Elsewhere in this Guide in the article titled Pitching Targets, we gave a quick rundown of some of the relief arms that you should be looking at based upon their 2014 efforts (you could also find plenty of options in the pieces on Closers, ABA, and SWIP). In this piece we will highlight some relief arms to try and point you in the direction of some names that might fall through the cracks when most people set up their draft day cheat sheets. Nearly all of these arms are best suited as AL and NL-only options, but in 15-team leagues there might be a place for at least a few of these names. 

Aaron Barrett, Nationals

The rookie killed it over 40.2 innings as he struck out 49 and posted a 1.62 GB/FB ratio. The concern? Try 20 walks leading to a 4.43 BB/9 mark. His minor league walk rate is also 4.0 per nine though it should be pointed out that in 2013 at Double-A, the mark was 2.7 and it was 2.4 in 2012.

Brad Boxberger, Rays

Andrew Miller led all pitchers in 2014 with a 14.87 K/9 mark but Boxberger was second at 14.47. That's nearly three-quarters of a batter better than Craig Kimbrel. Unlike his previous two big league stints when he walked 5.62 batters per nine, BB issued just 2.78 walks per nine in '14. He's also nearly impossible to square up with a 15.9 line drive rate for his career. 

David Carpenter, Yankees

Quietly, Carpenter has been fantastic for the Braves the last two years: 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 10.02 K/9 and 2.56 BB/9. The only thing he isn't doing well is generating ground balls (38 percent the last two years). A no-cost arm with a lot of fantasy oomph, even with the move to the AL. 

Brett Cecil, Blue Jays

In two seasons Cecil—whose spectacles simply rock—owns a 2.76 ERA, 1.23 WHIP & 11.53 K/9. Impressive numbers. He's also walked nearly four batters per nine, as he's often adverse to strikes. He covers up the free passes with an impressive ground ball rate of 53 percent.

Wade Davis, Royals

One word to describe his 2014 effort—dominant. Has the skills to excel if given a shot to work the 9th inning. Some perspective, though: he was too good in '14. The 1.00 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 87.5 left on base percentage are not repeatable. Also, the guy allowed more than a homer per nine innings for his career before going 72 innings last season without allowing one. That will change in 2015.

Danny Farquhar, Mariners

The last two years Farquhar has a 1.30 GB/FB rate with an 11.37 K/9 and 3.64 K/BB ratio. He's also posted 17 saves, showing that he can handle the ninth inning if the manager calls out his name. 

Josh Fields, Astros

Fields throws 94-97 mph with regularity. He struck out 70 batters in 54.2 innings last season to push his career mark to 10.68 per nine. He dropped his walk rate last year and witnessed an explosion in his K/BB ratio from a league average 2.22 to an elite 4.12 last season. With a 50 percent fly ball rate, it will be extremely difficult for him to once again allow a mere two homers in 54.2 innings. 

Ernesto Frieri, Rays

The Rays are pretty good at working with pitchers, no? Perhaps they can help right the wayward ship that is Frieri. His 7.34 ERA last season is ghastly, but it is also totally misleading. Frieri still struck out 10.37 batters per nine and also walked 3.02 batters per nine, more than a full batter below his career rate (4.15). The real issue was a .330 BABIP that was .051 points above his career mark and an absurd 2.38 HR/9 ratio that was literally double his career rate (1.19). Won't take too much for him to be an arm to turn to in 2015—especially with Jake McGee slated to miss the start of the year after elbow surgery.

Charlie Furbush, Mariners

The last two seasons the ERA has been 3.69 and the WHIP 1.19, hardly numbers that stand out. So why talk about Charlie? The last two years Furbush has a dominating 10.98 K/9 mark. He cut his walk rate in half from 4.02 per nine in '13 to 1.91 in '14. If the walk rate holds, domination could follow.

Mike Morin, Angels

Solid rookie season that featured a 2.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 2.84 K/BB ratio. The righty owns a solid 3-pitch repertoire that helps to keep batters off balance. 

Fernando Salas, Angels

Salas had a 9.36 K/9 and a 2.15 BB/9 last season, which led to a 1.09 WHIP. Dominated lefties to the tune of a .183 BAA last season. Had one of the best months of any reliever ever in August: 0.00 ERA, 0.27 WHIP, 18 Ks and zero walks in 15 innings. 

Jordan Walden, Cardinals

Owns one of the funkier deliveries in the game, but also possesses a significant arm. He's struck out 10.80 batters per nine over his career but walks often get the best of him (4.86 per nine last year and 3.91 for his career). 

Tony Watson, Pirates

A boring name, but the game is far from that. The lefty posted 10 wins, 34 holds, a 1.63 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 77.1 innings last season. The last two years he's 13-3 with a 1.99 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 8.15 K/9 and 5.00 K/BB ratio. That's some serious pitching over 149 innings. 

Anthony Varvaro, Braves

Funny name, but he owns big-time game. Well, that might be too much credit, but let's just say that league specific setups will like this fella. The last two years: 2.74 ERA, 1.19 WHIP with a 1.60 GB/FB. If he can maintain that 3.85 K/BB ratio from 2014 (unlikely), success will once again follow.

Nick Vincent, Padres

He doesn't throw hard, about 90 mph, but it's all fastballs and cutters from the righty. Through three seasons he's struck out more batters (139) than innings pitched (127.2). Unlike many strikeout arms, he's also a strike thrower. For his career, his BB/9 rate is 2.04 and the rate was 1.80 last season. Also owns a 0.56 HR/9 mark through 135 outings.