Fantasy baseball managers chasing saves and holds are waiting for the hammer to drop as closers like Los Angeles Angels reliever Carlos Estevez and Miami Marlins Tanner Scott will likely be pitching for new teams after the MLB trade deadline on July 30th. 

Estevez is a pending free agent and was the AL’s reliever of the month for June. He has saved just over 43% of the Angels’ wins. Should Estevez be traded, Luis Garcia would likely become the Angels’ new closer. 

 

 

 

However, Garcia will be a free agent at the end of the season so the Angels might move him as well, leaving Ben Joyce as the favorite to take over the closer’s role. Joyce has been working the seventh and eighth innings for the Angels lately and has six minor league career saves to go along with a 2.60 ERA this season.

Scott hasn’t given up an earned run in his last 15.2 IP and while his season-long 5.2 BB/9 isn’t anything to brag about, he’s only given up five walks since June 17th. A.J. Puk is widely expected to take over the closer’s role if Scott is traded but you should keep an eye on Huascar Brazoban. The Marlins have been using him in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, sometimes in multi-inning appearances, and he has excelled lately. 

In his last seven outings, he has pitched 12 scoreless innings and has struck out 16 batters while walking just two. He’s 34 years old and has just three years of major league experience, but he has 11 career saves in his professional career.

 

 

 

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: MLB Closers 2024

The Texas Rangers are just three games out of first place in the AL West, but some suggest they may be willing to deal some of their pending free agent relievers. Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Jose Leclerc and Josh Sborz are all on the last year of their contracts. With 18 saves and a 1.22 ERA, Yates would have the most trade value, but with the Rangers so close to the top of their division, it would be shocking if they moved him.

Kyle Finnegan has been one of baseball's best closers this season and there’s a slight chance that the Washington Nationals might make him available in a trade. They’ve already moved Hunter Harvey and Finnegan is under team control for another season, so it may take a big return to convince the Nationals to include him in a trade. The Nats would probably be more likely to trade pending free agent Dylan Floro (2.02 ERA, 9 holds). If Floro were to be moved, Derek Law would probably be Finnegan’s handcuff.

The cream of the crop when it comes to closers who might be traded before the MLB trade deadline is Oakland A’s reliever Mason Miller. The A’s will be asking a lot in return for Miller and, if he is moved, Lucas Erceg would take over as the team’s closer, that is if he doesn’t get traded as well. He is a pending free agent who could add depth to a contender’s bullpen. With Dany Jimenez still on the IL, that would leave 34-year-old veteran Scott Alexander as the next man up. Alexander has 31 combined minor league and major league career saves.

Here are some other observations and updates regarding MLB closers and late-inning, high-leverage relievers that you should be aware of.

*Please note that, unless otherwise noted, all stats featured in this article are accurate as of the morning of July 24th, 2024.

 

 

 

Don’t Be Surprised If The Blue Jays Move Yimi Garcia Before The MLB Trade Deadline

The Blue Jays are likely to be sellers as the trade deadline approaches with rumors swirling around that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette might be moved. As for Garcia, he’s a pending free agent who just came off the IL and struck out the side in his first action since being reinstated. 

He’s been equally effective against right and left-handed batters throughout his career but has been especially tough on righties this season (.105 BAA). With Jordan Romano on the IL and not expected to return until mid-to-late August, Chad Green will continue to close out games for the Jays should Garcia be moved.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen Is In Flux

This season was supposed to be a walk in the park for the Dodgers. They added Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to an already star-studded roster and closer Evan Phillips was supposed to close out a bunch of their 120 or so wins. However, Phillips has been slumping lately. 

Over his last nine outings, he’s pitched to a 10.57 ERA and in 7.2 IP, he’s given up four home runs and walked four batters while striking out eight. Opposing hitters are batting .353 against him. Phillips has been dealing with a dip in velocity and has had issues with his control. Since July 6th, Daniel Hudson has recorded four saves for the Dodgers with Alex Vesia and Phillips recording one each. 

Manager Dave Roberts sounded like Phillips' hold on the closers role was tenuous at best. Phillips admitted that some of his struggles were caused by lack of confidence and self-doubt, but his loss of velocity is concerning and may end up leading to an IL stint.

 

 

 

Baltimore Orioles Reliever Jacob Webb Is A Good Source Of Holds

In his last seven appearances, spanning seven innings pitched, Webb hasn’t given up a run and he has struck out eight batters while walking just two. He recorded three holds during that time frame and has 12 on the season. 

The Orioles are likely to win a lot of games the rest of the season and Webb will probably have plenty of opportunities to help the team hold leads.

Devin Williams Rehabbing In Triple-A, On Track To Return As Brewers Closer

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on Sunday that Williams is weeks away from returning to big league action. According to Nightengale, Williams will be the Brewers' closer upon his return and Trevor Megill will assume the role of setup man.