In The Fantasy Black Book, my message regarding closers is quite clear. It’s worth paying for one elite closer. Having that cornerstone who offers above average peripherals and job security will at least give your team a foundation in that category. This is even more paramount in leagues with mandatory RP spots in your active lineup. The worst thing you can do is overpay or fall into the “closer run” and overdraft mid-tier closers. You’re better served adding 8th inning setup men with upside late in the draft or hitting the waiver wire hard with your FAAB. That latter choice is a risky one as you could blow a good chunk of money on a guy that doesn’t hold the sport very long. When it comes to proven 9th inning studs, it’s a short list. It’s the reason why I drafted Aroldis Chapman in almost every league I’m in. An elite closer at a discounted price was simply togood of a value to pass up. Now that we’re in mid-August, does anyone even remember the time he missed in April? Nope! 

As a fun exercise, here’s the “save story” for each MLB team in 2016. We’ll look back at where their preseason situations rested in the 9th inning, all the way until right now. 

AL

Orioles: Zach Britton 

Britton was a top closer coming into the year and he remains “the man” in Baltimore.

Red Sox: Craig Kimbrel>Koji Uehara>Brad Ziegler>Craig Kimbrel 

Kimbrel hasn’t been healthy all year, but he’s been the only exception to the “elite closer rule”. He continues to battle knee pain keeping Brad Ziegler in contention for saves.

White Sox: Nate Robertson

It’s not always been pretty, but Robertson has been a very steady 1A closer for the last three years.

Indians: Cody Allen>Andrew Miller

Allen was very strong last year, but the Indians were able to upgrade with Miller. A perfect example of a closer in the middle tier who will barely garner a save opportunity for the final two months of the season.

Astros: Ken Giles>Luke Gregerson>Ken Giles

Giles had very little closing experience and wasn’t handed the job out of the gate as expected despite costing a pretty good prospect haul this past offseason. In August he’s finally gotten another crack.

Royals: Wade Davis>Kelvin Herrera

Tommy John could be looming now for Davis who was dominant when on the mound. It would be shocking to see him back this year.

Angels: Huston Street>Cam Bedrosian

Joe Smith was dealt away and before Cam Bedrosian could run away with the gig, he landed on the DL with Street. Now it’s anyone’s guess who’ll save a game before him or Street return from the DL.

Twins: Glen Perkins>Kevin Jepsen>Brandon Kintzler

Like the rest of the Twins season, the bullpen to has been a disaster. Who knows what it will look like in 2017.

Yankees: Andrew Miller>Aroldis Chapman>DellinBetances

If you drafted all 3 of these Yankees elite relievers, you hit the lottery as each one is now closing somewhere and all three are strikeout arms.

Athletics: Sean Doolittle>Ryan Madson

Dolittle continues to struggle with health and Madosn has held down the fort all year in his stead. 

Mariners: Steve Cishek>Edwin Diaz

Cishek was my #1 pick to lose his closer role in 2015 and again in 2016. He just doesn’t have the repertoire to be successful in the role. Edwin Diaz on the other hand may be one of the next dominant closers.

Rays: Brad Boxberger>Alex Colome

As I during draft season, if history tells us anything about the Rays, if Colome pitched well he’d be in line to keep the job just like Boxberger did when Jake McGee started the season on the DL in 2015. 

Jays: Drew Storen>Roberto Osuna

Everyone assumed Storen would get the job, but instead the manager stuck with the kid who go the job done last year. Apparently loyalty isn’t dead.

Rangers: Shawn Tolleson>Sam Dyson

Tolleson spit the bit and Dyson held onto the job when Texas decided not to deal elite prospects for a Yankee reliever.

NL

Diamondbacks: Brad Zeigler>Tyler Clippard>Jake Barrett

Ziegler was mediocre as predicted, then dealt. Clippardlasted a week or so in the role and was dealt. Barrett is a dumpster fire. Daniel Hudson could swoop in with a good September and be the favorite for save sin 2017, but don’t hold your breath.

Braves: Arodys Vizciano>Jason Gilli>ArodysVizciano>Jim Johnson>Arodys Viciano

Atlanta was wise to let the kid Viciano have the job after a brief flirtation with Grilli. Injury shelved him and Johnson has pitched well, but Vizciano will be closing games again by next weekend if everything breaks right.

Cubs: Hector Rondon>Aroldis Chapman

Rondon did nothing wrong to lose his job, but they couldn’t resist adding Chapman. Rondon’s save chances were few because the Cubs have been blowing teams out for much of the year. 

Reds: J.J. Hoover>Tony Cingrani

One of the worst preseason bullpens has lived up to expectations. Perhaps Iglesias will finally be the answer. He’s worth speculation in all leagues. 

Rockies: Jake McGee>Carlos Estevez>Adam Ottavino

The Rockies have come full circle since April of 2015 when expected closer Ottavino was lost to Tommy John. We’ll see if he can hold down the closing duties.

Dodgers: Kenley Jansen 

Elite. No drama. Worth every penny.

Marlins: A.J. Ramos>Fernando Rodney

Injury has opened the door for the veteran Rodney who’s enjoyed a nice bounce back season. 

Brewers: Will Smith>Jeremy Jeffres>Tyler Thornburg

Smith fell to an injury before opening day and Jeffress did nothing to give up the job. After the Brewers cleaned house, former starting prospect Tyler Thornburg has looked comfortable in the role. He’ll have a leg up on the competition next year.

Mets: Jeurys Familia

A top guy heading into the draft, and a top guy as the season hits the final lap. 

Phillies: David Hernandez>Jenmar Gomez

No one saw Gomez getting or keeping this job. He’s far from a dominant reliever, but he’s maintained his spot by default. 

Pirates: Mark Melancon>Tony Watson

Melancon has lofty save totals last year, but was getting up there in age. As the Pirates fell out of contention they moved Melancon and turned to Watson.

Padres: Fernando Rodney>Brandon Maurer

Rodney was terrific despite being avoided like the plague in drafts this year. Maurer may have found his niche, but the Padres won’t yield many opportunities. 

Giants: Santiago Casilla>Hunter Strickland>Santiago Casilla

The Giants simply can’t find an alternative. Even Cody Gearrin had shot at the job. Casilla remains the closer and has pitched better of late.

Cardinals: Trevor Rosenthal>Seung Hwan-Oh

The Cards had finally had enough of Rosenthal and turned the duties over to Oh who’s been a lock down ninth inning stud since.

Nationals: Jonathan Papelbon>Shawn Kelley>Mark Melancon

Papelbon was far from steady before injury. The Nats were not heading into the playoffs with Kelley so they added Melancon at the deadline in a wise move.

So, if you paid for top level relievers like Chapman, Miller, Jensen, Britton and Familia you did well for yourself. Even veterans like Robertson and Melancon have been solid returns on investment. Kimbrel and Davis’ injuries couldn’t be helped. The rest of the league has been a complete revolving door. Who knows, by the time this gets published more roles may change… When it comes to closers, pay up or don’t pay at all. 

Joe Pisapia (@JoePisapia17) is the seven-time best-selling author of the Fantasy Black Book Series for baseball and football and hosts Fantasy Sports Tonight on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio.