The Fantasy Baseball Experience - Trade Deadline Closers

Hi, I’m Jack Thaler, back for another column after an exciting trade deadline. I hope you enjoyed last week’s edition of My Fantasy Baseball Experience. This week I will be doing something a little different. I will be talking about how the trade deadline affects fantasy baseball, and my recommended waiver pickups will continue that theme.

The biggest area affected by the trade deadline in fantasy baseball is the closer position. The trade deadline usually sees a lot of relief pitchers get shuffled around, creating opportunities for fantasy managers who need saves to pick up players who now have a chance to become their team’s closer. It also means that some relievers who were previously closing games for your fantasy team may no longer have that role, making them candidates to be dropped.

Now I will give you six players who now have an opportunity to close and explain why they should be on your radar.

Cole Sands

Jordan Hicks

Michael Kelly

Dennis Santana

Randy Rodriguez

JoJo Romero

Cole Sands was already having a great season when Jhoan Duran was traded to the Phillies, opening up a huge opportunity for Sands to become the Twins’ closer. Not only was Duran traded, but Griffin Jax was dealt as well, further securing Sands’ path to the ninth inning. Sands has not recorded a save since the trade, but I expect him to start piling them up soon.

Jordan Hicks began the season as a starter after the Giants converted him from a reliever, but after being traded to the Red Sox he was moved back into the bullpen. Hicks can throw well over 100 mph and has already been used in two save situations for Boston. Even though the Red Sox already have Aroldis Chapman, I still expect Hicks to pick up some save opportunities.

Michael Kelly was largely overlooked before Mason Miller was traded to San Diego, opening the door for Kelly to become the Athletics’ closer. Kelly features an electric upper-90s fastball, but his best pitch is a nasty sweeper that he often uses with two strikes. His job security is not very strong, so if he struggles I expect the Athletics to give someone else a chance. For now, though, Kelly is the closer and should be targeted.

Dennis Santana had already established himself as a reliable backup option to David Bednar before Bednar was traded to the Yankees. Early in the season, when Bednar struggled, the Pirates gave Santana a chance to close, and he performed well. Now that Bednar is gone, the job is wide open. Unlike some of the other names on this list, Santana has already proven he can handle the role, so I expect him to keep the job for a while.

Randy Rodriguez was enjoying a breakout season as the Giants’ primary setup man, but when Camilo Doval was traded it created an opportunity for Rodriguez to move into the closer’s role. He owned a 1.20 ERA before the deadline and has already picked up a save since Doval was dealt. I expect Rodriguez to remain the Giants’ closer for the rest of the season.

JoJo Romero was having a solid season before star closer Ryan Helsley was traded to the Mets. Romero has recorded saves in previous seasons, although never more than three in a single year, and he doesn’t have overpowering stuff. I don’t expect him to keep the job for very long, but he is a good short-term option if you need saves.

I hope these closer recommendations help you pick up some saves, and I hope to see you next week for the ninth edition of My Fantasy Baseball Experience.