#closers

#closers

While WAR isn't the best indicator of who the best relievers are, impact is very subjective. Of course Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle were the stars of the 2019 World Series bullpen, and they have to be on this list. Then you have the team's first closer in Chad Cordero. And we will never know if Jose A. Ferrer was going to be the Nats greatest reliever because he was traded in this offseason.

Díaz has been one of MLB's best closers for the past several years, and posted incredible numbers in 2025 - even by his standards. He had a 1.63 ERA through his 62 appearances this season, converting 28 of his 31 save opportunities throughout the season. A high leverage reliever topped the Dodgers' list of needs this offseason, and they've solved their problem for the time being with one of the game's best closers.

The Miami Heat showed some impressive signs of life in their season opener against the Orlando Magic, but they found out firsthand that old habits are tough to break. Rebounding issues (when it mattered most) and the lack of a defined closer ultimately cost the Heat in Orlando. The Heat fell to 0-1 after a 125-121 loss to open the season.

Bill Caudill had a remarkable career as a closer in Major League Baseball, highlighted by 106 career saves and a 3.68 ERA over 445 games. He became a prominent name in the '80s after successful stints with teams like the Cubs, Seattle, and Oakland. The trade to the Blue Jays in 1984 marked a pivotal moment, yet his tenure there was marred by challenges with management and a decline in performance, leading to his release.