Rankings: Relief Pitchers

Previous Rankings: Starting Pitchers, Catchers, First Base, Shortstops, Third Base, Outfielders

I am a big proponent of drafting several relief pitchers, especially closers, in a standard Yahoo! or ESPN league. If a league allows daily roster changes, rotating those upper-most 2 SP positions between a bench filled with starting pitchers and filling the RP and P spots with the best relief pitchers pads your peripheral stats. Last year my best team had a team ERA of 3.30, and I finished in the top three in both wins and strikeouts. When choosing between a bench of position players (often not far, if at all, above marginal level) and middle relief, I would recommend the latter.

That being said, the best relief pitchers are closers. Building an early lead in saves can keep in in the upper echelon for most of the season. Trading closers away to teams desperate for saves and generate a great team. So, which closers are worth keeping and which are worth drafting and trading away?

Tier 1: Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, J.J. Putz, Francisco Rodriguez

• Papelbon is projected by several reputable statistical analysts as ready for a season with an ERA well beneath 2.00. Throw in his K rate above one per inning, the chance for forty plus saves, and brilliant dance moves, and you have a great closer. Really though, everyone on this list is great, and if I had to choose between Papelbon at 42nd overall and K-Rod at 64th, I'd gladly take the latter (and these are the current ADP of the two).

Tier 2: Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito

Tier 3: Francisco Cordero, Jose Valverde, Bobby Jenks, Trevor Hoffman, Huston Street, Brad Lidge

Tier 4: Manny Corpas, Chad Cordero, Rafael Soriano, Joakim Soria, B.J. Ryan, Jason Isringhausen, Kevin Gregg, Matt Capps

Tier 5: Brian Wilson, Todd Jones, Eric Gagne, George Sherrill, Joe Borowski, Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, Kerry Wood, Brandon Lyon, Troy Percival, C.J. Wilson, Hideki Okajima, Jonathon Broxton, Rafael Betancourt, Jeremy Accardo, Pat Neshek, Al Reyes, Pat Neshek, Heath Bell, Brian Fuentes

The Cubs relief core rounds out the top 30 RP drafted in a ten-team league. Right now, Howry is the expected closer, Marmol is the best pitcher, and I think Wood will end up with the job. I'll let you try to make sense of what to do.

Papelbon carries an injury risk, and since you can grab Okajima late owners of the Red Sox should handcuff him with a great middle relief option. Other middle relief guys that I see as valuable handcuffs are Broxton, Accardo, and Zumaya (out till mid-season). Some guys who I think will start in middle-relief and earn closing jobs are Eddie Guardado and Rafael Betancourt.