There are several well-known 2025 MLB closers rumored to be on the trading block as the MLB trade deadline quickly approaches. Teams are scrambling to fortify their bullpens and are getting desperate. So desperate that a team like the Philadelphia Phillies recently took a chance on signing David Robertson to a minor league deal. Robertson probably still has something left as evidenced by his 2024 season that saw him post a 3.00 ERA and 1.111 WHIP for the Texas Rangers.

Some expected the Cleveland Guardians to listen to offers for their 2025 MLB closer Emmanuel Clase, but he’s been placed on paid leave until August 31st as part of an MLB sports betting investigation. That leaves Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis as the favorites to close out games for the Guardians, but don’t be surprised if one of those two late-inning high-leverage relievers is moved in a trade. Keep an eye on reliever Nic Enright, who has 21 career minor league saves. His role could increase should the Guardians move some of their bullpen depth before the MLB trade deadline.

We’ve already seen late-inning high-leverage relievers like Gregory Soto, Seranthony Dominguez traded to teams who are fighting for a playoff spot. Both Soto and Dominguez were traded by the Orioles, and with Felix Bautista currently on the IL, Yennier Cano and Andrew Kittredge could be the favorites to split save opportunities in Baltimore moving forward.

With baseball fans keeping such a close eye on potential closer-related trade news, a simple hug between Minnesota Twins 2025 MLB closer Jhoan Duran and his bullpen catcher caused many to believe that he had already been traded. To be fair, there have been rumors that the Twins were open to listening to offers for their closer and Griffin Jax, his setup man. One or both could be moved before 6 p.m. ET on July 31st, and there are several other 2025 MLB closers and other late-inning high-leverage relievers that are allegedly on the trade block. A few are listed below.

We’ve got lots of bullpen-related content to cover in this article, and you should also be sure to also check out our updated 2025 Fantasy Baseball Closer Grid. Here’s what else you need to know:

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

 

 

 

Raisel Iglesias

With the playoffs looking to be out of reach for the struggling Atlanta Braves, they’d be smart to try to trade Iglesias at or before the deadline. His ups and downs this season have been well documented in this column, but things have been looking up for him lately. He has a 2.55 ERA, four saves, and two holds in his last 19 games. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Chicago Cubs have expressed interest in trading for Iglesias, but with Daniel Palencia breaking out and crushing it as the Cubs’ closer, don’t expect Iglesias to get many save opportunities if he’s moved to the north side of Chicago. Should Iglesias be moved, Dylan Lee would likely split closer duties with Pierce Johnson. We’ve covered Lee in this column. He’s a lefty who can get both right and left-handed batters out. Johnson is a right-hander who has some closing experience and has a 2.56 ERA and 1.034 WHIP in his first 41 games of the season.

Ryan Helsley

Several teams are said to be interested in trading for St. Louis Cardinals closermRyan Helsley, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, but he’s made it known that if he were to be traded, he’d be interested in returning to the team next season via free agency. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are two of the teams that are pursuing Helsley. If he were traded to the Dodgers, he’d likely be their closer. If he were traded to the Yankees, he’d potentially share save opportunities with current closer Devin Williams, who, after a very rough start to the season, has 13 saves and 5 holds in his last 30 games. Phil Maton, Helsley’s setup man, will also be a free agent at the end of the season and could also be moved. If both Maton and Helsley were traded, JoJo Romero would likely be the next man up in the Cardinals’ bullpen. He has a lot of experience in pitching in high-pressure situations and is enjoying a career-best season with a 2.12 ERA.

 

 

 

Kenley Jansen

The Dodgers’ bullpen has been ravaged by injuries this season. Tanner Scott, their most recent closer, is currently on the IL due to elbow inflammation. He recently began throwing again, and while he’s expected back by season’s end, there’s no clear timeline for his return to action. Jansen has been vocal about not wanting to be traded and hoping to be able to help the Los Angeles Angels make the playoffs, but a reunion with the Dodgers makes sense for both teams. Even if the Angels did make the playoffs (they’re four games out and in the wild card race with four teams in front of them as this article is being written), they’d be a long shot to make it beyond the first round. The Dodgers can really use a reliable right-handed pitcher in their bullpen and while he might not be the team’s exclusive closer should he get traded back to his old team, Jansen would likely be able to pick up several saves before the season is over. Reid Detmer and Ryan Zeferjahn would likely be the favorites to share closer duties for the Angels should Jansen get traded.

Kyle Finnegan

It seems like Finnegan’s name is included in trade rumor talk every season as the MLB trade deadline approaches. He has the third-most saves (85) in baseball since the 2023 season, but it seems that no team believes in Finnegan’s stuff enough to make the Washington Nationals an offer they can’t refuse. Finnegan has had his ups and downs this season, which include posting a 19.29 ERA in his last six games. He has been very good against left-handed hitters (.209 BAA), but if he were to be moved, he would almost certainly not be the closer for his new team. With the Nationals recently firing their manager and general manager, this could be the time when they finally cut ties with Finnegan. Unfortunately, the Nationals' bullpen isn’t very deep, and if Finnegan were traded, save opportunities would probably be shared between Luis Garcia and Jose A. Ferrer. Konnor Pilkington is another Nationals reliever to keep an eye on. He’s been used in the latter part of games and has performed well in limited action.

 

 

 

Camilo Doval

As this article is being written, the San Francisco Giants have lost five straight games and are nine games behind the Dodgers, and five games back in the wild card race. They did make a bold move in trading for Rafael Devers last month, but they could probably get a very good return if they traded Doval. He has enjoyed a resurgent season in which he won back his old closer’s job and has a respectable 3.15 ERA and 15 saves. Unfortunately, control (4.7 BB/9) continues to be an issue for Doval. With Randy Rodriguez (1.20 ERA, 12.4 K/9, 1/8 BB/9 in 44 games) seemingly ready to step in and take over as the Giants’ closer, the return that the Giants could receive if they do trade Doval can help set them up for future playoff runs. 

David Bednar

Bednar, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ closer, has allegedly been drawing interest from the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, and Detroit Tigers. Pirates GM Ben Cherington is looking to “sell high” on Bednar, who looks like his old self right now, but has been so bad at times that he has spent parts of this and the 2024 season in the minor leagues. Unfortunately for fantasy baseball managers rostering him, the Rangers are probably the only team from those previously mentioned who’d continue using Bednar as a closer. Dennis Santana, Bednar’s setup man, could also be on the move, and if he’s dealt, that would leave Isaac Matson as the last man standing and probable closer for the Pirates. Matson has a 2.31 ERA and 0.986 WHIP in his first 23.1 IP this season and 20 career minor league saves under his belt.