Finding saves has never been tougher, and finding closer sleepers has never created more value for fantasy teams.

It’s never too early to prepare for your draft, and some of us draft fiends are already setting our draft dates for 2026—or even drafting now.

For nearly a decade, I contributed a series of offseason features at Rotoworld breaking down category sleepers across each of the 5x5 roto categories. Over the next 10 weeks, I’ll be providing a list of sleepers for each 5x5 roto category (BA, HR, RBI, R, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV).

Before reading any further, it’s important to define what a sleeper is. In this case, it’s a player who will exceed both draft-day ADP and projections in a particular category. Players are broken down into mixed-league sleepers and single-league sleepers.

Saves are one of the most frustrating categories for fantasy managers because we’re at the mercy of major league managers. Much of the fun in fantasy preparation is forecasting based on indicators, talent, and predictable skill, yet saves are often just as much about opportunity—being in the right place at the right time.

Below is a rundown of the obvious saves sleepers heading into 2026—mostly pitchers with a history of closing and at least a fair probability of earning a significant opportunity at some point this season. There are also a few less obvious names to keep an eye on. Despite our best efforts to predict the chaos, there will surely be a handful of new closers crowned in 2026 that no one saw coming. With the cost of saves continuing to rise due to limited supply, the added unpredictability only strengthens the appeal of punting the category altogether.

The Obvious (Mixed League Worthy)

Robert Garcia, Texas Rangers

Rangers baseball ops head Chris Young successfully built a bullpen from scraps last offseason, finishing fifth in ERA. Based on the team’s lack of early activity this winter, it appears Young plans to take a similar approach again. While Chris Martin returns, the Rangers allowed Shawn Armstrong, Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner to walk. Their only notable addition with closing experience is former Reds closer Alexis Diaz, who has lost velocity over the past two seasons and struggled to maintain an MLB roster spot.

That’s all good news for Garcia. The lefty tied for the team lead with nine saves last season, though his final save came in late July before the Rangers shuffled roles at the trade deadline. Even so, his peripherals were strong, including the best K/9 in the bullpen (9.6). New manager Skip Schumaker may value experience as he begins his tenure, and with limited free-agent options remaining, Garcia has a strong chance to earn the bulk of save opportunities. Despite that, his ADP still sits outside the top 350.

Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays

Hoffman signed a three-year, $33 million contract last offseason, but it’s fair to label his first year in Toronto a disappointment. While he converted 33 saves, the 15 home runs he allowed pushed his ERA north of 4.00 and continued his struggles in the postseason. The front office was non-committal about Hoffman as the team’s closer heading into the offseason and addressed the bullpen by spending big money on submariner Tyler Rogers.

The good news for Hoffman is that Rogers likely isn’t a major threat for saves. While Rogers has been one of the most effective relievers in baseball over the past five years, he’s more of a workhorse who pitches to contact and generates groundballs—traits managers don’t typically prioritize in the ninth inning. A bigger threat may be Yimi Garcia, who has some closing experience but made only 22 appearances last season due to elbow issues. Hoffman’s grip on the job may be shaky, but he’s still posted a K/9 above 11 for three straight seasons. The lack of job security is reflected in his ADP around 130, a price that could still be profitable behind names like Emilio Pagan and Pete Fairbanks.

Griffin Jax, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays moved on from Pete Fairbanks this offseason, and it’s clear the penny-pinching franchise will look internally for a closer replacement. They aren’t short on candidates, including Jax, Edwin Uceta, and Garrett Cleavinger, all of whom have some closing experience. Jax, however, stands out for his combination of upside and track record.

The former Twins reliever arrived via trade at last year’s deadline for Taj Bradley, and while his 4.23 ERA represented a step back from 2024, the underlying numbers were excellent. Jax posted a 13.5 K/9 and 4.71 K/BB, along with a 2.51 FIP that suggests significant bad luck. His participation in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA could slow his path to the ninth inning, but Jax has closed before—most notably for Minnesota in 2024 when Jhoan Duran was unavailable. With an ADP outside the top 200, he offers elite upside at a discounted cost.

Grant Taylor, Chicago White Sox

Taylor was promoted from Double-A last season with some fanfare after dominating the minors in 46 appearances, posting a 1.57 ERA and 13.5 K/9. His surface-level results with the White Sox were less impressive—a 4.91 ERA in 36.2 innings—but his underlying performance told a different story. Taylor maintained a 13.3 K/9, recorded a stellar 1.42 FIP, allowed no home runs, and picked up six saves along the way.

The biggest question heading into 2026 is Taylor’s role. GM Chris Getz indicated early this offseason that Taylor will work as a multi-inning reliever, with starting still on the table long term. Even in that role, save chances could materialize, especially with no established closer and only Jordan Leasure posing a significant threat. Taylor shouldn’t be projected for heavy save totals in his first full season, but the combination of double-digit saves and triple-digit strikeout upside makes him intriguing at an ADP outside the top 400.

The Less Obvious (Single League Worthy)

Seranthony Dominguez, Free Agent

If you’re drafting early and willing to take a few speculative closer shots, Dominguez is as good an option as any right now. The right-hander has 40 career saves over seven seasons and is coming off a strong campaign in which he posted a 3.16 ERA across 67 appearances with the Orioles and Blue Jays. He’s capable in high-leverage spots, carrying a career 10.6 K/9. Control remains the biggest concern, however, highlighted by a career-worst 5.2 BB/9 last season.

This offseason could still unfold in several ways for Dominguez, but he appears well-positioned to land a closing opportunity. Roughly a third of the league still has unsettled ninth-inning situations, and Dominguez is arguably the best closer candidate left on the market. There’s risk—he could sign with a team like the Yankees or Mariners and slide into a setup role—but at an ADP outside the top 600, the upside is worth the gamble.

Pierce Johnson, Cincinnati Reds

Johnson recently signed with the Reds after two-plus strong seasons in Atlanta. The 34-year-old has been a reliable reliever since returning from Japan in 2020, posting a 3.53 ERA across 292 appearances and briefly serving as a primary closer in Colorado. While his strikeout rate dipped last season, Johnson still averaged roughly one strikeout per inning as a setup man.

Johnson is an ideal hedge against Emilio Pagan’s potential regression. Pagan was excellent last season, but his long-standing home run issues remain a concern. He’s posted an ERA above 4.00 in four of the last six seasons, largely due to the long ball, and his peripherals last year closely mirrored those from 2024, when he finished with a 4.50 ERA. Notably, each of Pagan’s previous sub-3.00 ERA seasons (2019 and 2023) was followed by an ERA north of 4.00.

Ryne Stanek, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have been quiet this offseason, with Stanek and Dustin May standing out as the only notable early additions. Trade rumors continue to swirl around veteran lefty JoJo Romero, and after moving Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado, it’s fair to question the team’s competitive intentions for 2026.

That doesn’t mean Stanek won’t have fantasy value. The Cardinals are buying low after back-to-back seasons with ERAs above 4.80, but Stanek has a history of success in high-leverage roles. He owns 14 career saves, including 10 over the past two seasons, and carries a strong career 10.4 K/9. While Riley O’Brien enters the year as the closer following Ryan Helsley’s departure, there’s reason for skepticism. O’Brien will be 31 this season, and his 2025 peripherals (2.05 K/BB, 3.61 FIP) were solid but far from dominant. Stanek is a worthwhile stash in deeper formats.

Victor Vodnik, Colorado Rockies

The old saying goes, “saves are saves,” and that applies perfectly to Vodnik. Vegas has pegged the Rockies with an early win total of just 55 after a historically poor 2025 season, so save chances will be limited. Even so, Vodnik managed 10 saves last year after recording nine in 2024.

Control remains his biggest issue, as evidenced by a 4.6 BB/9 last season, but his strikeout rate climbed to 8.7 K/9 and he continued to generate an excellent groundball rate. Even if his 3.02 ERA regresses, Vodnik’s skill set plays as well as possible in Coors Field. Entering the season as the clear favorite for saves—despite the eventual return of hard-throwing Seth Halvorsen—his ADP near 500 makes him an inexpensive way to chase the category in NL-only formats.