T’is the season to be hunting for saves on the fantasy baseball waiver wire. Well, speculatively hunting for saves, at least. We all know that more than a few relievers are going to be moved at the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline, some who are currently in the closer role for their non-playoff team. As such, now is the time to start adding the possible replacements.
Earlier this week, I covered which closers are most likely to be traded in the next two weeks. Today, let’s go over who you should be prioritizing to add off your league’s waiver wire.
2025 Fantasy Baseball: Top 4 Waiver Wire RPs to Stash
Pierce Johnson, Braves (1% owned on Yahoo!)
The Braves are the most interesting seller at this year’s deadline, as there will still be more than enough talent on this roster on the morning of August 1 to still win a bunch of games down the stretch. Obviously, that means more than a couple save opportunities. Johnson seems like the clear next-man up in Atlanta, if the club parts ways with Raisel Iglesias, as the 34-year-old previously operated as the Rockies’ closer in the first-half of 2023. Johnson is sitting with a 2.67 ERA across 33.2 innings of work at the All-Star break. The twist? Johnson could also be on the move. The right-hander is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, with a $7 million team option in place for 2026. The Braves might look to sell high on Johnson and upcoming free agent Rafael Montero. That would leave Dylan Lee as a possible closer, though there’s also the rehabbing Joe Jimenez to keep an eye on.
Reid Detmers, Angels (9% owned on Yahoo!)
It doesn’t appear that Detmers is headed back to the Angels’ rotation any time soon, so the former first-round pick would be the next-man in line for save opportunities if the team decides to trade the expiring contract of Kenley Jansen at the deadline. Detmers does finally seem to be thriving in his new bullpen role, registering a sterling 1.08 ERA and 33.7% strikeout rate over his most recent 25 appearances. That includes a run of 22 straight games where Detmers did not allow a single earned run. The only real worry here is that Los Angeles has a somewhat sneaky assortment of talented arms in its pen — even with the hard-throwing Ben Joyce currently on the IL with a season-ending injury. Robert Stephenson could be an option if he ever gets healthy. So could rookie Sam Bachman, another young right-hander who flirts with 100 mph.
Isaac Mattson, Pirates (0% owned on Yahoo!)
This could turn out to be a total nothing burger, but if the Pirates’ front office is smart, it won’t just stop at dealing closer David Bednar at the deadline. The team should also be getting everything it can for the services of Dennis Santana and Caleb Ferguson. As you can imagine, such a scenario wouldn’t exactly leave Pittsburgh with many quality arms in the bullpen — let alone any with a household name. Still, Mattson has been very solid for the Pirates in his 16 appearances in 2025, pitching to a 1.89 ERA and a 2.66 xERA in 19.0 innings of work. Mattson has been pitching in high-leverage spots for the past few weeks and he was getting save opportunities with Pittsburgh’s Triple-A club prior to his call-up in late May. I think he’s the first guy getting a chance when the dust settles.
Garrett Cleavinger, Rays (2% owned on Yahoo!)
Look, I think we all know how this likely plays out if the Rays do, in fact, trade Pete Fairbanks. Kevin Cash is the master of playing matchups in the bullpen and, as such, Tampa will likely go with a committee approach for saves down the stretch, which will include the likes of Edwin Uceta, Bryan Baker and Cleavinger. Heck, I wouldn’t be shocked if the flame-throwing Mason Montgomery works his way into the mix when he’s eventually recalled from Triple-A. Still, Cleavinger is the best of the bunch and the left-hander earned a few saves late in 2024 after Fairbanks was placed on the IL. He’s got some experience in the closer’s role. He’s also got a massive 32.9% strikeout rate to go along with a 2.62 ERA, which makes Cleavinger of fantasy interest for both counting stats and ratios. It’ll be annoying, but Cleavinger will surely get his opportunities.
