle with Street for SV opps. |
| Joey Devine | OAK | 4 | 2 | 22 | 50 | 2.67 | 1.11 | Power stuff ideally suited for closer role. |
| Huston Street | COL | 4 | 5 | 14 | 61 | 3.65 | 1.26 | Move to Coors Field big factor in new role. |
| Brandon Lyon | DET | 3 | 3 | 22 | 34 | 4.26 | 1.39 | Return to AL spells trouble for middling vet. |
| Chris Perez | STL | 3 | 4 | 8 | 61 | 3.62 | 1.34 | Beat out by Jason Motte for closer job. |
| Dan Wheeler | TB | 3 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 3.55 | 1.16 | Likely first for saves should Troy Percival go down. |
| Jon Rauch | ARI | 2 | 3 | 9 | 71 | 3.25 | 1.21 | Better than what he showed after trade to D-backs. |
| Chris Ray | BAL | 2 | 4 | 7 | 28 | 3.85 | 1.26 | Will return in '09, but role far from certain. |
| Hong-Chih Kuo | LAD | 2 | 4 | 5 | 93 | 2.40 | 1.16 | Always good for Ks and holds, if not saves. |
| C.J. Wilson | TEX | 2 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 4.05 | 1.47 | Healthy but won't approach '08 SV total. |
| Fernando Rodney | DET | 2 | 1 | 14 | 58 | 4.40 | 1.57 | Contract year may motivate enigmatic righty. |
| Mark Lowe | SEA | 2 | 3 | 7 | 53 | 4.26 | 1.50 | Could claim SEA closer role with improved control. |
| J.J. Putz | NYM | 1 | 3 | 3 | 72 | 2.85 | 1.09 | Value diminished by move to setup role. |
| Grant Balfour | TB | 1 | 4 | 5 | 72 | 2.35 | 1.07 | Starred in '08 but has competition for fill-in saves. |
| Octavio Dotel | CWS | 1 | 3 | 2 | 82 | 3.85 | 1.39 | Provides loads of Ks when healthy. |
| Ryan Madson | PHI | 1 | 4 | 2 | 61 | 3.15 | 1.27 | Showed intriguing stuff late in '08. |
| Scot Shields | LAA | 1 | 5 | 4 | 70 | 2.90 | 1.34 | Steady setup man prime source for holds. |
| Takashi Saito | BOS | 1 | 3 | 2 | 52 | 3.18 | 1.16 | Former top fireman one of several BOS setup men. |
| Jose Arredondo | LAA | 1 | 7 | 1 | 59 | 2.30 | 1.08 | Great value for holds, innings, Ks. |
| Ryan Franklin | STL | 1 | 5 | 6 | 49 | 3.45 | 1.44 | Unlikely to see much closer action again. |
| Jose Ceda | FLA | 1 | 2 | 6 | 45 | 3.56 | 1.24 | Power arm could close this season. |
| Manny Delcarmen | BOS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 76 | 2.90 | 1.20 | Will deliver plenty of holds, strikeouts. |
| Damaso Marte | NYY | 1 | 5 | 2 | 56 | 3.40 | 1.27 | Set to serve as Mariano Rivera's backup. |
| Jensen Lewis | CLE | 1 | 2 | 4 | 51 | 3.70 | 1.41 | Capable of closing if needed. |
| Rafael Soriano | ATL | 1 | 2 | 4 | 56 | 2.90 | 1.03 | Health risk back to setup role. |
| Joel Zumaya | DET | 1 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 3.55 | 1.26 | Needs health to reclaim dominance. |
| Rafael Perez | CLE | 1 | 3 | 3 | 77 | 2.80 | 1.22 | Last year's fall to earth not too painful. |
| Hideki Okajima | BOS | 1 | 3 | 1 | 62 | 2.45 | 1.12 | Shown consistent form so far in Boston. |
| Chad Cordero | SEA | 1 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 3.78 | 1.37 | Has shot to reclaim closer job in Seattle. |
| Kyle Farnsworth | KC | 1 | 1 | 3 | 61 | 4.40 | 1.41 | Won't threaten Joakim Soria's job. |
| Leo Nunez | FLA | 1 | 3 | 6 | 33 | 3.45 | 1.13 | Closer to save chances with new team. |
| Jeremy Accardo | TOR | 1 | 2 | 6 | 48 | 3.30 | 1.31 | Likely backup to veteran B.J. Ryan. |
| Mike Adams | SD | 1 | 1 | 5 | 55 | 2.65 | 1.29 | Surgery to delay '09 debut. |
| Rafael Betancourt | CLE | 1 | 3 | 2 | 67 | 3.80 | 1.22 | Should bounce back from rocky '08. |
| David Weathers | CIN | 1 | 5 | 2 | 49 | 3.50 | 1.46 | Consistent veteran good source of holds. |
| Aaron Heilman | CHC | 1 | 6 | 7 | 71 | 3.89 | 1.39 | Back to 'pen duties after losing battle to Sean Marshall. |
| Scott Downs | TOR | 1 | 2 | 3 | 55 | 2.40 | 1.32 | Unlikely to duplicate '08 production. |
| Jason Isringhausen | TB | 1 | 2 | 5 | 42 | 4.33 | 1.36 | Unlikely to reclaim closer form in rugged AL East. |
| Scott Linebrink | CWS | 1 | 3 | 2 | 56 | 3.55 | 1.21 | Consistent, productive when healthy. |
| Guillermo Mota | LAD | 1 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 3.94 | 1.29 | Offers midding ratios in setup role. |
| Juan Cruz | KC | 1 | 3 | 0 | 69 | 3.82 | 1.30 | Top setup man will deliver plenty of Ks in KC. |
| Joe Nelson | TB | 1 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 2.55 | 1.21 | Holds will be there in TB, but saves likely won't. |
| Taylor Buchholz | COL | 1 | 4 | 1 | 51 | 3.55 | 1.22 | In wrong bullpen to steal SV opps. |
| Justin Masterson | BOS | 1 | 8 | 0 | 73 | 3.65 | 1.26 | Role unclear for talented youngster. |
| Jorge Julio | MIL | 1 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 3.95 | 1.40 | Resurrected career in '08. |
| Ramon Ramirez | BOS | 1 | 4 | 2 | 69 | 2.85 | 1.25 | Quality reliever won't see many SV opps. |
| Carlos Villanueva | MIL | 1 | 4 | 3 | 71 | 3.35 | 1.16 | Starting days likely over. |
| Chan Ho Park | PHI | 1 | 6 | 0 | 83 | 4.60 | 1.47 | Would offer more value as starter. |
| Jamie Walker | BAL | 1 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 3.45 | 1.40 | Prime candidate for improved numbers. |
| John Grabow | PIT | 1 | 4 | 3 | 58 | 3.30 | 1.36 | Value limited by healthy Matt Capps. |
| J.P. Howell | TB | 1 | 4 | 3 | 86 | 3.10 | 1.32 | Unlikely to match stellar '08 numbers. |
| Cla Meredith | SD | 1 | 2 | 3 | 54 | 3.85 | 1.41 | Deception from delivery has lessened. |
| Bob Howry | SF | 1 | 4 | 3 | 53 | 3.96 | 1.23 | Will serve as primary backup to Brian Wilson. |
| Jeff Samardzija | CHC | 1 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 4.31 | 1.38 | Will have limited value as setup man in '09. |
| Matt Thornton | CWS | 1 | 4 | 1 | 70 | 3.20 | 1.26 | Could emerge as Bobby Jenks' top backup. |
| LaTroy Hawkins | HOU | 1 | 2 | 1 | 32 | 3.70 | 1.24 | Won't approach '08 dominance with Astros. |
| Jeremy Affeldt | SF | 1 | 2 | 4 | 63 | 3.60 | 1.38 | Lefty setup man could steal a few save opps. |
| Steven Shell | WSH | 1 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 3.60 | 1.23 | Expect holds, not saves, from Minor League vet. |
| J.C. Romero | PHI | 1 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 2.98 | 1.43 | To miss 50 games following suspension. |
| Santiago Casilla | OAK | 1 | 1 | 1 | 49 | 3.75 | 1.37 | Look elsewhere for sporadic holds, SV chances. |
| Bill Bray | CIN | 1 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 3.35 | 1.58 | Might have significant role down the road. |
| Eric Gagne | FA | 1 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 4.52 | 1.47 | Nagged by poor control, health issues. |
| Eddie Guardado | TEX | 1 | 3 | 3 | 40 | 3.92 | 1.27 | Onetime closer now a lefty specialist. |
| Chad Gaudin | CHC | 1 | 4 | 0 | 38 | 4.25 | 1.42 | Better than '08 line but not a smart buy. |
| Geoff Geary | HOU | 1 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 3.45 | 1.20 | Can help those desperate for holds. |
| Scott Richmond | TOR | 1 | 6 | 0 | 76 | 4.90 | 1.42 | Could wind up in long relief. |
| Michael Wuertz | OAK | 1 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 3.55 | 1.28 | Move to OAK does little to enhance limited value. |
| Tony Pena | ARI | 1 | 3 | 2 | 53 | 4.10 | 1.27 | Provides steady option for holds. |
| Ryan Tucker | FLA | 1 | 5 | 0 | 68 | 3.77 | 1.41 | Flamethrower has chance to stick in 'pen. |
| Joe Smith | CLE | 1 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 3.80 | 1.42 | Unlikely to see SV opps. in crowded 'pen. |
| Duaner Sanchez | SD | 1 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 4.27 | 1.38 | Velocity diminished since 2006 injury. |
| Luis Vizcaino | CHC | 1 | 4 | 0 | 57 | 4.55 | 1.30 | More valuable in real baseball than fantasy. |
| Kyle McClellan | STL | 1 | 3 | 2 | 64 | 3.85 | 1.41 | Behind Chris Perez in Cards bullpen. |
| Kam Mickolio | BAL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 65 | 4.03 | 1.47 | Has outside shot at SV opps with O's in '09. |
| Saul Rivera | WSH | 1 | 4 | 1 | 68 | 3.95 | 1.52 | Don't confuse him with Mariano. |
| Sergio Romo | SF | 1 | 4 | 1 | 51 | 3.85 | 1.21 | Intriguing young arm unlikely to get SV opps. |
| Jerry Blevins | OAK | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 3.65 | 1.17 | Likely to be limited to 7th-inning duty. |
| Jared Burton | CIN | 1 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 3.50 | 1.44 | Youngster unlikely to receive backup SV opps. |
| Luis Ayala | MIN | 1 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 4.27 | 1.37 | Among several options setting up Joe Nathan. |
| David Aardsma | SEA | 1 | 2 | 2 | 53 | 4.48 | 1.59 | Shaky control limits closer potential. |
| Jim Johnson | BAL | 1 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 5.20 | 1.44 | May be converted to starter in '09. |
| Masahide Kobayashi | CLE | 1 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 4.65 | 1.41 | Bullpen too crowded to draw consideration. |
| Cory Wade | LAD | 1 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 3.30 | 1.16 | Won't strike out many batters. |
| Jesse Carlson | TOR | 1 | 5 | 2 | 56 | 2.70 | 1.16 | Solid numbers, but SV opps not in cards. |
| Alex Hinshaw | SF | 1 | 3 | 1 | 59 | 3.65 | 1.38 | One of several strong arms in Giants 'pen. |
| Carlos Rosa | KC | 1 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 3.94 | 1.23 | Has arm to emerge as quality setup guy. |
| Mark Melancon | NYY | 1 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 4.02 | 1.28 | Future closer likely to join NYY 'pen in '09. |
| Manny Acosta | ATL | 1 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 3.90 | 1.41 | K/BB ratio won't help fantasy teams. |
| Miguel Batista | SEA | 1 | 7 | 1 | 68 | 5.95 | 1.78 | Could wind up in swing role again. |
| Roy Corcoran | SEA | 1 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 5.05 | 1.71 | Soft-tosser likely to experience ERA hike. |
| Tyler Walker | FA | 1 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 4.42 | 1.37 | Cut by Mariners after underwhelming spring. |
| Billy Wagner | NYM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6.00 | 2.00 | Should be coveted only in keeper leagues. |
| Tyler Yates | PIT | 1 | 4 | 0 | 61 | 4.95 | 1.57 | Save your last dollar. |
| Adam Miller | CLE | 1 | 2 | 1 | 60 | 4.07 | 1.27 | Starter-turned-reliever has closer-type stuff. |
| Daniel Bard | BOS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3.99 | 1.57 | Thrived with transition to relief in '08. |
| Henry Rodriguez | OAK | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5.23 | 2.25 | Possesses overpowering heat of future closer. |
| Junichi Tazawa | BOS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 4.09 | 1.33 | Japanese import could ascend ladder quickly. |
| Joaquin Benoit | TEX | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3.84 | 1.38 | May miss entire '09 season following shoulder surgery. |
| Boof Bonser | MIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | Likely to miss '08 campaign due to shoulder surgery. |
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Print