The Hold Up 9/28: Ranking the Top 70 Relievers for Holds Every Week

Welcome back to the final edition of The Hold Up. I would like to thank everyone for reading throughout the year, it really has been a fun ride. With there being only a few more games left in the season, I figured it could be of some help for those in keeper or dynasty leagues to get an idea of some potential relievers who could be promoted into a closers role next season.

TIER 1: Good Vibrations

1. Andrew Miller (Cleveland Indians) 

2. Anthony Swarzak (Milwaukee Brewers)

3. David Robertson (New York Yankees)

• After a great week that saw him rack up 9 K’s, it just felt right to put Andrew Miller back on top to close out the season. That’s nothing against the two guys behind him, who have been phenomenal basically all year as well, but Miller really has created a new benchmark for middle relievers and set up guys.

TIER 2: I’ll Be There For You

4. Ryan Madson (Washington Nationals)

5. Archie Bradley (Arizona Diamondbacks)

6. Addison Reed (Boston Red Sox) 

7. Carl Edwards Jr. (Chicago Cubs)  

8. Tommy Hunter (Tampa Bay Rays)

9. Yusmeiro Petit (Los Angeles Angels)  

10. Chad Green (New York Yankees) 

11. Kirby Yates (San Diego Padres)

12. Mike Minor (Kansas City Royals) 

13. Pat Neshek (Colorado Rockies)

14. Trevor Hildenberger (Minnesota Twins)

15. Mychal Givens (Baltimore Orioles)

• With Wade Davis set to be a free agent at the end of the season, there is potentially an opening for the Cubs closing gig next year. The in-house favorite would probably be Carl Edwards Jr. who has been impressive in his first full season with the big club. His ERA currently sits at 3.05 with a 1.00 WHIP and 93 K’s over 65 innings. The one knock on him is with his command of the strike zone, as he has actually issued more walks (36) than hits(29) on the year.
• Matt Belisle is also a free agent and at his age with his resume, isn’t an ideal closing candidate anyway. The best choice in Minnesota to replace him would likely be Trevor Hildenberger, unless the team looks outside the organization. He has been pretty lights out since his call up in late June, and while he doesn’t have overpowering, typical 9th inning stuff, he succeeds by having great command and getting ground balls. He’s at the very least worked himself into a likely 8th inning role for 2018.

TIER 3: Torn

16. Kyle Barraclough (Miami Marlins)

17. Dellin Betances (New York Yankees) 

18. Chris Devenski (Houston Astros)

19. Brandon Kintzler (Washington Nationals) 

20. Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers)

21. Tyler Lyons (St. Louis Cardinals) 

22. Cam Bedrosian (Los Angeles Angels) 

23. Bryan Shaw (Cleveland Indians) 

24. Darren O’Day (Baltimore Orioles)

25. Tommy Kahnle (New York Yankees) 

26. Taylor Rogers (Minnesota Twins)

27. Pedro Strop (Chicago Cubs)

28. Will Harris (Houston Astros)

29. Brandon Morrow (Los Angeles Dodgers)  

30. Joe Musgrove (Houston Astros)

• Another potential opening in the closers market would be in Miami, with Brad Ziegler the incumbent at the moment. Kyle Barraclough certainly has shutdown stuff, but control has never been a strong suit. He would still likely be the first name mentioned when discussing potential replacements for Ziegler, but they could also bring in someone outside of the organization or possibly even look at Drew Steckenrider.
• Cam Bedrossian may get another shot next season to be the Angels full-time closer but as of now, there’s no real reason to turn away from Blake Parker anytime soon. Bedrosian was actually pretty effective in his stint as closer to begin the year, and if it weren’t for a groin injury derailing his season, it’s fair to wonder what may have been this season.

TIER 4: You Get What You Give.

31. Dominic Leone (Toronto Blue Jays)  

32. Ryan Tepera (Toronto Blue Jays)

33. Tony Watson (Los Angeles Dodgers)   

34. Joe Smith (Cleveland Indians) 

35. Cory Gearrin (San Francisco Giants)

36. Ryan Dull (Oakland Athletics)

37. Luis Garcia (Philadelphia Phillies) 

38. Nick Vincent (Seattle Mariners)  

39. Jake McGee (Colorado Rockies) 

40. Jake Diekman (Texas Rangers)

41. Matt Barnes (Boston Red Sox)

42. David Hernandez (Arizona Diamondbacks) 

43. Joakim Soria (Kansas City Royals)

44. Ryan Buchter (Kansas City Royals)

45. Edubray Ramos (Philadelphia Phillies)

46. Chris Hatcher (Oakland Athletics) 

47. Drew Steckenrider (Miami Marlins)

48. Matt Albers (Washington Nationals)

49. Hunter Strickland (San Francisco Giants)  

50. Liam Hendricks (Oakland Athletics) 

• Ryan Dull had earned some hype as a potential option at closer for the A’s this winter, but quickly fell out of the loop due to a poor start to the season that also saw him end up spending significant time on the DL. It’s possible Blake Treinen will probably open up season as the teams closer, although he would assuredly have a short leash if that were to happen. They could also essentially hold an open tryout for the job in spring training, similar to how the Nationals conducted their closing search this offseason. That would definitely open the door for Dull to slide in and take the job away from Treinen.

TIER 5: There She Goes

51. Mike Dunn (Colorado Rockies)

52. Jimmy Sherfy (Arizona Diamondbacks)

53. Sam Freeman (Atlanta Braves)

54. Michael Lorenzen (Cincinnati Reds) 

55. Craig Stammen (San Diego Padres)

56. Chris Rusin (Colorado Rockies)

57. Peter Moylan (Kansas City Royals)

58. Pedro Baez (Los Angeles Dodgers)

59. Kevin Siegrist (St. Louis Cardinals)

60. Steve Cishek (Tampa Bay Rays)  

61. Josh Smoker (New York Mets)

62. Matt Bowman (St. Louis Cardinals)

63. Josh Fields (Los Angeles Dodgers)

64. Brad Boxberger (Tampa Bay Rays)

65. Adam Morgan (Philadelphia Phillies)

66. Sammy Solis (Washington Nationals)

67. Aaron Bummer (Chicago White Sox)

68. Daniel Hudson (Pittsburgh Pirates)

69. Francisco Liriano (Houston Astros)

70. Tyler Olson (Cleveland Indians)

• The one name on here I would say to keep an eye on as a potential sleeper closer option would be Jimmy Sherfy of the Diamondbacks. Fernando Rodney is in his 40’s and is a question mark to pitch next season, and Archie Bradley may be a potential option in the teams rotation. Sherfy has been closing in AAA for most of the season, dominated at that level and has yet to allow a run in 10.2 innings at the major league level. Not too shabby for the 25-year-old.

Top 50 RP’s for SV+HD Leagues

1. Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers)

2. Craig Kimbrel (Boston Red Sox)

3. Corey Knebel (Milwaukee Brewers)

4. Aroldis Chapman (New York Yankees)

5. Ken Giles (Houston Astros)

6. Sean Doolittle (Washington Nationals)

7. Felipe Rivero (Pittsburgh Pirates)

8. Edwin Diaz (Seattle Mariners)

9. Wade Davis (Chicago Cubs)

10. Cody Allen (Cleveland Indians)

11. Brad Hand (San Diego Padres)

12. Greg Holland (Colorado Rockies)

13. Roberto Osuna (Toronto Blue Jays)

14. Alex Colome (Tampa Bay Rays)

15. Blake Parker (Los Angeles Angels)

16. Andrew Miller (Cleveland Indians) 

17. Anthony Swarzak (Milwaukee Brewers)

18. David Robertson (New York Yankees)

19. Fernando Rodney (Arizona Diamondbacks)

20. Raisel Iglesias (Cincinnati Reds)

21. Ryan Madson (Washington Nationals)

22. Archie Bradley (Arizona Diamondbacks)

23. Jeurys Familia (New York Mets)

24. Addison Reed (Boston Red Sox) 

25. Carl Edwards Jr. (Chicago Cubs)  

26. Arodys Vizcaino (Atlanta Braves)

27. Tommy Hunter (Tampa Bay Rays)

28. Yusmeiro Petit (Los Angeles Angels)  

29. Hector Neris (Philadelphia Phillies)

30. Chad Green (New York Yankees) 

31. Kirby Yates (San Diego Padres)

32. Blake Treinen  (Oakland Athletics)

33. Mike Minor (Kansas City Royals) 

34. Pat Neshek (Colorado Rockies)

35. Matt Belisle (Minnesota Twins)

36. Trevor Hildenberger (Minnesota Twins)

37. Mychal Givens (Baltimore Orioles)

38. Brad Brach (Baltimore Orioles)

39. Kyle Barraclough (Miami Marlins)

41. Dellin Betances (New York Yankees) 

42. Chris Devenski (Houston Astros)

43. Alex Claudio (Texas Rangers)

44. Brandon Kintzler (Washington Nationals) 

45. Juan Nicasio (St. Louis Cardinals)

46. Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers)

47. Tyler Lyons (St. Louis Cardinals) 

48. Cam Bedrosian (Los Angeles Angels) 

49. Bryan Shaw (Cleveland Indians)

50. Darren O’Day (Baltimore Orioles)