Commentary

Cockcroft: Top 40 Relief Pitchers

Updated: March 27, 2012, 4:44 PM ET

Tristan's rankings are based upon a standard, mixed Rotisserie league with 5x5 scoring. Position eligibility is determined based upon a minimum of 20 games, otherwise the position the player appeared at most in 2011. Players' listed ages are as of April 1, 2012. Player Rater rankings are only for the listed position, and include only players who qualify at that position for 2012.

Tristan H. Cockcroft's Top 40 Relief Pitchers

Sort by position: Overall | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | DH | SP | RP
For ESPN.com's overall rankings, click here

Rank	Player	Team	Age	2011 Player Rater
1	Craig Kimbrel	Atl	23	1
2	Mariano Rivera	NYY	42	4
3	John Axford	Mil	29	3
4	Jonathan Papelbon	Phi	31	9
5	Drew Storen	Wsh	24	2
6	Brian Wilson	SF	30	18
7	Jose Valverde	Det	34	6
8	J.J. Putz	Ari	35	5
9	Joel Hanrahan	Pit	30	7
10	Heath Bell	Mia	34	10
11	Jason Motte	StL	29	28
12	Cory Luebke	SD	27	22
13	Chris Sale	CWS	23	39
14	Jordan Walden	LAA	24	13
15	Rafael Betancourt	Col	36	41
16	Andrew Bailey	Bos	27	47
17	Neftali Feliz	Tex	23	23
18	Huston Street	SD	28	36
19	Joe Nathan	Tex	37	79
20	Sean Marshall	Cin	29	32
21	Daniel Bard	Bos	26	58
22	Brandon League	Sea	29	12
23	Sergio Santos	Tor	28	15
24	Kyle Farnsworth	TB	35	14
25	Javy Guerra	LAD	26	40
26	Frank Francisco	NYM	32	71
27	Kenley Jansen	LAD	24	53
28	Chris Perez	Cle	26	16
29	Aroldis Chapman	Cin	24	94
30	Jim Johnson	Bal	28	34
31	Carlos Marmol	ChC	29	26
32	Jonny Venters	Atl	27	21
33	Matt Capps	Min	28	64
34	Mike Adams	Tex	33	19
35	David Hernandez	Ari	26	43
36	Matt Thornton	CWS	35	118
37	Greg Holland	KC	26	30
38	Mark Melancon	Bos	27	20
39	Francisco Cordero	Tor	36	8
40	Addison Reed	CWS	23	232

Tristan H. Cockcroft is a fantasy baseball analyst for ESPN.com and a two-time champion of the League of Alternative Baseball Reality (LABR) experts league. You can e-mail him here, or follow him on Twitter @SultanofStat.