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Current Closer Depth Charts | Top 20 Closer Ranking | Home
Our closer ranking will be released every week.  We grade the closers on performance, stats, health, job security, experience and consistency capability.  Check out our list and value your closer accordingly.

Top 20 MLB Closer Rankings (latest updated 10/4/2009)
Rk

Closer

 SV-W-ERA-WHIP-K

Details
1
 		 Joe Nathan, Twins

47-2-2.18-0.94-85

 
Nathan had an incredible year.  After a slow start, from May on he was the most dominating closer in baseball.  One of a handful of closers with a WHIP below 1.00.
2
 		 Mariano Rivera, Yankees

44-3-1.79-0.92-71

 
Rivera proved he is still a dominating closer.  He had only two blown saves all season and after a slow start, finished with an ERA below 2.00 and a WHIP below 1.00.
3
 		 Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers
36-7-2.61-0.96-114

 

 

 Broxton finished very strong and proved we were right naming him one of our top closers of the year.  He had a rough July-August where he blew 3 saves, lost a game, and shot his ERA up over 50 points.  He finished incredibly strong with 114 strikeouts, tops amongst closers.
4

 		 Heath Bell, Padres
 
42-6-2.75-1.11-78

 
Bell had a tough second half after a brilliant first half.  Overall, Bell impressed and showed he is a dominant closer.  He was one of only four closers who broke 40 saves and finished with 6 wins.
5


 		 Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox
38-1-1.88-1.16-76

 
Papelbon had a great season, but fell short of 40 saves.  He did get 76 strikeouts, but allowed a few to many base runners.  Overall, great season for the Red Sox closer with only three blown saves.
6
 		 Brian Fuentes, Angels
48-1-4.00-1.41-46

 
Fuentes never really gained consistency, but because the Angels always produce saves, he led the with 48 saves.  Fuentes did have a terrible ERA and WHIP, and also didn't strikeout many.
7
 		 Brain Wilson, Giants

37-5-2.78-1.21-81

 
Wilson was one of the most underrated closers coming into the season, but finished the year strong and proved he is a top notch closer.  He had over 80 strikeouts and contributed five wins.
8

 		 David Aardsma, Mariners

37-3-2.56-1.18-79

 
Aardsma was amazing this season and didn't even close the first six weeks.  He finished with 37 saves and 79 strikeouts.  He did look like he would break 90, but the strikeouts slowed down in September.
9 Ryan Franklin, Cardinals
38-4-1.95-1.15-43

 
Franklin started getting hit in September, but the five months before that he was lights out.  The only thing that kept him from the top 5 was the low number of strikeouts.
10
 		 Trevor Hoffman, Brewers
37-2-1.73-0.88-47

 
Hoffman had a great season.  We don't know for sure if he's coming back next year, but why not.  He had the lowest WHIP of all closers.
11
 		 Huston Street, Rockies

35-4-3.06-0.91-70

 
Street had a late season injury that derailed a great season.  He finished with 37 saves and only had two blown saves.  I was not high on Street coming into 2009, but now I am a believer.
 
12


 		 Francisco Cordero, Reds

39-2-2.19-1.34-39

 
Cordero had a great year on a bad team.  For most of the season he was dominating, but the strikeouts and WHIP were something not to be desired.
13 Rafael Soriano, Braves
27-1-3.05-1.06-99

 
Soriano took over as closer for the Braves in July and never looked bad.  He had some rough outings and a high ERA, but he finished with 99 strikeouts and a solid 1.06 WHIP.
14

 		 Francisco Rodriguez, Mets
35-3-3.72-1.32-73

 
KROD had a forgettable season and so did the Mets.  He completely lost it in July through mid-August, and finished with 5 blown saves on the season.
15
 		 Joakim Soria, Royals
30-3-2.21-1.13-69

 
Soria got injured mid-season and it took him awhile to get back to form.  He still finished with 30 saves and struck out 69 batters in 53 innings and only blew three saves.
16


 		 Fernando Rodney, Tigers

36-2-4.35-1.41-60

 
Rodney had one of the highest ERAs amongst all closers, but he wasn't even the expected closer on opening day.  Still, 36 saves later Rodney ended up being a solid closer for your team. 
17

 		 Andrew Bailey, Athletics

26-6-1.88-0.90-89

 
  Bailey was one of the best closers of the second half.  He gathers 89 strikeouts, 6 wins, and a microscopic 0.90 ERA.  He is clearly the closer of the future for the Oakland A's.  Until they trade him.
18

 		 Jose Valverde, Astros
25-4-2.33-1.13-56

 
When Valverde came back from his long injury stint I told my readers he would have 30 saves or 30 combined saves and wins.  He finished with 25 saves and 4 wins, not too shabby.  The 56 strikeouts in 54 innings was outstanding.
19

 		 Bobby Jenks, White Sox
29-2-3.71-1.27-49

 
Jenks had a tough season.  Still, he had a solid year and remained consistent spreading out most of his six blown saves.
20

 		 Leo Nunez,
Marlins
25-4-4.12-1.27-59

 
Nunez had a a wacky season where he wasn't even the closer till July.  After that he took off and collected a total of 25 saves and seven blown saves. Three of the blown saves come in September.  Look for him to have the job in 2010.
21


 		 Frank Francisco, Rangers
25-2-3.83-1.11-57

 
Francisco never fully recovered from his injury.  He had a brilliant start, and came back strong.  Howver, in the end he finished with a much higher than expected ERA and only 25 saves.  He did strikeout 57 in 49.1 innings.
22


 		 Brad Lidge, Phillies
31-0-7.34-1.84-60

 
I can't believe he makes the list, but I can't ignore his 31 saves and 60 strikeouts.  Of course he could have had 42 saves if he didn't have 11 blown saves.
 
Top Five Setup Men Next In Line
1 George Sherrill Sherrill was a mid-season trade for what was a great closer.  Many teams lost one of their more consistent closers when Sherrill was traded to the Dodgers.  However, if you kept Sherrill you still saw excellent results with 1 win, 1 save, 11 holds,  a 0.68 ERA,  and 21 strikeouts in 26 innings.
3 CJ Wilson, Rangers C.J. Wilson was the best setup man in baseball.  His stats are staggering and leaves us wondering why he isn't the closer in Texas and certainly will be somewhere else.  Not only did he record 14 saves, be collected 19 holds for the "holds" leagues.  He compiled 82 strikeouts in 73 innings and a fantastic 2.84 ERA.  The only mark for Wilson was his 1.34 WHIP.
5 Matt Thornton Thornton was another consisent  setup man that rarely let the White Sox or your fantasy team down.  he recorded 87 stirkeouts in 72 innings, and that is one of  best K/9 ratio's out there amongst all the setup men.  He finished with 24 holds and 4 saves.
2 Ryan Madson, Phillies Madson accrued 10 saves throughout the season while Brad Lidge needed to rest his bruised ego.  Madson did suffer from inconsistency through the second have of the season, but still put up 26 holds and 76 strikeouts in 72 innings. 
4

Todd Coffey, Milwaukee

 Coffey flew under the radar most of the season, but finished with 4 wins,  27 holds, 2 saves, and 65 strikeouts.  His 2.94 ERA wasn't to shabby either.