If you ever want to start a run on a position in a fantasy baseball draft, take a closer in the sixth or seventh round.
It will be as if you reminded everyone else in the league that there are some elite relievers, and since you took one, they better, too, or all the good ones will be gone.
That could be the case, only multiplied, this season, since Rafael Soriano, who led the American League with 45 saves last season, is now a well-paid setup man for the Yankees. In addition, our No. 7 reliever was shakier than a Red Sox fan's faith prior to 2004, and our eighth- and 10th-ranked closers are on teams that won 77 and 69 games, respectively, last season.
Even more reasons to step aside and let everyone else make a run at the top 10 or 12 closers. Take a couple later, and hope you hit on the likes of Joe Nathan or Craig Kimbrel.
That brings us to our latest look at the top closers in fantasy baseball in 2011. These rankings will be updated as spring training provides more answers to certain position battles.
Note: Players are listed only at the position at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2011, not every position at which they are eligible. For the top players in keeper leagues for 2011, click here.
- Brian Wilson, Giants: We've already professed our admiration for him, and the 48 saves, 93 strikeouts and 1.81 ERA aren't bad, either.
- Heath Bell, Padres: After finishing 6-1 with a 1.93 ERA, 47 saves and 86 Ks last season, Bell will be drafted ahead of Wilson in many leagues.
- Joakim Soria, Royals: He's young, he strikes out more than a batter per inning (71 in 65 2/3 frames), and he saved 43 games in 46 chances with a 1.78 ERA and 1.05 WHIP last season.
- Neftali Felix, Rangers: In his first full season, he was 4-3 with a 2.73 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 40 saves in 43 opportunities and 71 Ks in 69 1/3 innings. Let's hope the Rangers don't move him into the rotation, though Feliz recently flip-flopped and said he's open to such a switch.
- Mariano Rivera, Yankees: He's 41, he had his lowest save total since 2007 and his worst strikeout total since 2002, but would you be the least bit surprised if he saved 40-plus games with a sub-1.50 ERA in 2011?
- Carlos Marmol, Cubs: If you're looking for a closer who could rack up 40 saves with a huge strikeout total, Marmol (38 saves and 138 Ks last season) is the pick.
- Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox: This could be his final year in Boston after an up-and-down 2010 in which he blew eight of his 45 save chances and had a 3.90 ERA.
- John Axford, Brewers: His first full season (24 saves in 27 chances, eight wins, 2.48 ERA and 76 Ks in 58 innings) seems to be a sign of big things to come on a team that added Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum to its rotation.
- Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: He was spared jail time after an assault of his girlfriend's father at Citi Field in August, and he's been very impressive this spring while trying to revive his career. Whether or not he begins to reward the Mets for their huge investment is another matter.
- Chris Perez, Indians: Other closers will get more save chances, but Perez was lights-out after the All-Star break last season (16-for-17 saves, 2-0, 0.63 ERA, 32 Ks in 28 2/3 innings).
- Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: He lost his job to Hong-Chih Kuo in the second half of 2010, but if he regains his 2009 form (36 saves, 114 Ks), you're getting No. 1 closer value in the middle rounds of the draft.
- Huston Street, Rockies: He was limited to 20 saves in 25 opportunities because of injury in 2010, but was excellent in 2009 (35 saves in 37 chances, 0.91 WHIP, 70 Ks in 61 2/3 innings).
- Jose Valverde, Tigers: He should improve upon his 26 saves in 29 opportunities, but don't expect him to reach his 2007 and '08 numbers (a combined 91 saves with Arizona and Houston).
- Joe Nathan, Twins: He missed last season following elbow ligament replacement surgery, but was a stud before that and has show signs of his former self this spring.
- Francisco Cordero, Reds: He has saved a combined 157 games the last four seasons, but he blew eight chances, lost five games and had a 3.84 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 2010.
- Matt Thornton, White Sox: Ozzie Guillen said he has "first dibs" on the job, which seems to be the right move after a season in which Thornton struck out 81 in 60 2/3 innings and had a 2.67 ERA.
- Andrew Bailey, Athletics: In his first two seasons, he's saved 51 games, had ERAs of 1.84 and 1.47 and tallied 133 strikeouts in 132 1/3 innings, but he's currently bothered by a strained forearm.
- Brad Lidge, Phillies: The enigmatic one was mostly on his game in 2010 (27-for-32 saves, 2.96 ERA, 52 Ks in 45 2/3 innings), and the Phils' Fantastic Four should hand plenty of leads over to the bullpen.
- Craig Kimbrel, Braves: He likely will take over for the retired Billy Wagner after averaging 17.6 Ks per nine innings and finishing 4-0 with a 0.44 ERA as a rookie.
- J.J. Putz, Diamondbacks: We're guessing the Diamondbacks didn't give him a two-year, $10 million contract to be a setup man, and we're guessing Putz's 2010 stats (2.83 ERA, 65 Ks in 54 innings) would fit nicely into the ninth-inning role.
Others to watch
- Ryan Franklin, Cardinals: He should save more than 30 games (Franklin had 38 last season), but he's not your typical K-per-inning closer (a combined 86 strikeouts in 126 innings the last two years).
- Matt Capps, Twins: He had a combined 42 saves in 48 chances in Washington and Minnesota last season, and he could be a steal if Nathan isn't healthy enough to reclaim his position.
- Brandon Lyon, Astros: He assumed the closer's role from Matt Lindstrom and had a solid 2010 (20-for-22 saves, six wins, 54 Ks).
- Drew Storen, Nationals: The rookie saved five games last season and had nearly a K per inning (52 in 55 1/3 frames).
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MORE RANKINGS: Your guide to all of our 2011 fantasy baseball rankings