Where will Edwin Diaz sign? MLB free agent top 20 relief pitchers Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYNovember 30, 2025 at 4:45 AM 0 As the calendar flips to December and Major League Baseball's winter meetings approach, there's a myriad of free agent relief pitchers available, including AllStar closers in Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez. Raisel Iglesias was the first domino to fall, signing a oneyear, $16 million deal to return to the Atlanta Braves and set the annual value market.
- - Where will Edwin Diaz sign? MLB free agent top 20 relief pitchers
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYNovember 30, 2025 at 4:45 AM
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As the calendar flips to December and Major League Baseball's winter meetings approach, there's a myriad of free agent relief pitchers available, including All-Star closers in Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez.
Raisel Iglesias was the first domino to fall, signing a one-year, $16 million deal to return to the Atlanta Braves and set the annual value market. Diaz could be pursuing a deal that would break his own $102 million record for biggest free agent contract signed by a relief pitcher.
Devin Williams is also available coming off a down year with the New York Yankees and 38-year-old Kenley Jansen is looking for a home to save his 500th game.
Here's a look at 20 of the best relievers still available:
1 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above ReplacementSince 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.MLB free agent rankings: Best relief pitchers available
Age on April 1, 2026
1. Edwin Diaz (32, RHP, Mets)
Seven years can really fly by, eh? In case you've been sleeping on Diaz since the days Timmy Trumpet was a thing, he's roared back from that grim ACL injury two springs ago, striking out 13.7 batters per nine and converting 83% of his saves the past two seasons.
2. Robert Suarez (34, RHP, Padres)
He maintained closer duties in San Diego even after Mason Miller's acquisition and nailed down 40 saves in 45 chances, an 89% conversion rate. Doesn't miss bats like he did in 2022, when he struck out 11.5 per nine innings, but equaled a career best with a 0.90 WHIP.
3. Kenley Jansen (38, RHP, Angels)
Don't look now, but this dude is 24 saves from 500. He racked up 29 in 30 chances for a bad Angels team, which'll play quite nicely in most markets.
4. Devin Williams (31, RHP, Yankees)
Williams had two good months and four pretty bad ones for the Yankees, losing his closer role, battling back into a leverage spot and then slipping again. Young enough and with a track record (two All-Star nods, career 1.05 WHIP) that someone can successfully bet they can get him right.
5. Emilio Pagán (34, RHP, Reds)
A dawg's dawg, if you will, Pagán never says no to the ball, pitching in a career-high 70 games and saving 32 this year for Cincinnati.
6. Tyler Rogers (34, RHP, Mets)7. Kyle Finnegan (34, RHP, Tigers)
Almost strictly a closer in Washington, where he saved 108 games in six seasons, Finnegan was tossed into almost any fire the Tigers needed doused down the stretch drive. He responded well, with a 1.50 ERA and allowing just three of nine inherited runners to score. He also found more punch in Motown, bumping his strikeouts per nine to a career-best 11.5.
8. Seranthony Dominguez (31, RHP, Blue Jays)
Durable and relatively dependable, Dominguez cut his home runs per nine in half this year (1.5 to .7) and landed a high-leverage spot in a playoff bullpen after a trade to Toronto.
9. Brad Keller (30, RHP, Cubs)
The finest campaign of his eight-year career, Keller posted a 2.07 ERA over 68 appearances and boosting his strikeouts per nine to a career-best 9.7. One of several decisions Chicago must make about its bullpen.
10. Steven Matz (34, LHP, Red Sox)
Found a nice little niche as a general bullpen stopgap guy with the Cardinals and then the Red Sox, though he gave up four homers in 21 innings in Boston.
11. Drew Pomeranz (37, LHP, Cubs)
What a comeback for Pomeranz, who hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022 and then performed almost every role for the Cubs over his 49 appearances. Followed up a 1.06 WHIP campaign by giving up just one hit and one run in six playoff games.
12. Caleb Thielbar (39, LHP, Cubs)
Hard to believe this guy is pushing 40 already – and coming off his best season ever. He maintained a 2.64 ERA over 67 appearances – a 147 adjusted mark – with a 56-13 strikeout-walk ratio.
13. Shawn Armstrong (35, RHP, Rangers)
Set career bests in appearances (71), strikeouts (74 in 74 innings) and adjusted ERA (159).
14. Luke Weaver (32, RHP, Yankees)
A bit of shine dimmed from his 2024 Cinderella story, when he finished as the Yankees' most reliable reliever on their World Series run. Weaver's peripherals weren't way off from 2024 to '25, and even if the past year was more in line with who he is, that's still a fairly reliable bullpen piece.
15. David Robertson (40, RHP, Phillies)
Used to be only Roger Clemens could get away with chilling out for a few months and then hopping aboard a playoff train. Robertson did so to some success in Philly; will he be up for the long haul next spring?
16. Tommy Kahnle (36, RHP, Tigers)
Leaving New York – where he'd posted a 2.38 ERA his past two seasons – was tricky for Kahnle, whose 4.43 ERA was his worst since 2018.
17. Daniel Coulombe (36, LHP, Rangers)
Was better before he got caught up in the Twins fire sale (1.16 ERA in Minnesota, 5.25 in 15 appearances in Texas) but on balance remains one of the most reliable and versatile lefty relief options available.
18. Jakob Junis (33, RHP, Guardians)
All he does is get outs, though the itinerant swingman did see some WHIP inflation (1.230) this past season.
19. Sean Newcomb (32, LHP, Athletics)
A useful campaign with Boston and then in Yolo County, as Newcomb gave up five home runs in 92 ⅓ innings with a 2.73 ERA. Lefty swingmen never die.
20. Justin Wilson (38, LHP, Red Sox)
About as close to a LOOGY as one can get in this three-batter minimum era, as Wilson tossed 48 1/3 innings in 61 appearances, holding lefties to a .212 average.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB top 20 free agent closers and relief pitchers, Edwin Diaz
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Published: November 30, 2025 at 01:27PM on Source: MARIO MAG
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