Top 3 Closers On The Free Agent Market

As we get ever closer to the end of the World Series, the free agent market gets ready to come to life. We've been reviewing some top landing spots for the top free agent players this winter, and we'll also take a look from a needs perspective, at the top available free agents at each position across the diamond.

We begin in the bullpen, with the top 3 closers in free agency. 

Josh Hader

The undisputed leader of the closer class is Josh Hader, one of the best in the game for the last several years. He notched a 1.28 ERA with 13.6 K/9 in his walk season with the San Diego Padres. He had 33 saves in 38 opportunities, to give him a career 165 saves over the last six seasons with a cumulative 2.50 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. 

We list some of his top potential destinations here. You can also add the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies to this list as well. 

Jordan Hicks

The former St. Louis Cardinals reliever could have a potential reunion with his old team after finishing the season with the Toronto Blue Jays following a deadline trade. 

He can ratchet it up to triple-digits, bringing some serious heat out of the bullpen. On the season, he recorded 12 saves, putting up a 3.29 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings (11.1 K/9). He closed once before as well, in the 2019 season, when he recorded 14 saves with the Cards. 

Still only 27, Hicks is a legitimate back-end of the bullpen option. 

Aroldis Chapman

Going into his age-36 season, teams will be somewhat wary of Chapman, who is far from the younger, dominating version of himself that helped backbone the Chicago Cubs to the World Series title in 2016, or who recorded 30+ saves for the New York Yankees for three straight full seasons from 2018 through 2021.

Chapman slipped considerably in 2022, when the Yankees ended up keeping him off their playoff roster. He still blew batters away at 15.9 K/9 this season, but it's Nervous Nellie time for fans whenever he takes the mound in those late, high-leverage situations. 

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