FANTASY BASEBALL 2026: CLOSER CHART

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The chart is color coded: 🔴 = close to losing his job. 🟡 = might be in danger of losing his job soon. 🟢 = safe. Asterisk next to the closer indicates that he’s injured/suspended and that the “next in line” is currently the closer. Red/orange doesn’t always mean that the closer us doing badly, he might simply be a trade candidate.

AL

AL EAST

TEAM-CLOSER-STATUS-NEXT IN LINE

NYY-David Bednar-🟢-Camilo Doval

BOS-Aroldis Chapman—🟢–Committee

TBR-Committee

BAL-Ryan Helsley-🟢-Andrew Kittredge

TOR-Committee

NOTES: Bednar, Helsley and Chapman would need to completely fall apart to lose their jobs. Tampa is unlikely to stop their committee approach. Toronto has a full-blown committee with Louis Varland standing out.

AL CENTRAL

TEAM-CLOSER—STATUS—NEXT IN LINE

KCR-Carlos Estevez*-🔴-Lucas Erceg

CLE-Cade Smith-🟡-Hunter Gaddis

MIN-Committee

DET-Kenley Jansen-🟢-Kyle Finnegan

CWS-Seranthony Dominguez-🟢-Committee

NOTES: Jansen and Dominguez are safe. Estevez was pretty poor prior to injury, KC invested too much money to give up, but if he struggles upon returning, he’s done. Smith has never been a closer for a full season and has been shaky. Minnesota is going with a committee for now.

AL WEST

TEAM-CLOSER-STATUS-NEXT IN LINE

TEX-Committee.

HOU-Josh Hader*-🟢-Committee

SEA-Andres Munoz-🟢-Matt Brash

ATH-Joel Kuhnel-🟡-Committee

LAA-Committee

NOTES: Hader upon return and Munoz are safe; Texas and Anaheim have committees.

NL

NL EAST

TEAM-CLOSER-STATUS-NEXT IN LINE

MIA-Pete Fairbanks-🟢-Committee

PHI-Jhoan Duran*-🟢-Committee

ATL-Raisel Iglesias*-🟡-Robert Suarez

WAS-Committee

NYM-Devin Williams-🔴-Luke Weaver

NOTES: Fairbanks and Duran are añsafe. Iglesias has a good closing option behind him, so if he struggles they may be quick to make the change. Devin is struggling a lot. Washington has a committee with no one standing out.

NL CENTRAL

TEAM-CLOSER-STATUS-NEXT IN LINE

CIN-Emilio Pagan-🟢-Tony Santillan

STL-Riley O’Brien-🟢-Committee

PIT-Dennis Santana-🟡-Gregory Soto

MIL-Abner Uribe-🟡-Trevor Megill

CHC-Daniel Palencia*-🟢-Committee

NOTES: O’Brien, Pagan and Palencia are safe. Pittsburgh’s closing situation is odd, but Santana is the top choices. Uribe has the job for now, but Megill can still challenge him.

NL WEST

TEAM-CLOSER-STATUS-NEXT IN LINE

LAD-Edwin Diaz*-🟢-Tanner Scott

COL-Viktor Vodnik-🟡-Committee

ARI-Paul Sewald-🟡-Committee

SFG-Ryan Walker-🔴-Committee

SDP-Mason Miller-🟢-Adrian Morejon

NOTES: Diaz and Miller are safe. Diaz might need an IL stint, but no way is LA giving up on him. Sewald and Vodnik have short leashes, with Sewald in long-term danger with A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez coming back. If Walker has a bad outing or two, they’ll go with a committee.

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