In the early fantasy draft season, Chris Martin was considered a co-option for saves for the Braves. He throws strikes with an improving arm, but his 2021 value was based on 18 excellent innings (1.00 ERA and 0.61 WHIP). Martin worked as a closer in Japan in 2016 (21 saves). At age 34, his arm is improving in the majors while being more of a backup plan if Will Smith struggles. He pitched two no-hit shutout innings with three strikeouts so far in spring training.
A summer battle with Covid knocked Will Smith out of the save conversation for Atlanta last year. He looked more than worthy of pitching in the ninth over two seasons for the Giants (48 saves) while being tough to hit and owning a rising strikeout rate. Smith dominated over his first five appearances in March (no runs, one hit, and no walks over five innings with 10 strikeouts). A fantasy owner should be able to draft him with confidence over the final days for fantasy drafts.
READ MORE: American League Closer Reports
Miami Marlins
The top two choices for saves for the Marlins early in 2021 are Anthony Bass and Yimi Garcia. My bet is in the Garcia camp.
Bass offers a veteran arm who lacks a difference-maker arm at age 33. He earned 12 saves over the past two seasons with the Mariners and Blue Jays, which was more due to injuries. Over 7.1 innings or work in spring training, he allowed two runs and nine baserunners with six strikeouts.
Garcia has the talent to close injuries cost him development time in the majors from 2018 to 2020. Last season he allowed one run over 15 innings with 19 strikeouts for the Marlins. His arm has been up and down so far in March (five runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts.
Edwin Diaz failed to live up to expectations in saves (32) in his first two seasons with the Mets, and his walk rate remains a concern. His ceiling is immense with better command, and he should have a clean ride to the closing role for New York in 2021. Over five innings in spring training, Diaz hasn’t given up a run or issued a walk with seven strikeouts. His foundation skill set gives him the tools to be the best closer in the majors in 2021 if his walk rate approaches his 2018 success (17 over 73.1 innings).
Over six seasons in the majors, Trevor May has seven saves while starting his career as a starter. He has a 3.19 ERA and 153 strikeouts over his 113 innings, which puts him next to save with the Mets with Seth Lugo injured. May allowed two runs over six innings in March with seven strikeouts.
Philadelphia Phillies
The coin toss for saves in Philly remains a dead heat between Archie Bradley and Hector Neris. Both players pitched well in spring training with no disaster showings.
Neris has more experience (72 career saves) with a higher ceiling in strikeouts at this point in his career. His arm can have peaks and valleys with occasional battles with home runs. He allowed a pair of runs over 6.2 innings with no walks and nine strikeouts in spring training.
Bradley has a 2.95 ERA and 259 strikeouts over 234.2 innings since converting to a reliever while picking up 28 saves. He has a 1.13 ERA in March over eight innings with five strikeouts.
The dark horse for saves for Philadelphia this year is Jose Alvarado. He brings a big fastball while batting walks over his recent years with Tampa. Alvarado battled injuries over the past two seasons after pitching well in 2018 (2.39 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 64 innings). Based on his spring training (no runs over six innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts), he deserves a chance at saves if the Phillies are willing to use a lefty arm in the ninth inning.
Washington Nationals
Last season fantasy owners wrote Brad Hand off after fading in 2019 (3.30 ERA). He converted all 16 saves for Cleveland, leading to him picking up a new closing role for the Nationals. Hand has 103 saves over the previous four seasons with 323 strikeouts over 230.2 innings. Despite no competition for saves with Washington, his arm hasn’t been sharp in spring training (four runs and 12 baserunners over five innings) while walking five batters.
