Welcome to the first in-season fantasy baseball Bullpen Report! Managing our fantasy baseball closers and late-inning high-leverage relievers may have been tough in the past, but as the old saying goes, it’s possible that “we ain’t seen nothing yet”! The MLB fantasy baseball closer depth chart to start the season seems to be one of the most unsettled in recent memory. We’ll be updating the Fantasy Alarm Closer Grid as soon as news breaks, so make sure to bookmark the site.

You can still use Fantasy Alarm's Preseason Rankings to search for late-inning high-leverage relievers who have a path to saves and holds, but now more than ever, it’s crucial to pay attention to every bit of player news that is released by MLB teams regarding their roster construction. 

Pirates’ manager Don Kelly created quite a stir on Monday with his comments about how he’ll be managing save situations this season. Many fantasy baseball managers overreacted when Kelly mentioned that Dennis Santana wouldn’t be the only reliever he turns to in save situations in 2026. Despite the panic, Santana will almost certainly be used in the majority of the Pirates’ save opportunities. However, if there’s a save situation where most of an opposing team's hitters are left-handed, then left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, who has 56 career saves and is Santana’s setup man, might get the save chance.

Get ready, because there will be many more comments from MLB managers regarding their bullpen usage that will cause us to overreact. It’s all part of trying to navigate the saves and holds fantasy baseball landscape.

Closers Who Still May Be Available on the Waiver Wire

With so many teams’ bullpen depth charts in flux, you still might be able to grab a late-inning high-leverage reliever who has a path to saves and holds off of your league’s waiver wire. Most have different levels of risk tied to them, but here are a few potentially fantasy viable relievers who are expected to start the season as their team’s first option for save opportunities. Roster rates are based on information obtained on the Fantrax platform. 

Robert Garcia, Rangers, 74% rostered

Garcia pitched to a 2.95 ERA and saved nine games last season. He also benefited from playing his home games in a very pitcher-friendly ballpark. Garcia is actually available in a 12-team league I play in. If he’s available in one of yours, he deserves to be scooped up right away.  

Seranthony Dominguez, White Sox, 67% rostered

Fantasy baseball managers might shy away from rostering Dominguez, who is the closer of an expected sub-.500 win team. However, he may have a long leash in the White Sox’s bullpen, and sometimes that's half the battle. Just about all of the major projection models expect he’ll record at least 20 saves.

Taylor Rogers, Twins, 14% rostered

The Twins haven’t fully committed to using him as their full-time closer, but his 83 career saves, 10.4 K/9, and 2.7 BB/9 may give him an advantage over his competition. ATC Projections predict that he’ll save 16 games and convert nine holds.

Clayton Beeter, Nationals, 47% rostered

Beeter is expected to get the majority of save chances for the Nats to start the season. He throws an upper-90 mph fastball and hard slider, but he’ll need to issue fewer walks if he wants to be the Nationals’ primary closer for the whole season. Cole Henry, rostered in 11% of Fantrax leagues, is expected to be Beeter’s primary competition for saves to start the season. ATC projects Beeter will save 15 games and record 11 holds, and expects Henry to save 12 games and hold 13 others.

Victor Vodnik, Rockies, 31% rostered

He may put a dent in your fantasy baseball team’s ERA, but ATC thinks he might save 17 games and hold seven more.

 

 

 

Closers in Waiting on the Waiver Wire

These relievers are an injury or a prolonged slump away from securing a role as a closer. They should also be a good source for holds to start the season.

Lucas Erceg, Royals, 42% rostered

Carlos Estevez led the major leagues with 42 saves last season, but the velocity on his fastball is down again this spring. It bounced back last season and likely will do so again, but if it doesn’t, consider Erceg the next man up. Left-handed reliever Matt Strahm would also be in the mix for saves should Estevez be unavailable. 

Tyler Rogers, Blue Jays, 50% rostered

Jeff Hoffman enters the 2026 season as the Blue Jays’ closer, but he had a rocky first season in Toronto and had trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark. He might not have a long leash this season. Rogers struck out seven and walked none in seven IP this spring. He has 19 career saves and would likely step in if Hoffman loses his job. 

Fernando Cruz, Yankees, 33% rostered

A lot would need to go wrong in the Yankees’ bullpen for Cruz to take over as their closer. However, current expected closer David Bednar and his setup man Camilo Doval both spent time in the minor leagues last season due to their on-field struggles. Cruz, who spent a little over two months on the IL last season, has electric stuff and is equally effective against right and left-handed batters.

Holds and SOLDS

With the perpetual unpredictability surrounding fantasy baseball closers, many leagues have replaced the Saves category with the Saves + Holds or SOLDS category. Most bullpen setup men are usually good resources for holds, but the following are late-inning, high-leverage relievers rostered in less than 60% of Fantrax leagues who have an especially good chance at being top contributors in the SOLDS category:

Adrian Morejon, Padres, 57% rostered

Morejon has compiled a 2.42 ERA and 1.092 WHIP over the last two seasons. He’s also recorded 32 holds, 20 of which were converted last season. Jeremiah Estrada and Jason Adam are two other Padres relievers expected to record at least 20 holds this season.

Matt Brash, Mariners, 51% rostered

Brash is Andres Munoz’s setup man, and he’s had at least 21 holds in each of the last two seasons. He also saved four games for the Mariners in 2025.

Alex Vesia, Dodgers, 49% rostered

Let’s face it, Dodgers relievers are likely to pitch in many games in which they’re protecting a lead. Vesia recorded 25 holds last season and is expected to record at least 20 more in 2026. Tanner Scott is another Dodgers reliever who will likely eclipse 20 holds this season.

Bryan King, Astros, 37% rostered

King had 27 holds last season and is the next man up behind Bryan Abreu, who will start the season as the Astros’ closer with Josh Hader currently on the IL. As a left-handed reliever, King could be used in save situations where the opposing lineup is stacked with left-handed batters. ATC projections predict that King will record at least 20 holds in 2026.

Tony Santillan, Reds, 49% rostered

Santillan recorded 33 holds last season, third most in baseball. As Emilio Pagan’s setup man, he’s expected to convert at least another 20 holds in 2026.