Drafting a closer/reliever is like buying a new car. You visit several dealerships and look for the best deal to fit your budget.
This is a position that changes constantly because of malfunctioning parts or a newer, better model arrives, so you want to secure at least one top-10 option. Just make sure you spend wisely.
When you go into the draft, consider the Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen (51.78 average draft position and $26 auction value, according to FantasyAlarm.com) and Boston’s Craig Kimbrel (65.83, $21) the Rolls Royce of closers. They come with jaw-dropping price tags that eat into your budget, but you know you’re getting a top-of-the-line closer who will look great in the driveway. If you’re about flash and speed, Aroldis Chapman (86.67, $16) is the Lamborghini of closers, but he also comes with a hefty price.
If you’re looking for luxury at slightly better value, you can look at Toronto’s Roberto Osuna (96.89, $14) or Milwaukee’s Corey Knebel (98.67, $13) — the Mercedes and BMW of the draft. They are top-10 closers who you can pair up with a cheaper option later on.
The best bang for your buck might be at the Lexus or Audi dealerships where you will find Roto Rage favorites Ken Giles (111.94, $8), who is coming off a 34-save season for the stacked world champion Astros, Seattle’s Edwin Diaz (122.61, $13) or Pittsburgh’s Felipe Rivero (118.39, $12) — a 25-year-old flamethrower who had 21 saves in 23 opportunities, a 1.67 ERA in 73 appearances and a .171 opponent average.
Giles maintained a 2.30 ERA and while holding opponents to a .198 average. Despite four blown saves, he struck out 11.9 per nine innings and had a 0.77 ERA in games where he recorded the save.
Diaz continued to battle control issues, walking 4.4 per nine innings, but he picked up 34 saves in 39 chances while striking out 12.1 per nine innings and maintaining a 3.27 ERA(1.01 ERA with a 14.4 K/9 rate in games he saved).
If you want your team to be built Ford tough, you can look at reliable options like Colorado’s Wade Davis (131.67, $12), Cincinnati’s Raisel Iglesias (122.50, $9), Philadelphia’s Hector Neris (185.39, $8), Cleveland’s Cody Allen (125.78, $12) or San Diego’s Brad Hand (146.94, $8). You can also wait and see where Greg Holland (163.72, $14) lands.
The Cubs have an interesting option in Brandon Morrow (221.78, $5), who has just 18 career saves. He’s kind of like an electric car with potential for great gas mileage.
Consider going to the used car lot for San Francisco’s Mark Melancon (206.61, $6), Kansas City’s Kelvin Herrera (188.00, $7) or Washington’s Sean Doolittle (150.61, $9). They have some wear and tear and smell like cigarettes, but should still have good amount of miles left on them.
The Fiat dealership has cheap options that may be scary to drive, like Minnesota’s Fernando Rodney (259.00, $3), Oakland’s Blake Treinen (175.44, $5), the Angels’ Blake Parker (292.72, $0), Tampa Bay’s Alex Colome (138.50, $11) or the Mets’ Jeurys Familia (210.17, $7). Just be sure to have jumper cables available.
For situations that are up in the air, you can take a loaner like Arizona’s Archie Bradley (211.06, $6) or Baltimore’s Brad Brach (221.56, $5).
No matter which car you go for, always make sure you have GPS. Setup guys like Dellin Betances (222.50, $5) and Andrew Miller (178.11, $7) will not only pick up the occasional save and get tons of strikeouts, but they will also help you navigate through the season while maintaining a solid ERA and WHIP.
If you find yourself really desperate, you can purchase a 38-year-old Miami (Brad) Ziegler (346.50, $1). If you wind up choosing this car, just know you’re probably better off lighting it on fire and driving headfirst into a brick wall.
There will be no shortage of usable relievers throughout the season, you just have to know which ones have the best chance of getting you where you need to go.
Guide to Insanity
Draft preview special: Part 5 of 5
Roto Rage Jarad Wilk ranks the top starting catchers and relievers:
Catchers
1. Gary Sanchez NYY
2. Buster Posey SF
3. Salvador Perez KC
4. Willson Contreras CHC
5. J.T. Realmuto MIA
6. Mike Zunino SEA
7. Welington Castillo CWS
8. Yadier Molina STL
9. Evan Gattis HOU
10. Wilson Ramos TB
11. Brian McCann HOU
12. Jonathan Lucroy FA
13. Austin Barnes LAD
14. Christian Vazquez BOS
15. Travis d’Arnaud NYM
16. Robinson Chirinos TEX
17. Russell Martin TOR
18. Tyler Flowers ATL
19. Alex Avila ARI
20. James McCann DET
21. Austin Hedges SD
22. Stephen Vogt MIL
23. Yasmani Grandal LAD
24. Tucker Barnhart CIN
25. Matt Wieters WSH
Relievers
1. Kenley Jansen LAD
2. Craig Kimbrel BOS
3. Aroldis Chapman NYY
4. Corey Knebel MIL
5. Ken Giles HOU
6. Roberto Osuna TOR
7. Edwin Diaz SEA
8. Raisel Iglesias CIN
9. Cody Allen CLE
10. Felipe Rivero PIT
11. Wade Davis COL
12. Brad Hand SD
13. Sean Doolittle WSH
14. Alex Colome TB
15. Andrew Miller CLE
16. Brandon Morrow CHC
17. Hector Neris PHI
18. Kelvin Herrera KC
19. Mark Melancon SF
20. Arodys Vizcaino ATL
21. Blake Parker LAA
22. Brad Brach BAL
23. Jeurys Familia NYM
24. Archie Bradley ARI
25. Dellin Betances NYY