Tiered Up: Relief Pitchers

Ready to go the extra mile? Tiered Up looks at a more thorough way to set up your draft board than simple rankings.

There's a great range of opinions as to how to plan on adding your relievers. Some love grabbing the elite closers even before all the aces are off the board. Others dismiss the position completely and vow to add relievers throughout the year. While the best strategy varies depending on the setup up your league, it usually winds up somewhere in between those two extremes.

Once the run dies down on the big names, there will usually be a lull in owners drafting RPs. This is your time to attack, as there are plenty of elite-level closers out there that don't have elite-level price tags.

Grab yourself a couple closers before the pool dries out, because you don't want to be relying on shaky guys as your only saves option. I tried it in one league last year and wasn't very successful.

Let's take a look at my tiered reliever rankings. Each player is listed with his Median Draft Position (explained here).

Tier 1

Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers (66)
Joe Nathan, Twins (73)
Mariano Rivera, Yankees (72)

This is your cream of the crop. Rivera doesn't look like he's ever going to fade. Nathan is as reliable as they come. Broxton brings huge K potential along with his numerous saves.

Tier 2

Huston Street, Rockies (142)
Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox (68)
Joakim Soria, Royals (96)

These are your 1a options, and Street absolutely belongs with this group. I'm taking him as my top closer several rounds after these other guys come off the board.

Tier 3

Heath Bell, Padres (100)
Brian Wilson, Giants (126)
Andrew Bailey, A's (118)
Jose Valverde, Tigers (135)

If you miss out on the top six, these guys are around to fill your No. 1 closer role. Bell and Bailey were unbelievable in their first year as closers for their respective teams. Valverde hits the road but has the skill to excel anywhere.

Tier 4

Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks (177)
Frank Francisco, Rangers (187)
Francisco Rodriguez, Mets (105)
Trevor Hoffman, Brewers (156)
David Aardsma, Mariners (149)
Rafael Soriano, Rays (141)
Bobby Jenks, White Sox (158)
Brian Fuentes, Angels (131)
Billy Wagner, Braves (152)
Francisco Cordero, Reds (127)

Look for your second closer in this group. The guys in the following tier are going to come with more risk than Tier 4, so drafting one here will save you some headache throughout the season. That's not to say I don't like any of the Tier 5 guys either, and I'm targeting one in particular ...

Tier 5

Ryan Franklin, Cardinals (153)
Kerry Wood, Indians (222)
Carlos Marmol, Cubs (128)
Mike Gonzalez, Orioles (193)
Matt Capps, Nationals (205)
Brad Lidge, Phillies (204)
Leo Nunez, Marlins (183)
Neftali Feliz, Rangers (176)
Octavio Dotel, Pirates (239)

Capps is the guy I'm looking at here. I think we can dismiss 2009 as horrible luck and look at his amazing stats in 2006-2008. The Nationals have themselves a keeper there, and I'd target him as a last-ditch attempt to add a great closer. I'm not too high on Marmol and Franklin, as you can see.

Tier 6

Kevin Gregg, Blue Jays
Ryan Madson, Phillies
Brandon Lyon, Astros
Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays
Matt Thornton, White Sox
Jason Frasor, Blue Jays
Chris Perez, Indians
Scott Downs, Blue Jays
Phil Hughes, Yankees
Matt Lindstrom, Astros
Michael Wuertz, A's

Gregg, Lyon, Frasor, Downs and Lindstrom are battling for two closer spots. Madson and Perez look like closers-in-waiting, while Thornton and Wuertz are the best middle relievers on the market. Morrow and Hughes could be ticketed for their respective rotations.

Tier 7

Kris Medlen, Braves
George Sherrill, Dodgers
Jim Johnson, Orioles
J.P. Howell, Rays
J.J. Putz, White Sox
C.J. Wilson, Rangers
Matt Guerrier, Twins
Hideki Okajima, Red Sox
Justin Masterson, Indians

Here are your best-of-the-rest middle relievers, and Masterson, who should be in the rotation in 2010. I like Medlen's potential, and I think he could eventually wind up in the rotation with Tommy Hanson.