It’s been a very hectic week for 2025 MLB closers and fantasy baseball managers looking for saves and holds. Two formerly highly regarded late inning high leverage relievers saw their access to save opportunities “temporarily” suspended. The New York Mets’ bullpen took a big hit this week, and a late inning high leverage reliever who was expected to share a closers role this season is expected to miss significant time. We’ve got lots of ground to cover in this week’s Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Report. Now more than ever you need to do yourself a favor and check out our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid  on a regular basis. We update the grid as news happens. 

(Stats quoted in this article are current as of the morning of April 30th, 2025)

 

New York Yankees Bullpen Depth Chart

In a previous article we talked about former Yankees closer Devin Williams’ early seasons struggles and optimistically mentioned that he has a history of slow starts. Unfortunately for Williams, when you’re the New York Yankees’ closer and have an ERA of 10.00 optimism isn’t going to cut it. Manager Aaron Boone announced that Williams would be removed as the Yankees’ closer “for now”. Luke Weaver who was effective as the Yankees’ closer at the end of last season and through the playoffs will handle most of the save opportunities moving forward. Weaver hasn’t given up a run in 14 IP this season. He has recorded two saves and six holds. The Yanks have a deep bullpen that also features Fernando Cruz (2 saves, 4 holds, 23 Ks, 6 BB in 15 IP), Mark Leiter Jr. (1 save, 5 holds, 18Ks, 4 BB in 12.1 IP), and Ian Hamilton (1.93 ERA, 1 Hold11 Ks, 5 BB in 9.1 IP). Any one of those relievers can earn a save opportunity should Weaver be unavailable. As for Williams, expect him to be eventually be eased back into the closer’s role. He’s probably a good buy low option for fantasy baseball managers.

Cleveland Guardians Bullpen Depth Chart

In last week’s article we mentioned that Guardians manager Steven Vogt confirmed that Emmanuel Clase was experiencing shoulder discomfort. Vogt opted to give Clase a few days rest and Cade Smith was put in the closer’s role. Smith picked up three saves last week but it looks like Clase is ready to reclaim the closer’s role that Vogt reiterated  he never lost. After five days of rest Clase pitched on April 26th and April 29th and looked like his old self. He didn’t give up a run in two IP and picked up a hold and a win. It looks like Clase will be back closing out games for the Guardians before long but if Smith is available on the waiver wire pick him up just in case Clase’s shoulder discomfort returns and he needs a stint on the IL.  

 

Arizona Diamondbacks Bullpen Depth Chart

The past week saw the Diamondbacks receive some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Kevin Ginkel, who has some closer experience, has been reinstated from the IL. The bad news is that A.J. Puk was diagnosed with a flexor strain and probably will not be able to pitch on a big league mound until late May or early June. Ginkel gives the Diamondbacks’ bullpen some much needed depth. They had a recent scare with Justin Martinez experiencing arm fatigue. He has experienced a recent drop in velocity on his four seam fastball (down almost 4 mph from his season average) and splitter (down an average of 2 mph) but Martinez brushed it off as being caused by his increasing his arm related workout regimen. Despite the Diamondbacks’ and Martinez’s reassurances that everything is fine if you do roster him, do yourself a favor and grab Shelby Miller or Jalen Beeks off the waiver wire. Ginkel is another option that you can consider rostering as a potential Martinez handcuff, however we haven’t yet seen him pitch this season and we’re not sure how the Diamondbacks will use him moving forward. 

New York Mets Bullpen Depth Chart

When we last checked in on the Mets’ bullpen there was concern over closer Edwin Diaz’s being removed from his appearance last Wednesday due to cramping in his left hip. The Mets gave him their next game (Friday April 25th)  off but he was back in action on Saturday. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning and picked up his seventh save of the season. Diaz seemingly having avoided a prolonged absence has to be a big relief for the Mets since it looks as if they may possibly lose setup man A.J. Minter for the rest of the season. According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Minter has a “pretty significant” left lat strain that may require season ending surgery. Minter’s injury and left handed reliever Danny Young hitting the IL on Wednesday leaves the Mets without a lefty reliever in their bullpen. With Minter sidelined, if you roster Diaz and are looking for his handcuff look no further than Ryne Stanek or Reed Garrett. Stanek has 12 career saves and while his control has been an issue (5.40 BB/9), he’s been a servicable setup man this season. Garrett has four career saves (all recorded last season) and he hasn’t given up a run and has a K/BB ratio of 12/4 in 13 appearances spanning 11.2 IP. 

Chicago Cubs Bullpen Depth Chart

Ryan Pressly doesn’t get much respect as the Cubs’ closer. He does have four saves on the season and has pitched to a 2.25 ERA but with just five strikeouts and seven walks his xERA is a bloated 4.92. He doesn’t give up many home runs and if he continues to induce ground balls close to his current career high 61.5% rate,  he might continue to be a viable closer for the Cubbies even though he’s not getting the swings and misses that we’ve come to expect from him. One area of concern in that he was unavailable for a few days last week when he had to have fluid drained from his knee. Porter Hodge is widely regarded as the reliever who’d be the next man up if Pressly were to miss time. Don’t be fooled by Hodge’s inflated 5.27 ERA. Take away his April 18th appearance in which he gave up six runs in two thirds of an inning and his overall ERA would be 1.39. Hodge had nine saves last season and has a save and five holds this season.