This week one of the "safer" closers in all of baseball lost his job and we learned once again how volatile the back end of the bullpen is for real baseball, and for those fantasy baseball managers chasing saves.
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias has lost the closer role and with it every fantasy manager has lost valuable saves. Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Iglesias won't be the closer going forward and unlike most managers he didn't immediately allude to this being a short-term fix, nor did he say he was being demoted in hopes to get him right. This seemed more serious and with the way Iglesias has been pitching we have to take into account this could be a move for the rest of the season.
Iglesias has been downright brutal this season. He has a 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and while his 25 to 6 K to walk ratio has been solid, but his average fastball velocity is down one tick to 94 MPH and his strikeout rate is the lowest of his career. We also have to consider his age and contract. The 35-year-old is in the last year of a contract that pays him $16 million per season, and he is set to be a free agent next year. That makes this decision easier for management and the front office alike.
So, for fantasy fans, what does this all mean? Normally I would advise holding onto Iglesias and hoping for better days, but he is on the cutting block for me if you need the space. Again, his age and contract don't jump out as someone who will be able to return to the role, and while the best advice is stash him, most owners don't have the roster space for that.
We don't know who his replacement is and with the Braves falling out of contention they might not make a big move for an obvious stopper in the back end like a Jansen type of player. Internally the Braves went to Pierce Johnson for the first save, and he allowed a home run in that chance. Johnson was great last season but has very limited closing experience. He owns a solid 3.86 ERA but also has allowed runs in three of his last six appearances and that comes with two home runs. The Braves might force him into some saves, but I don't see him running with the job.
Thirty-year-old Dylan Lee has some nice numbers on the season with a 2.25 ERA, but again the closing experience is limited. Lee is also a lefty, which many managers want to shy away from in the ninth. Lee might get a few saves here and there, but I wouldn't expect him to become the main option.
Aaron Bummer and Enyel De Los Santos have both been pitching well, but Snitker hasn't trusted them in high leverage spots yet this season. All of these names might get a couple of saves and the big question mark would be 28-year-old Daysbel Hernandez. Hernandez is on the IL right now with a right forearm injury, so this is dangerous territory, but he has been electric.
Right now, the Braves bullpen is a mess. It doesn't look like there is a clear favorite to end the season in the 9th inning and that is too messy to stake your ratios for while chasing some saves.