The road to hell is not the only thing that’s paved with good intentions. The road to saves in fantasy baseball is also paved with good intentions. Based on my experience, these two roads frequently run parallel to each other. Identifying closers and picking up saves has always been difficult for me, and this is why it often feels akin to Hades.
The last time I wrote about relief pitchers was on May 26th, when I was lamenting the current state of closers. Three months before that, I had posted a column about the seven top relief pitchers in fantasy baseball heading into the 2024 season. Topping that list was Devin Williams, and I used the 45th overall pick to draft him in TGFBI.
If you were also one of the unfortunate ones who drafted Williams, you know that he hasn’t pitched an inning for you in 2024. Hopefully, that changes soon. But it doesn’t change that fact that you’re probably desperate for saves at this point (like me). I had the added misfortune of also losing Paul Sewald’s service for the first six weeks of the season.
My proposed solution to the ongoing closer conundrum is to turn your focus to the upcoming major league trade deadline. This is when clubs destined for mediocrity (or worse) can trade veteran players with expiring contracts for future draft picks. Some of those players are relief pitchers. And if a team’s closer is traded, someone must take his place.
The most obvious sellers at the trade deadline are the four teams with the worst records – the Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics. But there are four other teams that are also likely to be trading away veteran players – the Los Angeles Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals.
In addition to these likely sellers, there are going to be other teams that could be willing to part with some of their veterans. For example, it would not surprise me to see Paul Sewald of the Arizona Diamondbacks on the move. Arizona is only a game behind in the race for the last NL Wild Card spot, but rumors of a Sewald reunion in Seattle are circulating.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
An elite closer is the kind of luxury a non-contender doesn’t need, so a Mason Miller trade is a possibility. Miller is under team control for the next four years, but if a contender is willing to pay a king’s ransom for a pitcher who strikes out 47% of opposing hitters, Mason will be on the move. That’s why you should consider rostering Lucas Erceg.
MIAMI MARLINS
It’s been a disappointing season for the Marlins, who made the playoffs last year. So, look for Tanner Scott to have a new address in August. Scott has been better than I expected this season, but his strikeout rate is down to its lowest level since 2020, and his walk rate is nearly double last season’s breakout. That’s why you should consider rostering A.J. Puk.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Angels won’t be in the playoffs, so they should be looking to move Carlos Estevez, and his expiring contract, before he suffers through another second-half swoon. Estevez is on his way to a career-best season, which means his value is at its highest. With Ben Joyce waiting in the wings as the next hard-throwing closer, he is a great speculative add.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
With Hunter Harvey already gone, it’s likely that Kyle Finnegan will be the next one to depart from the nation’s capital. If you drafted Finnegan, or picked him up from waivers, you’ve got to be thrilled with his 25 saves. But don’t expect that to continue since he won’t be closing with his new team. I would speculate on Dylan Floro to be the next Nats closer.
DETROIT TIGERS
Alex Lange was projected to be Detroit’s closer when the season started, but Jason Foley came on like a lion in April. Foley has been more like a lamb in July, yielding four earned runs in his last 2.1 innings with just one strikeout. However, there are a lot of Foley trade rumors out there. Andrew Chafin is the one I expect to take the job if Foley is traded.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
If you have Michael Kopech on your fantasy team, you know it’s been a rollercoaster ride. First, you know that the closer for the worst team in baseball won’t get many opportunities. He’s blown several of those opportunities, but recently he recorded saves with two scoreless appearances. Kopech will likely be traded, so roster John Brebbia.
CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs are only 3 ½ games behind in the race for the last NL Wild Card spot, but Hector Neris was signed for only a one-year deal last January. It wouldn’t surprise me if the northside team moves him. If so, Adbert Alzolay is the guy I would want rostered before July 30th. Alzolay is coming off the 60-day IL soon, and he had 22 saves for the Cubs in 2023.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACK
If Sewald is traded as I speculated previously, I won’t be a happy camper. As previously mentioned, Sewald is rumored to be in line for a homecoming in Seattle. In Arizona, he’s picked up 13 saves in just over two months, and he might wind up in a committee with Andres Munoz if traded. Just in case that happens, you might want to roster Kevin Ginkel.
Thomas L. Seltzer, AKA Doubting Thomas, writes about baseball and football for CreativeSports. Be sure to follow Thomas on Twitter at ThomasLSeltzer1.
