The role of closer on a Major League Baseball team is one of the most difficult positions to predict.
Year after year, we see closers lose their jobs, giving way to any one of a number of other relievers capable of finishing off a game.
This list is current now, but it must be monitored throughout the season, as things change quickly.
There is probably more security in drafting one of the first half of the group below. They are the closers more likely to retain the role, as long as they stay healthy.
Note that in the case of Devin Williams, his injury has dropped him a couple slots.
Sleeper: None
JOSH HADER-ASTROS
JHOAN DURAN-TWINS
EDWIN DIAZ-METS
DEVIN WILLIAMS-BREWERS (CURRENTLY INJURED)
CAMILO DOVAL-GIANTS
EMMANUEL CLASE-GUARDIANS
RAISEL IGLESIAS-BRAVES
PAUL SEWALD-DIAMONDBACKS’
ALEXIS DIAZ-REDS
JORDAN ROMANO-BLUE JAYS
RYAN HELSLEY-CARDINALS
DAVID BEDNAR-PIRATES
CLAY HOLMES-YANKEES
ANDRES MUNOZ-MARINERS
EVAN PHILLIPS-DODGERS
KENLEY JANSEN-RED SOX (INJ)
ADBERT ALZOLAY-CUBS
TANNER SCOTT-MARLINS
CRAIG KIMBREL-ORIOLES
PETE FAIRBANKS-RAYS
JOSE LECLERC-RANGERS
JOSE ALVARADO-PHILLIES
ROBERT SUAREZ-PADRES
ALEX LANGE-TIGERS
MASON MILLER-ATHLETICS
CARLOS ESTEVEZ-ANGELS
KYLE FINNEGAN-NATIONALS
WILL SMITH-ROYALS
JUSTIN LAWRENCE-ROCKIES
JOHN BREBBIA-WHITE SOX
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DESIGNATED HITTERS:
You will note that some teams will use more than one DH, while there are other teams that have not yet confirmed their designated hitter. Names used in those cases are the best guesstimate at this point of spring training.
SLEEPER: NOLAN GORMAN
SHOHEI OHTANI-DODGERS
KYLE SCHWARBER-PHILLIES
MANNY MACHADO-PADRES (COULD BE TEMPORARY)
MARCELL OZUNA-BRAVES
JORGE SOLER-GIANTS
MASATAKA YOSHIDA-RED SOX
NOLAN GORMAN-CARDINALS
CHRISTOPHER MOREL-CUBS
ELOY JIMENEZ-WHITE SOX
MITCH GARVER-MARINERS
JUSTIN TURNER-BLUE JAYS
GIANCARLO STANTON-YANKEES
BRENT ROOKER-ATHLETICS
JOC PEDERSON-DIAMONDBACKS
CHARLIE BLACKMON-ROCKIES
MARK CANHA-TIGERS
HAROLD RAMIREZ-RAYS
ROWDY TELLEZ-PIRATES
MIGUEL SANO-ANGELS
RYAN O’HEARN-ORIOLES
BRANDON DONOVAN-CARDINALS
C J CRON-RED SOX
BRANDON DRURY-ANGELS
ANDREW MCCUTCHEN-PIRATES
KERRY CARPENTER-TIGERS
NICK PRATTO-ROYALS
CARLOS SANTANA-TWINS
JUSTIN FOSCUE-RANGERS
JI MAN CHOI-METS
JONATHAN INDIA-REDS (STILL NOT CONFIRMED)
JOEY MENESES-NATIONALS
MICHAEL BUSCH-CUBS
GARRETT COOPER-CUBS
GARY SANCHEZ-BREWERS
MATT CARPENTER-CARDINALS
GRAHAM PAULEY-PADRES
KYLE MANZARDO-GUARDIANS (STILL NOT CONFIRMED
AVISAIL GARCIA-MARLINS (STILL NOT CONFIRMED)
