To put into perspective just how valuable Baltimore Orioles RHP Felix Bautista was this season, the second-year closer was diagnosed with a partial tear of the UCL in his valuable throwing elbow back in August, did not pitch in September, and he still ended up the top relief pitcher on the ESPN Player Rater. Sure, fantasy managers would have loved six months of Bautista, but the five he provided were fantastic, with eight wins, 33 saves, 110 strikeouts and a 1.48 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.
Then again, Bautista, who starred as a rookie in 2022 and was the No. 4 closer selected in ESPN average live drafts (eighth round), was supposed to be great. In roto formats, we advise fantasy managers to wait on closers in drafts and find new ones to emerge during the season. This season, an undrafted relief pitcher ended up nearly as valuable as Bautista for roto and among the top 10 relief pitchers in points formats. Let's call them co-MVPs, one in the American League and the other in the NL.
Congrats to Miami Marlins LHP Tanner Scott, who became the team's regular closer in September, punctuating his already soaring value. Scott, who lost the closer role during the 2022 season for Miami, was among the league leaders in holds this season before the Marlins finally turned to him to close. He piled on the strikeouts all along, one of the few to surpass 100. It is not all about saves in ESPN points formats. Run prevention and whiffs always matter, as do wins and holds. Scott represents an undrafted fantasy hurler who helped carry fantasy managers to championships.
In fairness to those in roto formats, 2023 was not a great season for fantasy managers hoping to find excellent save options during the season. Scott was not a primary closer until the final month. Fewer than half the league's closing roles changed during the season, and several teams were so bad they provided little relief pitcher value. Cleveland Guardians RHP Emmanuel Clase was the lone closer to go among the first five rounds in ADP, followed quickly by Milwaukee Brewers RHP Devin Williams and San Diego Padres LHP Josh Hader, and each performed capably, with Williams the best of the three.
Orioles RHP Yennier Cano, also undrafted in ESPN ADP, was fantasy's top relief pitching free agent for most of the season. Cano, a 29-year-old rookie acquired from the Minnesota Twins in the Jorge Lopez deal at the 2022 trade deadline, threw 11 near-perfect innings in April, allowing nary a base hit or a walk (he hit a batter), becoming a fantasy star and eventually an AL All-Star. Cano started to struggle in July and gave up some fantasy good will in September, but still, he was a top-10 relief pitcher most of the season.
Other relief pitcher fantasy MVPs
Marlins lefty Tanner Scott was one of the most valuable relief pitchers in fantasy this season, combining run prevention, wins and strikeouts with saves, and at little investment cost. Video by Eric Karabell
Alexis Diaz, Cincinnati Reds: Diaz appeared to tire in late September, but for five-plus months he was right there with Milwaukee's Williams as the No. 2 fantasy closer behind Bautista. Diaz piled on the wins, strikeouts and saves, and he went outside the first 12 closers selected in ESPN ADP.
David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates: As with Diaz, Bednar slipped outside the top 10 relievers on draft day, but he ended up a top 50 overall option on the Player Rater.
Craig Kimbrel, Philadelphia Phillies: A bit forgotten as the No. 19 closer in ADP, Kimbrel became his new team's primary closer and surpassed 20 saves for the third consecutive season, each for different franchises. Kimbrel was busy, appearing in his most games since 2011, and he registered a career high in wins.
Hector Neris/Bryan Abreu, Houston Astros: Again, it is not all about the saves in ESPN points formats. Ryan Pressly was the team's primary closer and reached 30 saves again, but Neris and Abreu, undrafted in most leagues, were nearly as valuable in points formats, piling on the holds with superior run prevention.
Relief pitcher fantasy LVPs
Scott Barlow, Kansas City Royals/Padres: Barlow wasn't coveted in drafts, but he still was among the first 20 relief pitchers in ADP, and he wasn't close to worth it. After consecutive excellent seasons for the Royals in 2021 and 2022, Barlow struggled in April and he did not save five games in any month before a trade to San Diego.
Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox: The No. 7 closer in ADP and a 12th-round selection overall, Jansen finished outside the top 50 relief pitchers on the Player Rater, mainly due to September, when he permitted a bunch of runs to spike his ERA and WHIP, and he missed half the month with COVID.
Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals: A top-10 closer on draft day, Helsley shared saves for a few months, then he missed half the season with a forearm strain.