Author: George Kurtz, Staff Writer

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paying attention to your Fantasy Baseball team to focus on Fantasy Football. One thing I like to do in such leagues is look at the waiver wire and see if I can acquire a top setup man who may close next season for a low price. This assumes you don’t have better keepers. Someone likeArchie Bradley (Diamondbacks) or Keynan Middleton (Angels) can be a cheap pickup that will prove valuable next March. Fantasy just never ends. Bradley, has been lights out this season. He hasn’t allowed a HR since May 29 and his ERA since then is 2.08. He could be the Diamondbacks’ closer in 2018.

Archie Bradley and his epic beard have thrived in the D’Backs’ bullpen. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Chicago White Sox: Who is left in the White Sox bullpen? David Robertson was traded to the Yankees. Tommy Kahnle was also moved to the Bronx. Anthony Swarzak was sent to Milwaukee and then Monday night, the Sox moved Tyler Clippard (acquired from the Yankees in the Robertson/Kahnle deal) to Houston. So that leaves Chicago with Juan Minaya as their closer. Who, you ask? He’s not a top prospect or someone who is a must-add but since July 1, he does have a 3.14 ERA and is striking out close to 12 batters per nine innings. So, he just may be the best of what Chicago has left. The team may also give Jake Petricka a look.

Houston Astros: Although Clippard was closing for the White Sox, he won’t be doing the same for Houston. Ken Giles is the closer, and he’s safe. Clippard will perform a setup role in either the eighth or ninth inning with Luke Gregerson. Clippard has little to no value now in Fantasy leagues. He has pitched better since the trade to Chicago, but he’s not a strikeout pitcher and is still prone to blowups.

Los Angeles Angels: Cam Bedrosian is closing again for the Angels. Bud Norris just had too many implosions and was removed from the role. He had been a ticking time bomb for a few weeks, especially when it came out at the trade deadline that the team was looking to move him. Bedrosian is the team’s best reliever, but he’s also one that hasn’t proved he can stay healthy for any length of time. The Angels, however, are staying in the wildcard hunt and could produce their fair share of save opportunities. Therefore, he is a pickup if you need saves, or if you want to block your opponent from getting them.

New York Mets: Jeurys Familia (shoulder) is currently on a rehab assignment and could be ready to return to the Mets at the end of August or in early September. Even when he returns, though, he may not automatically return to being a closer and with the Mets out of contention, maybe he doesn’t return to close until next season. Either way, the worst-case scenario for A.J. Ramos owners is that you only have him closing for three more weeks.

San Francisco Giants: Mark Melancon has returned for the Giants, but he will have to prove he is healthy and can be effective in lower-leverage situations before being returned to close out games. He has already had one such outing, and may need two-three more before manager Bruce Bochy inserts him back into save situations and removes Sam Dyson.

As always, feel free to follow me on Twitter and ask any questions you like, @georgekurtz.

TeamCloserBullpenDeep PotentialDLTop Hold Reliever
ARIFernando RodneyArchie Bradley/David HernandezArchie BradleyRandall DelgadoArchie Bradley
ATLArodys VizcainoJose Ramirez/Jim Johnson/Jason MotteMauricio CabreraJim Johnson
BALZach BrittonMychal Givens/Brad Brach/Darren O'DayBrad Brach
BOSCraig KimbrelMatt Barnes/Heath Hembree/Addison Reed/Joe KellyTyler ThornburgAddison Reed
CHCWade DavisCarl Edwards/Pedro Strop/Hector Rondon/Koji Uehara/Justin WilsonCarl EdwardsJustin Wilson
CHWJuan MinayaChris Beck/Jake Petricka/Gregory InfanteNate JonesJake Petricka
CINRaisel IglesiasDrew Storen/Michael Lorenzen/Blake Wood/Wandy PeraltaDrew Storen
CLECody AllenBryan Shaw/Zach McAllister/Dan Otero/Nick Goody/Joe SmithAndrew MillerDan Otero
COLGreg HollandAdam Ottavino/Pat Neshek/Jake McGeePat Neshek
DETShane GreenAlex Wilson/Joe Jimenez/Bruce RondonJoe JimenezAlex Wilson
HOUKen GilesLuke Gregerson/Chris Devenski/Tyler ClippardWill HarrisLuke Gregerson
KCKelvin HerreraJoakim Soria/Brandon Maurer/Mike MinorBrandon MaurerJoakim Soria
LAACam BedrosianKenyan Middleton/Bud Norris/Blake Parker/Andrew BaileyKenyan MiddletonHuston StreetKenyan Middleton
LADKenley JansenTony Watson/Pedro Baez/Josh Fields/Tony CingraniChris HatcherTony Watson
MIABrad ZieglerJunicha TazawaKyle BarracloughKyle BarracloughJunicha Tazawa
MILCorey KnebelJacob Barnes/Jared Hughes/Anthony Swarzak/Jeremy JeffressJacob BarnesAnthony Swarzak
MINMatt BelisleRyan Pressly/Taylor Rogers/Tyler DuffeyGlen PerkinsTaylor Rogers
NYMA.J. RamosHansel Robles/Erik Goeddel/Fernando Salas/Jerry BlevinsJeurys FamiliaFernando Salas
NYYAroldis ChapmanDellin Betances/Adam Warren/Chad Green/David Robertson/Tommy KahnleDellin Betances
OAKBlake TreinenSantiago Casilla/Liam Hendricks/Ryan DullSantiago Casilla
PHIHector NerisLuis GarciaJoaquin Benoit
PITFelipe RiveroDaniel Hudson/Juan Nicasio/Joaquin BenoitJuan NicasioJuan Nicasio
STLTrevor RosenthalKevin Siegrist/Matt Bowman/Brett Cecil/Seung Hwan OhMatt BowmanBrett Cecil
SDBrad HandRyan Buchter/Kirby Yates/Phil Maton/Carter CappsCarter CappsKirby Yates
SFMark MelanconHunter Strickland/George Kontos/Sam DysonDerek LawSam Dyson
SEAEdwin DiazNick Vincent/Marc Rzepczynski/Tony Zych/David PhelpsShae SimmonsTony Zych
TBAlex ColomeSteve Cishek/Ryan Stanek/Brad Boxberger/Tommy Hunter/Dan Jennnigs/Sergio RomoXavier CedenoBrad Boxberger
TEXAlex ClaudioMatt Bush/Jose Leclerc/Jason Grilli/Keone KelaJake DiekmanKeone Kela
TORRoberto OsunaDanny Barnes/Ryan TeperaJoe BiaginiDanny Barnes
WSHSean DoolittleSammy Solis/Enny Romero/Matt Albers/Ryan Madson/Brandon KintzlerKoda Glover/Shawn KelleyRyan Madson

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