Top 10 Overall Relief Pitchers - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide 2009

Get ready for your 2009 fantasy baseball draft by dominating the competition with some of the best fantasy baseball rankings, projections, and tips for free. Here is a complete listing of the Top 10 Overall Relief Pitchers for 2009 fantasy baseball drafts.

Top 10 Relief Pitcher Rankings - Fantasy Baseball 2009

#1 - Jonathan Papelbon - Boston Red Sox

#2 - Francisco Rodriguez - New York Mets

#3 - Joe Nathan - Minnesota Twins

#4 - Brad Lidge - Philadelphia Phillies

#5 - Joakim Soria - Kansas City Royals

#6 - Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees

#7 - Bobby Jenks - Chicago White Sox

#8 - Brain Fuentes - Los Angeles Angels

#9 - BJ Ryan - Toronto Blue Jays

#10 - Carlos Marmol - Chicago Cubs

Player Details & 2009 Projections:

#1 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Jonathan Papelbon - Boston Red Sox

Papelbon's age, dominance, durability, and the team he plays for, make him the safest closer option in all of fantasy baseball for the 2009 season. 35-40 saves, 70-80 strikeouts, a 1.90-2.10 ERA, and a WHIP around 0.90 seem like for Papelbon in 2009.

#2 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Francisco Rodriguez - New York Mets

Much like Papelbon, K-Rod has the same trio of factors on his side; he's young at just 27 years old, he's proven to be dominant and durable, and he plays for a winning team. After posting an unprecedented 62 saves in 2008, it is very unlikely he posts even close to that number in 2009. Something along the lines of 35-40 saves, 90 strikeouts, a 2.25-2.50 ERA, and a 1.20-1.30 WHIP seem reasonable to expect from Rodriguez in 2009.

#3 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Joe Nathan - Minnesota Twins

Nathan is simply dominate as a closer, and likely at the pinnacle of his career at age 34 for the 2009 season, he should once again finish the 2009 season as a top 5 overall fantasy baseball relief pitcher. 35-40 saves, 70-80 strikeouts, 1.50 ERA, and a sub 1.00 WHIP is a great bet for Nathan in 2009.

#4 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Brad Lidge - Philadelphia Phillies

Coming off of a perfect season from a saves perspective, Lidge once again showed he is a top 5 overall dominate closer and relief pitcher option. And while a perfect saves season isn't likely to happen again in 2009, the Phillies should post enough wins to give Lidge the opportunity to save 40 plus games. A final stat line in 2009 should include 40 saves, 90-100 strikeouts, an ERA around 2.00, and a WHIP close to 1.20.

#5 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Joakim Soria - Kansas City Royals

Even on a Royals team that won just 75 games in 2008, Soria posted 42 saves out of 45 chances. And at just 25 years of age for the 2009 season, Soria is quickly becoming one of the best and most dominate closers in all of baseball. 35 saves, 60 strikeouts, an ERA around 2.00 or lower, and a WHIP under 1.00 is likely for Soria in 2009.

#6 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Mariano Rivera - New York Yankees

Even though Rivera posted a downright terrifyingly dominate season in 2008 (1.40 ERA and 0.67 WHIP), his age at 39 for the 2009 season makes it hard to expect a repeat performance in 2009. Still the Yankees should post their share of wins this year, so if Rivera can stay healthy, he will have a great chance of once again notching 35-40 saves. If all goes as best as it could in New York and for Rivera in 2009, his final stat line should look like this: 35-40 saves, 70 strikeouts, sub 2.00 ERA, and a WHIP around 1.00.

#7 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Bobby Jenks - Chicago White Sox

Jenks is clearly one of the most dominate closers in all of baseball, however in terms of his fantasy baseball value, his recent decline in strikeouts over the past three years is quite concerning. In 2006 Jenks posted 80 strikeouts in 69 innings, however in 2007 he posted just 56 strikeouts, and then in 2008 he posted just 38 strikeouts, while still pitching the same number of innings (69 innings, 65 innings, 61 innings). If this trend would continue in 2009, Jenks' value could go down considerably. However a return to 60 strikeouts seems very possible in 2009, while also posting 30-35 saves, an ERA around 2.50-2.75, and a WHIP close to 1.10.

#8 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Brain Fuentes - Los Angeles Angels

As the new closer for the Angels, it wouldn't be surprising to see Fuentes have a career year in Los Angeles in 2009. His stats could reach 35 saves, 80 strikeouts, a sub 2.75 ERA, and a WHIP around 1.10.

#9 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: BJ Ryan - Toronto Blue Jays

Ryan proved in 2008 that he appears to be fully recovered from his 2007 Tommy John Surgery. A very solid fantasy year should be in store for Ryan in 2009. 30-35 saves, 70-80 strikeouts, 2.50 ERA, and a 1.20 WHIP seem likely for Ryan by the end of the 2009 season.

#10 Overall Relief Pitcher - Fantasy Baseball 2009: Carlos Marmol - Chicago Cubs

Marmol is young and relatively inexperienced in the closers role, which make up his biggest downfall. However in reality, his young age is actually a good thing, and his inexperience is really just an assumption that he 'might' not be ready for a full time role. On the upside, Marmol has outstanding strikeout ability, which he has clearly proven over the past two years. With the Cubs being the early favorite to win the division, another 90 plus win season is likely in Chicago for 2009, which means Marmol has the potential to post 35-40 saves, 100 strikeouts, an ERA around 2.25, and a WHIP under 1.00.

Relief Pitchers Just Missing the Top 10:

Francisco Cordero - Cincinnati Reds, Jose Valverde - Houston Astros, Trevor Hoffman - Milwaukee Brewers, Heath Bell - San Diego Padres, Jonathan Broxton - Los Angeles Dodgers