Closer Chart

Fantasy bullpen organization chart (last updated May 21)

The chart below breaks down all 30 major-league teams' bullpens in terms of relievers' proximity to the closer role, not their overall fantasy value. Teams are listed in alphabetical order.

"Closer" is either that team's officially designated closer, or the pitcher most likely to get the team's next save chance. "Next in line" is the pitcher next-most likely to take over if something happens to the closer, or the one who might get any save chances on the closer's nights off. "Stealth" is a dark-horse candidate for saves, for those digging deep. These pitchers typically don't pose an imminent threat to the closer's job security, but might, given time. "Looming" is a pitcher who has his sights set on the closer role but whose circumstances might currently prevent him from doing so. Generally speaking, usual closers who are on hurt and/or on the disabled list (designated as "Inj." or "DL"), bereavement list ("BL") or restricted list ("RL"), closer-worthy pitchers currently working out of the rotation, specialists (especially lefties) or "next in line" options presently in the minors fit the description.

Team	Closer	Next in line	Stealth	Looming
	Heath Bell	David Hernandez	Brad Ziegler	J.J. Putz (DL)
	Craig Kimbrel	Cory Gearrin	Luis Avilan	Anthony Varvaro
	Jim Johnson	Darren O'Day	Tommy Hunter	Pedro Strop
	Andrew Bailey	Junichi Tazawa	Koji Uehara	Clayton Mortensen
	Kevin Gregg	Kyuji Fujikawa	James Russell	Carlos Marmol
	Addison Reed	Matt Thornton	Jesse Crain	Nate Jones
	Aroldis Chapman	Jonathan Broxton	Sean Marshall	J.J. Hoover
	Chris Perez	Vinnie Pestano	Joe Smith	Cody Allen
	Rafael Betancourt	Rex Brothers	Wilton Lopez	Matt Belisle
	Jose Valverde	Joaquin Benoit	Phil Coke	Bruce Rondon
	Jose Veras	Wesley Wright	Hector Ambriz	Paul Clemens
	Greg Holland	Kelvin Herrera	Aaron Crow	Tim Collins
	Ernesto Frieri	Scott Downs	Michael Kohn	Ryan Madson (DL)
	Brandon League	Kenley Jansen	Paco Rodriguez	Matt Guerrier
	Committee: Steve Cishek, Mike Dunn, Chad Qualls			A.J. Ramos
	Jim Henderson	Mike Gonzalez	Francisco Rodriguez	John Axford
	Glen Perkins	Jared Burton	Josh Roenicke	Casey Fien
	Bobby Parnell	Brandon Lyon	Josh Edgin	Frank Francisco (DL)
	Mariano Rivera	David Robertson	Shawn Kelley	Boone Logan
	Grant Balfour	Ryan Cook	Sean Doolittle	Pat Neshek
	Jonathan Papelbon	Justin De Fratus	Antonio Bastardo	Phillippe Aumont
	Jason Grilli	Mark Melancon	Bryan Morris	Tony Watson
	Edward Mujica	Trevor Rosenthal	Mitchell Boggs	Carlos Martinez
	Huston Street	Luke Gregerson	Dale Thayer	Joe Thatcher
	Sergio Romo	Santiago Casilla	Jeremy Affeldt	Javier Lopez
	Tom Wilhelmsen	Carter Capps	Yoervis Medina	Charlie Furbush
	Fernando Rodney	Joel Peralta	Kyle Farnsworth	Jake McGee
	Joe Nathan	Tanner Scheppers	Jason Frasor	Robbie Ross
	Casey Janssen	Steve Delabar	Darren Oliver	Sergio Santos (DL)
	Rafael Soriano	Drew Storen	Tyler Clippard	Craig Stammen