Final Bullpen Roundup and a Look to 2026

2025 Bullpens by the Numbers

Below is a final chart of how saves and holds broke out this year. We will have more analysis of it in the offseason. But the raw numbers are in the chart here:

One thing that was interesting this year was that you needed fewer saves to win your league than in recent memory. Many competitive leagues in NFBC saw anywhere from 45-55 saves to finish in the middle of the pack in the category. League-winning numbers were in the 75-85 range.

Let’s take a look at how bullpens ended up, and cast an early glance at what next season could look like for all.

Bullpens Heading into 2026

AL East

Baltimore: Keegan Akin ends the year as the closer, and with Felix Bautista set to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season, Akin could lay claim to the job again in Spring Training. More likely, the Orioles dip into the free agent or trade pool to get their next closer, as they hope to contend next season.

Boston: The Red Sox signed Aroldis Chapman last offseason, and he turned in a fantastic season. The team was so impressed that they extended his contract for 2026. At that point, he will be 38, and questions abound surrounding how long he can keep this up.

New York: David Bednar was one of four closers on this team for the second half of the season, and should be the favorite to retain the job in Spring Training. Keep in mind that both Bednar and Camilo Doval were acquired as insurance against losing Luke Weaver and Devin Williams to free agency this winter.

Tampa Bay: Pete Fairbanks was steady all season. Will the cost-saving Rays look to move him and his $4 million salary this winter? Should they move him, they have options led by Griffin Jax (who also could move to the rotation) or veteran Edwin Uceta.

Toronto: The Blue Jays spent a considerable sum on acquiring Jeff Hoffman in free agency. It seems that, despite some ups and downs this season, Hoffman would get first crack at it again in 2026. The only other viable option here is Seranthony Dominguez, but he is a free agent and may not return. I would be intrigued if Yariel Rodriguez were to get an expanded role.

AL Central

Chicago: An interesting season on the South Side, where the White Sox showed some growth this season despite continued bullpen headaches. Both Jordan Leasure and Grant Taylor showed flashes of brilliance mixed with inconsistency. Mike Vasil proved to be effective and should have a larger role next year.

Cleveland: The unknown status of Emmanuel Clase and his indefinite leave while he is being investigated for gambling leaves the door wide open for current closer Cade Smith.  Best bet is that Smith opens 2026 as the Guardians’ closer, and if we were to draft today, I would have him in my top 12 list and would be keen to acquire him.

Detroit: The Tigers went much of the year in a timeshare between veterans Tommy Kahnle and Will Vest. Many clamored for a trade to acquire a true closer, and the team landed Kyle Finnegan at the trade deadline. Finnegan and Kahnle are free agents in 2026, and the Tigers, no matter what happens this weekend with their playoff picture, need a bullpen upgrade for next season.

Kansas City: Carlos Estevez had a career year in 2025, notching 41 saves despite a pedestrian 19.6% K%. He will be in the same role next year as he finishes out a two-year contract with Kansas City. Lucas Erceg will look to return from injury and return to being one of the top setup men in baseball.

Minnesota: It is difficult to see what the future holds in Minnesota. Based on their current collection of arms, I do not see a clear candidate staking a claim to the job. This is pure speculation on my part, but I would love to see Taj Bradley, acquired in a trade deadline deal from Tampa Bay, get a shot at closing. Otherwise, I am not sure that the next closer is on the roster. Holdovers Cole Sands and Justin Topa could get looks.

AL West

Athletics: Throw the dice and see what comes up? Lefty Hogan Harris appears to be the closer to finish this season after the Athletics moved Mason Miller at the trade deadline. Michael Kelly and Elvis Alvarado could get looks in Spring Training. Sean Newcomb could also be in this mix. Perhaps the Athletics sign a relief pitcher off the so-called scrap heap to be their next closer, in hopes of flipping that guy at the 2026 trade deadline? Hard to say. Based on pure stuff, my slight lean would be Alvarado, but much can change quickly over the winter.

Houston: It will be Josh Hader‘s job when he is ready for it. The veteran closer was on the shelf with a sore shoulder for the last part of the season. Bryan Abreu stepped in for Hader and showed how difficult closing games is. He had seven saves in 2025, but a few rough outings in September show a 5.00 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP for the month. ABreu seems best suited for a top high-leverage role.

Los Angeles: It could be an interesting off-season in Los Angeles, where veteran Kenley Jansen has been excellent with 29 saves and a 2.64 ERA. He is a free agent this winter, and he could look for one more season, or he could retire. If the Angels decide to move on from Jansen, they may have found an in-house answer in lefty Reid Detmers, whose move to the bullpen provided three saves, 13 holds, a 3.96 ERA, and a nice 30.1% K%. Don’t forget they also have Robert Stephenson and Ben Joyce, who will be coming off injury-plagued seasons. Best guess here is that Jansen leaves, and it is a tryout in Spring Training, where Stephenson should reclaim the role if healthy, as he is being paid to be their closer. This has the makings of being a good bullpen, provided everyone gets healthy this winter.

Seattle: Andres Munoz posted an excellent season with 38 saves, a 1.47 ERA, and a 33.5% K%. This is a deep bullpen that also boasts Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo, and Gabe Speier. Munoz’s ridiculous four-year, $7.5 million contract expires at the end of the season, but the Mariners have club options for the next three seasons. Look for the team to try to sign Munoz to a long-term contract this winter. He is one of the best closers in baseball.

Texas: A tip of the cap to Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy for managing this hodgepodge of relievers this year in Texas. I did not have Shawn Armstrong closing games in a playoff chase on my bingo card this year, yet here we are. Phil Maton can be called the co-closer here.  The Rangers used a variety of guys in the closer role: Luke Jackson (who was later cut), Robert Garcia, and Maton. Josh Sborz is a guy who could have had some chances, but he was injured the entire season. Should he be back in 2026, he is a name to know. I have also mentioned veteran starter Jon Gray as a speculative closer, and when he returned this season, he did so as a reliever before injury struck again. This is a team screaming for an upgrade, as a decent bullpen this year would have gotten them a playoff spot.

NL East

Atlanta: I was surprised that the also-ran Braves did not move closer Raisel Iglesias at the trade deadline, as he was in the final year of a four-year, $58 million contract in 2025. The soon-to-be free agent had an up-and-down year, but will end the season with 28 saves, a 3.31 ERA, and a 27.1% K%. The team had a rough season, but should rebound next year and be in the thick of the playoff race, so perhaps they re-sign Iglesias. Should they lose the 35-year-old to free agency, I would imagine they would look outside the organization to bring in their next closer. Staying in-house, veterans Pierce Johnson and Tyler Kinley could get looks, as could lefty Dylan Lee.

Miami: An interesting bullpen battle went on all summer in Miami, where Calvin Faucher and Ronny Henriquez shared the role, with lefty Tyler Phillips also occasionally in the mix. Jesus Tinoco started the season as a co-closer, but ended it on the IL. Faucher ended the season with 15 saves and seven holds, and Henriquez chipped in seven saves with 26 holds. Phillips had four saves. Anthony Bender will return in 2026. This will be an interesting one to watch come spring, as Henriquez has the better stuff, but Faucher seems to have better standing and trust with manager Clayton McCullough.

New York: Edwin Diaz is the closer here without any speculation. The Mets worked to strengthen the rest of the bullpen in July, acquiring Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rogers to add to their mix. Both Helsley and Rogers are free agents in 2026, so the Mets will once again be rebuilding their bridge to Diaz.

Philadelphia: The Phillies went all-in at the trade deadline, nabbing Jhoan Duran from Minnesota for a bevy of prospects. The team has a deep bullpen, with David Robertson, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering serving key roles. Lefty Jose Alvarado will be back in the mix next season as well; it was a mostly lost season for Alvarado due to suspension and injury.

Washington: It is hard to see Washington go into next season with Jose A. Ferrer as their top option for saves. The Nationals did find some nice bullpen options in the season’s second half with Clayton Beeter and PJ Poulin serving key roles this summer. Beeter could be an interesting option if he gets a chance next year for a team that will be looking to turn the corner in the NL East in 2026.

NL Central

Chicago: Daniel Palencia was a revelation this season in the Cubs’ bullpen. Palencia was out with a shoulder injury much of September, but was activated last week and inserted back into the mix. He has 22 saves on the season with a 2.91 ERA and 28.4% K%. He has made a strong case to be in the closer conversation next year, although the Cubs could look to upgrade the back of the bullpen.

Cincinnati: Emilio Pagan filled the closer role admirably this season. The veteran had three consecutive saves late in the week as the Reds fought for a playoff berth. Pagan had 32 saves this season with a 2.88 ERA and 30%K% after working his way onto the roster in Spring Training. Pagan is a free agent in 2026, and if the Reds do not bring him back, look for competition between Tony Santillan and potentially Graham Ashcraft next spring. Veteran righty Connor Phillips has also been excellent moving to the bullpen this season.

Milwaukee: The Brew Crew finished the season with Abner Uribe in the closer spot after Trevor Megill went down with a shoulder injury. However, Megill was activated yesterday for the season finale in a push to make the playoff roster.  Both pitchers have been outstanding; Megill had 30 saves with a 2.54 ERA and 30.7% K%, while Uribe has six saves, a league-leading 37 holds, and a 1.70 ERA with a 30.5% K%. Should the Brewers move Megill in the offseason, Uribe would be the heir apparent.

Pittsburgh: The team traded veteran closer David Bednar to the New York Yankees this summer and inserted Dennis Santana into the closer role. He flourished despite a rather pedestrian 22% K%, with 16 saves and a stingy 2.18 ERA. Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence seem solid as setup men.

St. Louis: The Cards traded their top bullpen guy, Ryan Helsley, to the New York Mets at the trade deadline, leaving this a committee between JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien. Romero finished with eight saves, and O’Brien with six. Neither has the typical closer arsenal, and I would look for St. Louis to add someone to close this winter. They could also take a longer look at Matt Svanson this spring. It depends on how management feels about this roster and whether they will try to compete in 2026.

NL West

Arizona: What could have been this past spring, when A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez were battling for the job. Both succumbed to arm injuries, leaving the Diamondbacks with Andrew Saalfrank and John Curtiss sharing the closer role. The team will need to upgrade with both Martinez and Puk expected to miss significant time in 2026.

Colorado: Victor Vodnik seized the role after Seth Halvorsen strained his elbow late in the summer. Halvorsen had 11 saves when he got hurt; Vodnik has 10 saves since then and has filled in well. Vodnik, a groundball pitcher with a low strikeout rate, is likely better served in a setup role with Halvorsen as closer, and I think if health prevails, that is the setup for 2026.

Los Angeles: The Dodgers signed Tanner Scott to a large free agent deal (four years, $72 million)to solve their closer woes. Scott was up and down as he struggled with both his control and his command. Despite having other options in a deep bullpen, Scott is paid to be the closer and will likely retain the job next season. He ends 2025 with 23 saves with a bloated 4.74 ERA and a 25.2% K%.

San Diego: Another great season for Robert Suarez, who earned 40 saves with a 2.97 ERA and 27.9% K%. The intrigue here is that Mason Miller also resides here. Could San Diego look to move on from Suarez and install Miller?  Suarez is signed through 2027 but has an opt-out after this season. Suarez could easily upgrade his current five-year, $46 million contract.

San Francisco: The Giants moved erstwhile closer Camilo Doval in the summer and installed Randy Rodriguez as closer, who was excellent before going down to Tommy John surgery this past week. This paved the way for Ryan Walker to be reinserted into the closer role, where he has shown mixed results: 17 saves, but a bloated 4.11 ERA and pedestrian 22.6% K%. Look for Walker to be the top choice to start 2026.