Every season, fantasy baseball managers make lists. On those lists are players that are targets for you, and also on those lists are players you will be fading or avoiding. Mostly, we do this with position players, but we should also do this with closers.
Most of us will be looking for that closer anchor and will be wanting to roster a top-notch arm, such as Emmanuel Clase or Devin Williams. Others of us will target the middle tier, maybe a Robert Suarez type. But who are the landmines? The answer to that is usually a subjective one, as we have our own biases when it comes to player likes and dislikes. Here, I look at five closers that I think will be busts due to injuries, ineffectiveness, or a team having better options.
You are free to disparage my list and take or leave these options. Keep in mind the most volatile position in all of baseball is the closer spot. Let’s take a look.
2025 Closer Busts
Pete Fairbanks Tampa Bay Rays
Pete Fairbanks has been a worthwhile closer for two seasons now in Tampa Bay. However, he has struggled to stay on the field. In 2024, he struggled with a lat injury; Fairbanks also has Reynaud’s Syndrome and struggles to feel the baseball in cold weather climates. Fairbanks is 31 and has never pitched more than 46 innings in any season of his major league career. That being said, he has posted 25 and 23 saves in the last two seasons. His ERA climbed a full run from 2.58 in 2023Â to 3.57 in 2024. The K% dropped to a league-average 23.8% last season. The fastball velocity still tops out at 97.3 MPH, but the concerns here are many. With the bevy of options Tampa Bay could use, including Edwin Uceta, and the rumors of Fairbanks being available on the trade market (he is owed $4 million this season), he has bust written all over him for 2025.
Alexis Diaz Cincinnati Reds
Alexis Diaz is a bit of an enigma for Cincinnati. In 2023, he put up nine wins and 37 saves with 86 strikeouts in 67 innings. That made his value skyrocket in 2024. Yet he responded with a troubling year. He still managed 28 saves but with a ghastly 3.99 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. The strikeout rate dipped to 22.7% from 30.1% in 2023. Even more troubling was the 12.8% walk rate in 2024. There are simply too many baserunners for Diaz and his margin for error is small. The Reds have added Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers in case Diaz fails as the closer. Tony Sanitllan and Graham Ashcraft could also get looks in the bullpen. New manager Terry Francona has historically preferred to use one closer and have fairly well-defined roles for his bullpen guys, and this should be no exception. If Diaz gets off to a tough start he could be out of the closer role by the end of April. This is one to watch closely this season. Personally, I feel like Ashcraft has the stuff to be a closer.
Justin Martinez Arizona Diamondbacks
On the surface, all appears well for Martinez to be the closer in Arizona. Martinez chipped in five wins and eight saves for a surprising Diamondbacks team in 2024, with 91 strikeouts in 72 innings as well. But it’s important to take a deeper dive into what numbers tell us. Seven of his eight saves came in August, and Martinez lost the job down the stretch with bouts of wildness and surrendering of hits in September. Manager Torey Lovullo had removed him from the closer role in the playoffs. General manager Mike Hazen has been clear that he would like to add to the back end of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. On Friday the team announced the signing of veteran Kendall Graveman to a major league contract. Graveman slots in the middle of the relief corps, which also has veterans with closing experience in A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel. They could still add another veteran, say a Kyle Finnegan or a David Robertson, which could further change the complexion of this bullpen. The point is, that management does not seem comfortable or set with Martinez as a closer, and fantasy managers are still drafting him like he is the sure thing. He is not.
I think Puk is a better pitcher and would be the better choice as a closer. He was unhittable after the All-Star Break, pitching in 33 games with a 1.15 ERA, a 0.70 WHIP, and a whopping 50 strikeouts against six walks in 31 innings.
Tyler Kinley Colorado Rockies
This feels like a given: Colorado Rockies closer fails. Kinley had stints last season where he was not awful; he had six wins and 12 saves with 72 strikeouts in 64 innings. That’s not bad, but the 6.19 ERA and 1.47 WHIP are awful. Kinley has a nice 33.1% whiff percentage and 25.3% strikeout rate, but he has never been able to coalesce the skills to become a legitimate closer. Kinley uses a slider and a four-seamer as his most used pitches. He limits hard contact but also has a high 11.6% walk percentage. More baserunners when you play half of your games at Coors Field is not a good thing.
This is more of a vote of confidence for Seth Halvorsen. I believe that Halvorsen will get the opportunity to close the door in the ninth inning with a more advanced pitch mix than Kinley features. With a splitter and sinker as two of his pitches, he can keep the ball down in the zone which could lead to more ground ball outs in the thin air of Denver. Halvorsen should be on your sleeper list now.
Jordan Romano Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia looks to be a contender in the NL East again this year, and they have remade the back end of their bullpen. The Phillies signed Romano to a one-year deal with the idea being that he is the closer. There remain concerns about Romano’s health. In 2024 he missed time due to elbow surgery and a balky back and only pitched in 15 games for the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran does have two seasons of 36 saves in 2022 and 2023.
Here’s the thing: the Phillies have other options who have experience closing in Matt Strahm and Jose Alvarado, and youngster Orion Kerkering is also vying for an opportunity. Should Romano falter or be injured, the Phillies have a plethora of options to replace him. I do not trust that he will stay healthy.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
