Top 5 Overall Relief Pitchers - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

The closer has become an important part of the baseball team, and a key to fantasy baseball. A dominating closer that can pick up saves night after night is a valuable fantasy asset, and owning one of the premier closers in the game can make your entire team's pitching staff look better. Here is a look at the top 5 relief pitchers in fantasy baseball this season.

1. Jonathan Papelbon

2. Francisco Rodriguez

3. Joe Nathan

4. Bobby Jenks

5. Jose Valverde

#1 Overall Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox

As a general rule, nearly any member of the Red Sox is overrated by fantasy baseballers, but Papelbon really is that good, and his team is going to give him a lot of opportunities to save games. He averages well over one strikeout per inning and allows less than one base runner per inning. He is one of the game's premier closers.

#2 Overall Relief Pitcher: Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets

After a record-setting number of saves last year with the Los Angeles Angels, K-Rod will move over to the New York Mets and start striking out National League hitters. The odds of him getting 62 saves again isn't likely in the more-competitive NL East, but the Mets are a strong team and Rodruiguez will likely have close to 50 saves this season.

#3 Overall Relief Pitcher: Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins

Nathan gets very little respect for being one of the game's most dominating closers. He didn't get as many opportunities as some of his peers, but when he did, he rarely blew a save. The Twins should be better this year, and with the style they play, they should be in a lot of close ball games, meaning more opportunities for Nathan to pick up saves. His strikeout numbers went down last year, but his ERA and WHIP remained very low, even for a closer. Fewer strikeouts may be a concern that he's starting to fade, but for now, he's still one of the game's best.

#4 Overall Relief Pitcher: Bobby Jenks, Chicago White Sox

Jenks only picked up 30 saves last season, but when he gets on a roll, he is absolutely overpowering to hitters. If you're willing to stomach the occassional rough patch with Jenks, you'll get to enjoy stretches were he goes weeks without giving up a run, or even a hit for that matter.

#5 Overall Relief Pitcher: Jose Valverde, Houston Astros

Valverde is another player that has quietly become a very, very good closer. He saved 47 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007 and then proved it was no fluke by saving 44 games with the Astros the following season. His ERA isn't great for a closer, but if you miss out on Papelbon, Rodriguez, or Nathan, it's going to be difficult to find anyone else who will save as many games as Valverde.