Top 75 relievers for fantasy baseball 2025 in SOLDS formats, starting with Emmanuel Clase

In the ever-evolving world of high-leverage relievers, SOLDS (Saves plus Holds) formats provide more options and highlight the best relievers in baseball, regardless of their role. Beginning with a comparison of the volume difference between Saves and SOLDS, the chart below tracks the number of relievers reaching each threshold since 2022 and the three-year averages:

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At the extreme, only two relievers recorded more than 39 Saves or SOLDS last year — Emmanuel Clase and Ryan Helsley. However, seeing three times as many relievers with more than 34 SOLDS than Saves illustrates how this format increases volume. Still, fantasy managers should target relievers who provide strikeouts and a Save or a Hold. First, the following chart displays the relievers who recorded more than 34 SOLDS in 2024:

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Volume matters, but when looking into strikeouts per appearance, here are the results of those same relievers:

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Relievers who finished below this threshold with better results on the standings include:

• Josh Hader (HOU): 105 strikeouts, 34 SOLDS, 1.48 K/APP
• Griffin Jax (MIN): 95 strikeouts, 34 SOLDS, 1.32 K/APP
• Tanner Scott (LAD): 84 strikeouts, 33 SOLDS, 1.17 K/APP
• Lucas Erceg (KC): 72 strikeouts, 32 SOLDS, 1.18 K/APP
• Jeff Hoffman (TOR): 89 strikeouts, 31 SOLDS, 1.31 K/APP
• Ryan Walker (SF): 97 strikeouts, 31 SOLDS, 1.29 K/APP

The relievers noted above are associated with their teams for 2025, and Walker’s results do not include strikeouts accrued as an opener. Still, these relievers provided more fantasy impact than Jason Foley, Yennier Cano, Andrew Kittredge and Robert Suarez despite recording fewer SOLDS.

Although not listed, as anyone can assume, these relievers also provided enticing K/APPs last year:

• Mason Miller (ATH): 104 strikeouts, 28 SOLDS, 1.89 K/APP
• Andrés Muñoz (SEA): 77 strikeouts, 28 SOLDS, 1.28 K/APP
• Cade Smith (CLE): 103 strikeouts, 27 SOLDS, 1.39 K/APP
• Edwin Díaz (NYM): 84 strikeouts, 22 SOLDS, 1.56 K/APP
• Jeremiah Estrada (SD): 94 strikeouts, 17 SOLDS, 1.52 K/APP
• A.J. Puk (ARI): 94 strikeouts, 17 SOLDS, 1.31 K/APP
• Justin Martinez (ARI): 91 strikeouts, 15 SOLDS, 1.42 K/APP

Transitioning to team trends, targeting relievers on successful teams with starters who do not work deep into games yields more SOLDS. As one can see, only five teams produced more than 150 SOLDS in 2024:

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The teams with more than 150 SOLDS had a combined 54.8 winning percentage, and of the 10 teams with more than 130 SOLDS, only the Athletics won fewer than 80 games. SOLDS/Win can be misleading, but for those who stream, hitting the correct matchups each week with these teams can provide results. As for the Athletics, the franchise played in 54 one-run games last year, and 84 contests were decided by two runs or less. Improving at the margins in these games could prove beneficial in the upcoming season.

Relievers in any format can be volatile, but SOLDS casts a broader net at the position, and pitchers will emerge as the season progresses. With this in mind, and subject to change based on injury updates, here are my Top 75 relievers for SOLDS this season, with blended projections and my SOLDS projections.

Unfortunately, these rankings will remain fluid, but they provide a solid baseline for evaluating relievers in SOLDS leagues. There are relievers I am higher and lower on than others, and if you disagree, trust your instincts.

Until next time, stay safe and be well. 

Greg Jewett is the owner of Reliever Recon and Closer Monkey. 

Statistical Credits: Fangraphs.com; Baseball-Reference.com; BaseballSavant.com; BrooksBaseball.net

Projections Credits: Steamer projections of Steamerprojections.com on Fangraphs; ZiPS DC courtesy of Dan Szymborski; OOPSY Projections courtesy of Jordan Rosenblum; ATC Rankings courtesy of Ariel Cohen

(Top photo of Bryan Abreu: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)