Latest fantasy baseball bullpen updates
Felix Bautista, who missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to be ready to reclaim the closer role by Opening Day. (December 4)
The Red Sox signed Aroldis Chapman to provide either a primary setup man to, or competition with, Liam Hendriks for their closer role. (December 4)
Team-by-team fantasy baseball bullpens
Each pitcher's roster percentages in ESPN leagues is listed in parentheses. Those who have been "heavily worked" over recent days have their names bolded and italicized. Pitchers who are thus labeled as "tired" are less likely to pitch in today's games and, therefore, less likely than normal to earn wins, holds or saves today. Our formula for deeming a reliever to be tired generally requires that he meets at least two of the following criteria: At least 25 pitches thrown the previous day; at least 35 pitches thrown over the last three days; appearances in both of the prior two days.
FREE AGENTS: Scott Barlow, Carlos Estevez, Kyle Finnegan, Luis Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Jeff Hoffman, Clay Holmes, Daniel Hudson, Tommy Kahnle, Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Kittredge, Jose Leclerc, Jorge Lopez, Chris Martin, Shelby Miller, A.J. Minter, Hector Neris, Adam Ottavino, David Robertson, Jordan Romano, Tanner Scott, Paul Sewald, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Closer: Justin Martinez (6.1%)
Primary setup: A.J. Puk (21.1%)
Secondary setup: Kevin Ginkel (3.4%)
Middle relief: Ryan Thompson (1.3%)
ATLANTA BRAVES
Closer: Raisel Iglesias (91.5%)
Primary setup: Pierce Johnson (7.4%)
Secondary setup: Aaron Bummer (1.8%)
Middle relief: Dylan Lee (6.0%)
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Closer: Felix Bautista (1.4%)
Primary setup: Seranthony Dominguez (7.9%)
Secondary setup: Yennier Cano (33.3%)
Middle relief: Keegan Akin (0.3%)
BOSTON RED SOX
Co-closer: Liam Hendriks (0.3%)
Co-closer: Aroldis Chapman (15.9%)
Primary setup: Justin Slaten (0.9%)
Secondary setup: Greg Weissert (0.0%)
CHICAGO CUBS
Closer: Porter Hodge (8.0%)
Primary setup: Tyson Miller (0.6%)
Secondary setup: Eli Morgan (0.2%)
Sleeper: Nate Pearson (0.3%)
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Closer-by-committee: Justin Anderson (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Fraser Ellard (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Prelander Berroa (0.2%)
Primary setup: Gus Varland (0.0%)
CINCINNATI REDS
Closer: Alexis Diaz (70.1%)
Primary setup: Emilio Pagan (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Fernando Cruz (1.4%)
Middle relief: Tony Santillan (0.1%)
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS
Closer: Emmanuel Clase (96.9%)
Primary setup: Cade Smith (10.6%)
Secondary setup: Hunter Gaddis (10.1%)
Middle relief: Tim Herrin (0.4%)
COLORADO ROCKIES
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Kinley (1.7%)
Closer-by-committee: Seth Halvorsen (0.3%)
Closer-by-committee: Victor Vodnik (0.8%)
Primary setup: Luis Peralta (0.0%)
DETROIT TIGERS
Closer-by-committee: Beau Brieske (0.9%)
Closer-by-committee: Tyler Holton (10.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Jason Foley (31.0%)
Sleeper: Jackson Jobe (3.7%)
HOUSTON ASTROS
Closer: Josh Hader (88.8%)
Primary setup: Bryan Abreu (16.7%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Pressly (9.9%)
Middle relief: Tayler Scott (0.4%)
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Closer: Lucas Erceg (12.0%)
Primary setup: Hunter Harvey (5.3%)
Secondary setup: John Schreiber (0.8%)
Middle relief: Angel Zerpa (0.1%)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Closer: Ben Joyce (4.1%)
Primary setup: Jose Quijada (0.1%)
Secondary setup: Brock Burke (0.1%)
Middle relief: Ryan Zeferjahn (0.0%)
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Closer: Michael Kopech (16.3%)
Primary setup: Evan Phillips (56.6%)
Secondary setup: Anthony Banda (0.7%)
Middle relief: Ryan Brasier (0.2%)
MIAMI MARLINS
Closer: Calvin Faucher (0.9%)
Primary setup: Jesus Tinoco (0.9%)
Secondary setup: Anthony Bender (0.1%)
Middle relief: Declan Cronin (0.0%)
MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Closer: Devin Williams (60.0%)
Primary setup: Trevor Megill (7.6%)
Secondary setup: Jared Koenig (0.6%)
Middle relief: Joel Payamps (4.6%)
MINNESOTA TWINS
Closer: Jhoan Duran (74.7%)
Primary setup: Griffin Jax (15.7%)
Secondary setup: Cole Sands (0.7%)
Middle relief: Jorge Alcala (0.2%)
NEW YORK METS
Closer: Edwin Diaz (85.2%)
Primary setup: Jose Butto (14.5%)
Secondary setup: Reed Garrett (11.2%)
Sleeper: Dedniel Nunez (0.2%)
NEW YORK YANKEES
Closer: Luke Weaver (19.3%)
Primary setup: Ian Hamilton (0.9%)
Secondary setup: Jake Cousins (0.3%)
Middle relief: Mark Leiter Jr. (0.9%)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Closer: Mason Miller (72.0%)
Primary setup: Tyler Ferguson (0.7%)
Secondary setup: Michel Otanez (0.1%)
Middle relief: Grant Holman (0.1%)
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Closer-by-committee: Orion Kerkering (1.4%)
Closer-by-committee: Matt Strahm (10.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Jose Alvarado (32.0%)
Primary setup: Jose Ruiz (0.0%)
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Closer: David Bednar (55.2%)
Primary setup: Dennis Santana (2.0%)
Secondary setup: Colin Holderman (0.9%)
Middle relief: Carmen Mlodzinski (0.1%)
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Closer: Ryan Helsley (91.3%)
Primary setup: JoJo Romero (7.1%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Fernandez (0.2%)
Middle relief: Matthew Liberatore (0.3%)
SAN DIEGO PADRES
Co-closer: Robert Suarez (77.0%)
Primary setup: Jason Adam (17.1%)
Secondary setup: Jeremiah Estrada (2.2%)
Sleeper: Yuki Matsui (7.0%)
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Closer: Ryan Walker (28.8%)
Primary setup: Tyler Rogers (4.7%)
Secondary setup: Taylor Rogers (0.4%)
Sleeper: Camilo Doval (67.9%)
SEATTLE MARINERS
Closer: Andres Munoz (76.6%)
Primary setup: Collin Snider (0.2%)
Secondary setup: Tayler Saucedo (0.1%)
Middle relief: Trent Thornton (0.1%)
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Closer: Pete Fairbanks (48.8%)
Primary setup: Edwin Uceta (3.9%)
Secondary setup: Kevin Kelly (0.3%)
Sleeper: Drew Rasmussen (1.1%)
TEXAS RANGERS
Closer-by-committee: Jacob Latz (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Roansy Contreras (0.2%)
Closer-by-committee: Grant Anderson (0.0%)
Closer-by-committee: Matt Festa (0.1%)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Closer: Chad Green (7.9%)
Primary setup: Erik Swanson (1.3%)
Secondary setup: Ryan Burr (0.1%)
Middle relief: Brendon Little (0.0%)
WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Closer-by-committee: Robert Garcia (0.1%)
Closer-by-committee: Derek Law (0.4%)
Closer-by-committee: Jose Ferrer (0.3%)
Primary setup: Eduardo Salazar (0.0%)
KEY: "Closer" is either that team's officially designated closer, or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance. Teams can be listed with "Co-closers" or "Closer-by-committee." "Primary setup" is the pitcher next-most likely to take over if something happens to the closer, the top holds-getter and the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. "Secondary setup" is the pitcher third-in-line to close and a good candidate for holds. "Middle relief" covers any other pertinent relievers from that team's bullpen. "Sleeper" is another reliever who could provide a decent number of holds or eventually graduate into the closer role.