2024 Reliever Rankings

Julks' fantasy relevance could be short-lived

Connor Rogers examines Houston Astros OF Corey Julks' numbers and explains why his time as a legit fantasy contributor could be quicker than you expect.

An All-Star break tradition, here are my mostly-for-fun 2024 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be 20-game eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with contract options for next year have an asterisk included with their team names.

Click to see other other preliminary 2024 rankings:
Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH

Relief pitcher rankings

• Led by Josh Hader , the free agent list is strong in comparison to most of the rest. Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman will both be in demand as closers if they keep throwing like this. I have them above David Robertson because it’s more likely that Robertson will be content with a setup role. After all, that’s what he signed to do this year before Edwin Diaz got hurt. Jordan Hicks, who appears likely to be traded in the coming weeks, is another guy who could sign as a closer, though he might get more money as a setup man for a large-market team. Hector Neris has a player option for 2024 that he will likely decline if he finishes strong, making him another possible closing option in free agency.

• Liam Hendriks’ odd $15 million option with the $15 million buyout will likely be picked up. That buyout is payable over 10 years, so there is some savings attached to it. Still, it seems like an easy call. Jose Leclerc’s $6.25 million option ($500,000 buyout) also figures to be exercised by Texas unless he falls off. He’s quietly posted a 3.08 ERA despite being overtaken by Will Smith .

• I’ll be curious to see if the Tigers trade either Alex Lange or Jason Foley this month. In spite of Lange’s fantastic start, Foley probably has the greater value of the two. He’s striking out five batters for each one he walks, and he’s yet to give up a homer while posting a 60% groundball rate in 38 2/3 innings this season. Both Lange and Foley are 27-year-old right-handers with four years of control after this season.