BaseballDocs 2012 Player Rankings: Relief Pitchers (RP)
Last update: 01/30/12
You wanted them, so you got them. We have compiled the top 800 players and grouped them into
color tiers
that provide more flexibility when drafting. These color tiers provide a quick, visual means of comparing players at different
positions with similar fantasy value. Comments
have also been added to give you those extra little pieces of information that may help sway your decision between two seemingly, equal players.
Relief Pitchers 1 - 50
Rank
Player
Team
Pos
Age
Comments
45
Craig Kimbrel
ATL
RP
23
2ndYrPl 2nd(SV)
85
Mariano Rivera
NYY
RP
42
$ 2nd(SV)
88
Jonathan Papelbon
PHI
RP
31
2nd(SV)
97
Drew Storen
WAS
RP
24
2nd(SV)
104
John Axford
MIL
RP
29
2nd(SV)
122
J.J. Putz
ARI
RP
35
$ 2nd(SV)
126
Heath Bell
MIA
RP
34
2nd(SV)
130
Brian Wilson
SF
RP
30
2nd(SV)
133
Ryan Madson
CIN
RP
31
2nd(SV)
136
Daniel Bard
BOS
RP
26
137
Jose Valverde
DET
RP
34
2nd(SV)
140
Joel Hanrahan
PIT
RP
30
2nd(SV)
150
Andrew Bailey
BOS
RP
27
2nd(SV)
162
Joakim Soria
KC
RP
27
$ 2nd(SV)
164
Chris Sale
CHW
RP
23
Zzz 2ndYrPl
165
Sergio Santos
TOR
RP
28
2nd(SV)
169
Jordan Walden
LAA
RP
24
2ndYrPl 2nd(SV)
175
Rafael Betancourt
COL
RP
36
$
178
Jason Motte
STL
RP
29
181
Joe Nathan
TEX
RP
37
2nd(SV)
195
Carlos Marmol
CHC
RP
29
2nd(SV)
206
Kenley Jansen
LAD
RP
24
2ndYrPl
216
Kyle Farnsworth
TB
RP
35
221
Huston Street
SD
RP
28
$
223
Brandon League
SEA
RP
29
$ 2nd(SV)
224
Chris Perez
CLE
RP
26
2nd(SV)
258
Francisco Cordero
FA
RP
36
2nd(SV)
264
Jim Johnson
BAL
RP
28
269
Aroldis Chapman
CIN
RP
24
2ndYrPl
276
Matt Capps
MIN
RP
28
278
Frank Francisco
NYM
RP
32
284
Brett Myers
HOU
RP
31
$ 2nd(K)
292
Javy Guerra
LAD
RP
2nd(SV)
296
Matt Thornton
CHW
RP
339
Jonny Venters
ATL
RP
27
341
Mike Adams
TEX
RP
33
343
Francisco Rodriguez
MIL
RP
30
345
Mark Melancon
BOS
RP
27
347
Sergio Romo
SF
RP
29
Comments:
The comments are provided to give you a little extra insight into the players.
Some are positive and some are negative. Here is the legend for the comments:
NOTE: Increased production can often be seen in players that hit the ages of 27 or 28. Others will see a marked decline in production with age (lets say past 30). Consequently, we have added all the players ages to our rankings.
rook These players are hot rookies to keep an eye on this season.
$ These players are scheduled for new contracts after 2012, so they might be a little more motivated in 2012.
Zzz These players could be undervalued sleepers at your fantasy baseball draft.
2ndYrPl These players were hot rookies going into last season, but they may have been forgotten this year due to poor play. Look for a possible rebound.
2nd(RBI) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in runs batted in production. They had 45 or more RBIs in the second half of last season.
2nd(HR) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in home run production. They had 14 or more home runs in the second half of last season.
2nd(AVE) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in batting average. They had a .300 average or better the second half of last season with at least 200 second half plate appearances.
2nd(SB) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in stolen base production. They had 10 or more stolen bases in the second half of last season.
2nd(SV) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in saves production. They had 10 or more saves in the second half of last season.
2nd(K) These players finished the second half of last season as a leader in pitching strikeouts production. They had 70 or more strikeouts in the second half of last season.
xIP These players either experienced a drastic increase in their innings pitched last year or they just flat out threw a ton of innings last year. They could be an injury or decreased production risk.
Color Tiers:
The color bands are provided to highlight players that are in the same tier of fantasy value.
This is done to create flexibility in your draft strategy relative to your particular team need.
For example, if all of the first tier players are gone (highlighted with a black background),
none of the second tier are gone (highlighted with a maroon background), and you want a pitcher,
Roy Halladay is your man. You passed over the positional players ranked above Halladay because
they were all in the same tier as Halladay.
