2025 Fantasy Baseball: Third Five Closers

San Francisco Giants Bullpen

11 – Ryan Walker, SF (ADP – 81.9)

Walker was a slow mover through the Giants minor league system after getting drafted in the 31st round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft. Over five seasons in the minors, he went 13-6 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.201 WHIP, and 246 strikeouts over 214.0 innings while picking up only 13 saves.

In 2023, Walker made 49 appearances for San Francisco with success in ERA (3.23) but not in WHIP (1.386). He allowed eight home runs over 61.1 innings while showing weakness in his walk rate (3.5).

His arm arrived last year, leading to Walker ranking 28th by FPGscore (2.18) for pitchers. He won 10 games and finished with 10 saves while improving his command (2.0 walks per nine). Batters only hit .179 against him. When given a closing opportunity over the final two months, Walker went 3-1 with a 0.77 ERA, 0.688 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, and 10 saves over 23.1 innings.

He attacked batters with his sinker (95.9 mph – .199 BAA) and slider (.156 BAA), with both pitches gaining about one mph last season.

Fantasy Outlook: The Giants named him as their closer in mid-February, but San Fran still has Camilo Doval (92 career saves) waiting in the wings if Walker trips up. I like the direction of his arm, and his top handcuff is priced low enough (ADP – 402) to pair the two arms together. The Giants bullpen ranked first and second in innings pitched over the past two seasons, suggesting plenty of relief chances for Walker. Call me interested, as his 10 saves in 2023 could turn into 40+ this year.

Top Giants Handcuff – Camilo Doval, SF (ADP – 402.4)

The chase for saves with Doval’s arm last season came with a price. He finished with a crushing fantasy ERA (4.88) and WHIP (1.576) due to his inability to throw consistent strikes (5.9 walks per nine – 3.6 over his first three years with the Giants).

Doval looked on track over his first 23 games (2-0 with a 2.78 ERA, 1.412 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 22.2 innings) in 2024 while converting nine of his 10 save tries. The Yankees and Angels drilled him for eight runs, 12 baserunners, and one home run over one inning of work over his first six appearances in June. After a rebound over his following 15.1 innings (2.93 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and 10 saves), the Giants shipped back to AAA after another disastrous game (three runs over an inning). Doval struggled in set role over his final 16 games back in the majors (nine runs, 22 baserunners, and one home run over 15.0 innings).

His average fastball (99.5) remains elite. Doval featured an electric slider (.181 BAA with 57 strikeouts) as his top usage pitch (51.0% - 36.2% in 2023). Batter teed up his sinker (.353 BAA) with success against his four-seamer (.275 BAA). He was a liability against lefties (.280 BAA with 23 walks over 107 at-bats), highlighted by his failure with his two fastballs (FS – .368 BAA and SI – .556 BAA).

Fantasy Outlook: The path back to the ninth inning for Doval is simple: he must command his fastball better in and out of the strike zone. With more strikes thrown, his slider would be much more impressive. For two-thirds of his outings last year, Doval was a helpful closing arm. Keep an open mind, primarily if investing in Ryan Walker.

San Diego Padres Bullpen

12 – Robert Suarez, SD (ADP – 92.2)

In his first year with the Padres in 2022, Suarez handled himself well (2.27 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts over 47.2 innings) despite a much higher walk rate (4.0). He missed two months with a right knee injury that required surgery. San Diego saw enough in his arm to give Suarez $46 million in November for five seasons.

He missed three and a half months with a right elbow injury in 2023. Suarez had one disaster showing (five runs and five baserunners over two-thirds of an inning) over his 27 appearances. Over his other 27.0 innings, he allowed eight runs and 20 baserunners with 23 strikeouts.

San Diego finally received a winning year from Saurez last year. He entered the season with a coin-flip opportunity for saves. By the end of April, Suarez had two wins while converting all 17 save chances, thanks to a 0.27 ERA, 0.720 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 25.0 innings. After his appearance on August 7th, he had a 1.42 ERA, .184 BAA, and 43 strikeouts over 44.1 innings with six wins and 24 saves. His arm backed up over his final 21 appearances (13 runs, 30 baserunners, and three home runs over 20.2 innings with 16 strikeouts and 12 saves).

Suarez finished the season with weakness against right-handed batters (.276 BAA) while dominating lefties (.150 BAA but issued 13 of his 16 walks to them). His average fastball (99.2) had its highest velocity in his time with the Padres. He changed his usage in 2024, resulting in many more four-seamers (.217 BAA) at the expense of his changeup (.191 BAA) and sinker (.197 BAA).

Fantasy Outlook: Suarez comes into this season with a better closing resume, highlighted by his combined 45 wins and saves. He throws hard with improved command, and all his pitches are challenging to hit except his four-seamer to right-handed batters (.301 BAA). The Padres want him to close, but they do have talented arms behind in their bullpen. Suarez has 136 games under his belt in the majors (18-7 with a 2.89 ERA, 144 strikeouts, and 37 saves over 140.1 innings) at age 33. He looks the part of a value closer, but a spike in walks would change his profile dramatically. His rising hard-hit rate (40.4%) may be a tell of downside in 2025.

Top Padres Handcuff – Jason Adam, SD (ADP – 482.7)

Adam pitched well in 2023 but not at his previous elite level. He issued more walks (3.3 per nine) with more damage in home runs (1.2 per nine – 0.7 in 2022). The Rays had him on the mound for only 56 games due to missing most of the season's final six weeks with an oblique injury.

Between the Rays and Padres last season, Adam set career highs in appearances (74), innings (73.2), and strikeouts (81). His walk rate was better with San Diego (2.4), allowing him to regain some of his lost strikeout rate (10.5 – 9.6 with Tampa) over the first half of the season.

He pitched well vs. righties (.166 BAA) and lefties (.152 BAA) for the third consecutive year. His average fastball (95.5) was a career-best. Batters struggled to hit his four-seamer (.178 BAA), slider (.157 BAA), and changeup (.150 BAA). For the second time over three seasons, Adam threw his slider as his top usage pitch (37.3%)

Fantasy Outlook: Jeremiah Estrada emerged as a future closing option last year with the Padres. Adam only has 24 career saves, painting more as an eighth-inning arm, but the quality of his pitches and the velocity on his fastball give him ninth-inning upside. If Robert Suarez has any issues in 2025, there will be a fantasy coin toss for their next best option. In addition, Yuki Matsui has 236 saves on his resume in Japan.

Toronto Blue Jays Bullpen

13 – Jeff Hoffman, TOR (ADP – 115.2)

Hoffman returns to Toronto more than a decade after they selected him first overall in the 2014 MLB June Amatuer Draft. Five seasons with the Rockies led a 10-16 record over 230.2 innings with a 6.40 ERA, 1.621 WHIP, 197 strikeouts, and one save over 230.2 innings. His failure in Colorado came from poor command (4.2 walks per nine), leading to weakness in his strikeout rate (7.7) and plenty of damage via home runs (1.8 per nine).

Over the past two seasons, Hoffman pitched well in the Phillies’ bullpen (8-5 with a 2.28 ERA, 0.944 WHIP, 158 strikeouts, and 11 saves over 118.2 innings). He gave only nine home runs while figuring out how to throw strike one (63% in 2023 and 65% in 2024). As a result, his strikeout rate climbed to 33.4% (12.0 per nine). In 2024, he walks only 2.2 batters per nine innings, 1.1 lower than the previous season.

His average fastball (96.8) graded well last year. Hoffman shifted his top usage (48.4% in 2023 and 41.3 % in 2024) to his slider (.207 BAA with 36 strikeouts) over the past two seasons. He relies on a four-seamer (.207 BAA), split-finger fastball (.195 BAA), and sinker (.182 BAA). In 2023, batters only had three barrels against him over 52.1 innings.

Fantasy Outlook: When given a chance to finish games in 2024, Hoffman was up to the task (10 saves) while adding 21 holds. His closing results and success in command are relatively short, but he brings velocity with three swing-and-miss pitches. The Braves balked at his arm in January due to a concern with his right shoulder. A ninth-inning job and a high strikeout total will drive his fantasy value in 2025. Hoffman is an unproven closer with some underlying injury risk, but his arm looks worthy of earning saves when healthy.

RP – Yimi Garcia, TOR

Over the last four seasons, Garcia went 14-18 with a 3.74 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 246 strikeouts, and 24 saves over 223.2 innings. His walk rate (2.2) has been an asset in the majors but faded last year (2.8). Home runs (1.4 per nine) have been a problem in his career.

In 2024, Garcia battled a right elbow issue in June and August, leading to two stints on the injured list. He struggled over his final nine innings (6.00 ERA) after a trade to Seattle. The Blue Jays resigned him for two seasons for $15 million in early December, which is surprising considering his injury risk.

His average fastball (96.6) was the best of his career in 2024. Batters struggled with his slider (.180 BAA) and four-seamer (.141 BAA). Garcia also threw a sinker (.238 BAA) and a low-volume changeup (.154 BAA) with more success.

Fantasy Outlook: The Blue Jays don’t have a clear-cut top closer in waiting heading into this season. Garcia’s issues with home runs cloud his long-term viability for saves (26 in his career). Chad Green secured 17 saves in Toronto’s bullpen in 2024, but injuries have been a problem for him over the past three seasons. Nick Sandlin could be a sleeper if his command improved significantly.

Milwaukee Brewers Bullpen

14 – Trevor Megill, MLW (ADP – 111.9)

After a long, uneventful career in the minors, Megill struggled over his first 98 games in the majors (6-5 with a 5.23 ERA, 1.529 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts over 103.1 innings), but he improved each year. Despite below-par stats, the Brewers turned to him for saves in 2024 after Devin Williams went down with an injury in spring training. Unfortunately, he landed on the injured list for 18 days after pitching two shutout innings to open the season.

Megill pitched at an elite level from April 19th to July 7th (1.65 ERA, 0.951 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts), converting 18 of his 19 save opportunities. He struggled over his following four games (four runs, six baserunners, and two home runs over 4.1 innings), which led to a month on the injured list with a back issue. After a bad first game (three runs, three baserunners, and one home run over two-thirds of an inning) back from the injured list, Megill posted a 1.50 ERA over his final 12.0 innings with 10 strikeouts.

His average fastball (98.9) has plenty of velocity. Batters struggled to hit his plus curveball (.146 BAA), and he had much more success with his four-seamer (.202 BAA – .267 in 2023). Megill has a rising fly-ball rate (49.6), and batters have consistently had a high exit velocity (91.2 mph) off his pitches.

Fantasy Outlook: At age 31, with 46.1 good innings on his resume in the majors, a drafter may be buying fool’s gold in 2025 by investing in Megill. His fastball grades well with one plus pitch, but his price point is too rich for me, considering his failure risk and previous overall resume. He is a firm pass for me unless his ADP slides past 225, which will never happen. Repeating his command (2.7 walks per nine) is critical to his success in the ninth inning.

RP – Jacob Misiorowski, MLW

Milwaukee added Misiorowski in the second round of the 2022 June Amateur Draft. He made only two appearances in his first year in pro ball (one run, one hit, seven walks, and three strikeouts over 1.2 innings).

In 2023, the Brewers used him as a short-inning starter at A, High A, and AA (3.41 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, .169 BAA, and 110 strikeouts over 71.1 innings). Misiorowski pitched at least five innings in only four games (5.0, 5.1, 5.0, and 6.0). His final start of the season at AA (no runs over six innings with 12 strikeouts) flashed his potential with more length to his games. He didn’t throw more than 80 pitches in any matchup.

The Brewers gave Misiorowski 19 short-inning starts (4.2 innings per game) last year at AA, leading to a 3.50 ERA, 1.280 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts over 79.2 innings. He pitched mainly in relief after a promotion to AAA (2.55 ERA, 0.845 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts over 17.2 innings). Milwaukee didn’t let him throw over 76 pitches in any game.

Misiorowski had a 98.2 mph fastball in his two tracked games at AAA. His curveball is a plus pitch while mixing in a cutter and show-me slider.

Fantasy Outlook: Walks (5.8 per nine) have been an issue in his three short seasons in the minors. His arsenal is challenging to hit (100 hits over 170.1 innings) while having an elite ceiling in strikeouts with improvement in his command. Misiorowski could make the Brewers opening day roster out of spring training, with a chance to deliver relief stats a la Spencer Strider in 2022. Dark horse for saves in Milwaukee at some point this year. At the very least, he is a must-follow in spring training.

Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen

15A – Tanner Scott, LAD (ADP – 142.4)

Over the past two seasons, Scott had tremendous growth in his first-pitch strike rate (69.4% in 2023, 67.3% in 2024, and 54.1% from 2019 to 2022). His improved command led to batters hitting .186 against him over this previous 150.0 innings.

Scott still had weakness in his walk rate (4.5) in 2024 due to issuing 16 free passes over his first 16 innings (2.25 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and four saves). Over his final 56.0 innings, he went 8-2 with a 1.61 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 68 strikeouts, and 18 saves while improving his walk rate (3.2). Scott allowed only six home runs over the last two seasons.

His average fastball (97.2) was his highest since 2018. Scott upped the usage (59.6%) of his four-seamer (.130 BAA) last year while almost exclusively throwing a slider (.226 BAA) as his second pitch. Twenty-three of his 36 walks came off his fastball.

Fantasy Outlook: The Dodgers signed Scott to a $72 million contract for four seasons in mid-January. Over the past three seasons, he secured 54 saves in 67 tries. The growth in his skill set is enticing, but there will be stretches of wildness. At the very least, Scott should offer winning stats in ERA and strikeouts while picking up 30 combined wins and saves.

15B – Kirby Yates, LAD (ADP – 123.6)

The Dodgers signed Yates to a one-year deal for $13 million in January after an excellent season closing for the Texas Rangers (33 saves in 34 chances). He’ll turn 38 in March, and Los Angeles has plenty of competition to finish games in 2025.

Yates opened last season with five shutout innings and five strikeouts before getting his first successful save opportunity. By May 5th (no runs, three hits, five walks, and 16 strikeouts), the closing job for the Rangers was his to lose. He never allowed more than one run in any game, and his only blow save came on August 18th.

His average fastball (93.4) aligned with his previous four seasons. Yates worked off a four-seamer (.111 BAA) and split-finger fastball (.113 BAA) while dominating righties (.137 BAA) and lefties (.081 BAA). Batters only hit .140 against him over the past two seasons. His success could have been even better if Yates hadn’t walked 4.1 batters per nine (3.6 in his career).

Fantasy Outlook: The Dodgers won 98 games in 2024 while outscoring their opponents by 156 runs. As a result, their relievers had 50 saves (44 in 2023 and 43 in 2022). Los Angeles has four other relievers with saves on their resume.

Yates will battle Tanner Scott for closing chances, lowering his fantasy value. Dave Roberts suggested in early February that Scott would be the early favorite for saves in their bullpen. The high-stakes market in the NFBC had Yates ranked Yates above Scott before this update. I’ll go with co-closers in LA, giving Yates a chance at low 20s in saves. The debate for drafters is between more saves or good innings with some saves.