Closer Caution: Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Draft Bust Candidates

Let's continue our fantasy baseball draft steal/bust series by discussing some relief pitchers. We'll look at draft bust options first.

If you read enough of my articles here, you'll know I think most fantasy relievers are drafted too early. It makes me want to call several guys drafts busts, but I'll give reasoning for the picks I end up making.

Here are the other positions we've covered so far: second basemen (steals and busts), first basemen (steals and busts), catchers (steals and busts) outfielders (steals and busts), shortstops (steals and busts) and third basemen (steals and busts). Check back for more in the days/weeks to come!

Fantasy baseball average draft position data can be found on FantasySP. Draft Genius now has custom head-to-head scoring options and on demand AI expert help for every pick.

Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians

Smith is the fifth fantasy reliever taken so far, going at pick 62.31 on average.

Smith is the lead candidate for saves in Cleveland with Emmanuel Clase on the restricted list. Smith picked up 16 saves last year, along with eight wins.

He has great strikeout totals too, but I think he's being overvalued. Getting to eight wins again will be tough, and though he should earn more saves, I just don't see him living up to his ADP.

I get the hype, but think he's going too early. I'd much rather take a more proven closer later in a draft. If Smith drops a round or more, that's when I think the value gets good for him.

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader is sixth off draft boards, going at pick 77.31 so far.

He is dealing with an early-season arm injury, which is never great. Hader was also injured to end the 2025 season, so that makes this injury more concerning.

When healthy though, Hader can be the best fantasy reliever in baseball. Outside the injury, there's no reason to expect a drastic drop off for Hader, who is about to turn 32 years old.

The injury makes him a bust candidate though, just like his injury in 2025 did to him late. Luckily, Hader's ADP is dropping, so the gamble is less risky by the day. 

Devin Williams - New York Mets

Williams is at pick 84.35 on average, which makes him the eighth fantasy reliever taken so far.

He's coming off a forgettable season with the Yankees, and now is set to be the Mets' closer after Edwin Diaz left. Most are expecting a bounceback campaign for Williams, but there's a chance he struggles again under the bright lights, so he's a draft bust candidate for me.

We'll see if Williams can flip the script in 2026, but for now, I'd be skeptical of spending an early-ish pick on him. I'd feel a lot better getting him after pick 100.

Even if he lowers his ERA a bunch, I don't see him replicating his ERAs that he had while with the Brewers for all those seasons. Big save numbers could offset that, but I'm just not sold on him after his disastrous 2026 campaign.

Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves

Iglesias is the No. 11 fantasy reliever taken, sitting at pick 107.15 on average.

Iglesias struggled for a good portion of the 2025 season. He turned things around late to finish as RP15 in ESPN point leagues. He's being taken earlier than that so far in 2026, so he could be a bust if he replicates his 2025 season.

Robert Suarez is also in town now, so if Iglesias struggles, he could lose the closer role for a time/or for good. At 36 years old, I'd be more inclined to expect regression from Iglesias, not a bounceback season.

Atlanta is a good enough team, so I understand his ADP and placement among relievers, but I just am not that high on Iglesias anymore.

Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers

Megill is at pick 112.85, which makes him the No. 12 fantasy relief pitcher taken.

He had a great 2025 season, but a late-season injury created some questions for 2026. Megill is expected to serve as Milwaukee's closer, but Abner Uribe could also steal saves from time to time.

Megill is dealing with an early-season injury as well, so that's also something that scares me off him a bit. If he falls way past his ADP, that's when I think there's some value in taking him.

With those question marks, I just don't think Megill is worth a pick near his ADP. He could make this take look foolish, but I think he's in for some regression in 2026.