Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Draft Steals for 2026

After just going over some fantasy baseball draft bust options among relief pitchers, let's turn right around and go over some draft steal options.

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.

Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox

Chapman is the seventh fantasy reliever off draft boards so far, going at pick 80.38 on average.

Chapman was the No. 1 fantasy reliever in 2025, and while I expect some regression, that still leaves room for him to be a draft steal based on his early-season ADP marks.

Chapman could be in line for more saves and innings pitched in 2026, which could offset some regression with his ERA. I think he's a great pick near his ADP as a result.

Boston should be a sneaky-good team in 2026, and I expect them to win a lot of close games thanks to a loaded pitching staff and so-so offense. Chapman could thrive as a result, so I'd be ecstatic to draft him.

David Bednar - New York Yankees

Bednar is sitting at pick 84.92 on average, making him the ninth fantasy reliever taken.

He was just outside the top-10 fantasy RPs last season. Set up to serve as the Yankees' closer for 2026, I think he's going to outperform his ADP, by quite a bit too.

Bednar is in his prime and is on the best team of his career. He excelled with the Yankees for the time he was with them in 2025, and I think he settles in even more in 2026.

I'm a bit surprised a Yankees' player isn't being overhyped, but I see Bednar as a nice draft value and a steal at his current marks. Hopefully he doesn't soar up as the season approaches.

Carlos Estevez - Kansas City Royals

Estevez is RP10 so far, going at pick 100.46 on average.

Estevez was RP5 last year, so he has room to regress and still outperform his ADP in 2026. He's delivered enough over his career, and especially the last few seasons, to expect more from him again in 2026.

Kansas City is going to be a good team, winning a lot of closer games. That sets Estevez up really well.

I'm not really sure why he's undervalued right now, but I'd take advantage of that and jump at the chance to draft Estevez. I think he could crack the top five again in 2025, and if not, still comfortably finish ahead of his RP10 draft ranking now.

Emilio Pagan - Cincinnati Reds

Pagan is being taken at pick 138.92 on average, which makes him RP14.

Pagan was the No. 7 fantasy RP last season. So again, we have a reliever who excelled in 2025 who is being overlooked as the 2026 season nears.

Cincinnati could be a decent squad in 2026, but will likely have a lot of closer wins. That puts Pagan in a spot to improve on his 2025 marks.

I love the value he provides at his current ADP, and I'd still like it if he was taken before a couple more relievers going ahead of him now. Him as a fantasy RP2 could turn into a fantasy goldmine, as he has top-10 potential.

Ryan Helsley - Baltimore Orioles

Helsley is the 15th fantasy reliever off draft boards so far, going at pick 141.08 on average.

Helsley had a forgettable 2025 season, regressing a bit in St. Louis before imploding across 20 innings with the Mets. He's a bounceback candidate for 2026, which will be his first season in Baltimore.

With Felix Bautista maybe out for the season, Helsley is lined up to be the Orioles' closer. Baltimore should be a pretty good team in 2026, so Helsley is set up pretty well from a fantasy standpoint. I don't know why exactly he's being overlooked, as Helsley has been a high-end fantasy reliever in the past.

If Baltimore is in the hunt for a playoff spot, or improves and is a leader in the American League, Helsley could be one of the top fantasy relievers in baseball. His ADP is very respectable, and I'd be thrilled to add him near that pick, or even a bit before, as I see him being a big-time draft steal.