2025-26 Free Agent Watch: Top Relief Pitchers On the Open Market
Here are the top relief pitchers on the open market this offseason — complete with stats, salaries, and ages.
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No position in baseball is more volatile than the reliever. When it comes to position players and starting pitchers, the sample size allows for a little more predictability in those markets.
With relievers, you can have a pitcher luck their way into a sub 3.00 ERA over 50 appearances. No hitter lucks their way to a 100 wRC+, and few starting pitchers can out-perform their expected metrics to the type of degree we see at time for relievers.
When pitchers are only throwing an inning at a time, and primarily in lower leverage, they can be on the right side of some batted-ball luck and put together a really nice season. This is why in free agency, what is valued more than anything is stuff and ability to pitch in leverage.
Luckily this year there are plenty of closers who are set to hit the market. You have Edwin Diaz of the Mets, who is the top relief pitcher on the market. He may return to the Mets, or maybe another ball club swoops in a blows him away with an offer. After all, he was one of the best relievers in baseball in 2025.
Behind Diaz, there are a pair of closers coming off down years who had great success prior to their contract years in Ryan Helsley and Devin Williams. Both closers were traded from their small market Midwest teams and sent to the bright lights of the Big Apple, only to be meet with real adversity.
Despite their struggles, Helsley and Williams are still sure to enjoy healthy markets in free agency.
There are also plenty of veteran free-agent closers and elite setup arms hitting the market. We have divided the 2026 free agents relief pitchers into a few different tiers: closer, right-handed setup men, left-handed setup men, then we list all the other notable relievers on the market.
As the hot stove heats up, we will periodically update this article with information that relates to these free agent relief pitchers. With that said, every player’s Baseball Reference page has been linked, so you can always find updated stats by clicking on each name found below.
2026 Free-Agent Relievers: Already Signed
Listed below are the free-agent relievers who have already signed contracts this offseason.
Edwin Díaz, New York Mets – Signed with Los Angeles Dodgers
- Age in 2026: 32
- 2025 Stats: 62 G, 66.1 IP, 1.63 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 0.87 WHIP, 13.30 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $21.55 million, opt-out on three-year, $28 million remaining on deal
Edwin Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers, setting a record for the highest AAV ever for a relief pitcher. One of the best closers in the game, Díaz’s time in Queens comes to an end as he takes his talents to Los Angeles.
Robert Suarez, San Diego Padres – Signed with Atlanta Braves
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 70 G, 69.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, 9.69 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $10 million, opt-out on two-year, $16 million remaining on deal
Robert Suarez signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. After Raisel Iglesias re-signed with the Braves earlier in the offseason, the tandem of Iglesias and Suarez creates quite a dominant bullpen duo heading into the 2026 season.
Ryan Helsley, New York Mets – Signed with Baltimore Orioles
- Age in 2026: 31
- 2025 Stats: 58 G, 56.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 4.14 FIP, 1.54 WHIP, 10.13 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $8.20 million
Ryan Helsley signed a two-year deal worth $28 million with the Baltimore Orioles. Helsley, who has been one of the best closers in MLB for the past few seasons but struggled mightily in his time with New York after the trade deadline, is looking for a fresh start and takes over as the closer for an Orioles team that has been one of the more active organizations this offseason.
Devin Williams, New York Yankees – Signed with New York Mets
- Age in 2026: 31
- 2025 Stats: 67 G, 62.0 IP, 4.79 ERA, 2.68 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 13.06 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $8.60 million
Devin Williams signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the New York Mets. Many thought this was the first step in creating one of the more electric one-two punches in the sport to close out games, but following the departure of Edwin Díaz, the Airbender now takes over as the closer in Queens, hoping for better results than what occurred in 2025.
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Angels – Signed with Detroit Tigers
- Age in 2026: 38
- 2025 Stats: 62 G, 50 IP, 2.59 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 0.95 WHIP, 8.69 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $10 million
Kenley Jansen’s historic career churns on in 2026, as the 38-year-old heads to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year, $9 million contract. Jansen, who has 476 career saves under his belt, will look to surpass the historic 500 save mark next season, while the Tigers will lean on his experience to close out games in 2026.
Kyle Finnegan, Detroit Tigers – Re-Signed with Detroit Tigers
- Age in 2026: 34
- 2025 Stats: 56 G, 57.0 IP, 3.47 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 8.68 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $6 million
Kyle Finnegan re-signed with the Detroit Tigers on a two-year deal worth $19 million. Finnegan was traded to Detroit from Washington at the deadline last season and posted a 1.50 ERA and 1.97 FIP in 18 innings with the Tigers. It’s a fit that made sense for both parties.
Emilio Pagán, Cincinnati Reds – Re-Signed with Cincinnati Reds
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 70 GS, 68.2 IP, 2.88 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 0.92 WHIP, 10.62 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $8 million
Emilio Pagán re-signed with the Cincinnati Reds on a two-year contract worth $20 million. Pagán broke out in a massive way in 2025, throwing to a 2.88 ERA while racking up 32 saves, the second most in the NL, for the Reds.
Luke Weaver, New York Yankees – Signed with New York Mets
- Age in 2026: 32
- 2025 Stats: 64 G, 64.2 IP, 3.62 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 10.02 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $2.5 million
Luke Weaver follows his former teammate, Devin Williams, from the Bronx to Queens and joins the New York Mets on a two-year, $22 million contract. Weaver will continue his role as the setup man to Williams, as the Mets continue to add some much-needed reinforcements to an Edwin Díaz-less bullpen.
Tyler Rogers, New York Mets – Signed with Toronto Blue Jays
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 81 G, 77.1 IP, 1.98 ERA, 2.88 FIP, 0.94 WHIP, 5.59 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $5.25 million
Submariner Tyler Rogers heads north of the border and joins the Toronto Blue Jays on a three-year, $37 million agreement. Rogers, who is coming off a sub-2.00 ERA season, is as reliable as they come and adds some much-needed stability to the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
Chris Martin, Texas Rangers – Re-Signed with Texas Rangers
- Age in 2026: 40
- 2025 Stats: 49 G, 42.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 9.14 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $5.5 million
Chris Martin has agreed to a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, returning to the ball club he found success with in 2025. Martin tossed to an impressive 2.98 ERA in his age-39 season last year, proving that he still has some gas left in the tank.
Gregory Soto, New York Mets – Signed with Pittsburgh Pirates
- Age in 2026: 31
- 2025 Stats: 70 GS, 60.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.43 WHIP, 10.44 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $5.35 million
Gregory Soto signed a one-year, $7.75 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Soto, 30, provides a huge boost of octane at the tail end of the bullpen for Pittsburgh and could even be a flip candidate at the trade deadline should he have a strong first half of the 2026 season.
Caleb Thielbar, Chicago Cubs – Re-Signed with Chicago Cubs
- Age in 2026: 39
- 2025 Stats: 67 G, 58.0 IP, 2.64 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 0.88 WHIP, 8.69 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $2.75 million
After throwing to a 2.64 ERA out of the Chicago Cubs’ bullpen in 2025, Caleb Thielbar returns to the North Side on a one-year deal. Thielbar, 38, was a big piece of Chicago’s bullpen last season and will continue to have a valuable role as their primary high-leverage southpaw in 2026.
Caleb Ferguson, Seattle Mariners – Signed with Cincinnati Reds
- Age in 2026: 29
- 2025 Stats: 70 G, 65.1 IP, 3.58 ERA, 3.26 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, 7.03 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $3 million
The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their bullpen by signing southpaw Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract. Ferguson, 29, has bounced around in recent years, playing for four organizations across the last two seasons, most recently with the Seattle Mariners on their run to the ALCS.
Other Noteworthy Signings:
- LHP Tyler Alexander – Signed with the Texas Rangers
- RHP Jordan Romano – Signed with the Los Angeles Angels
Top Free-Agent Righty Relievers On the Market
Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays
- Age in 2026: 32
- 2025 Stats: 61 G, 60.1 IP, 2.83 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 1.05 WHIP, 8.80 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $3.8 million
Seranthony Dominguez, Toronto Blue Jays
- Age in 2026: 31
- 2025 Stats: 67 G, 62.2 IP, 3.16 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 11.35 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $8 million
Top Free-Agent Lefty Relievers On the Market
Taylor Rogers, Chicago Cubs
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 57 G, 50.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 1.38 WHIP, 9.41 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $12 million
Danny Coulombe, Texas Rangers
- Age in 2026: 36
- 2025 Stats: 55 GS, 43.0 IP, 2.30 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, 9.00 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $3 million
Justin Wilson, Boston Red Sox
- Age in 2026: 38
- 2025 Stats: 61 G 40 IP, 3.35 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 1.41 WHIP, 10.61 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $2.25 million
More Notable Free-Agent Relievers Off Good Years
Pierce Johnson, Atlanta Braves
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 65 G, 59.0 IP, 3.05 ERA, 3.91 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, 9.00 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $7 million
Jakob Junis, Cleveland Guardians
- Age in 2026: 33
- 2025 Stats: 57 G, 66.2 IP, 2.97 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 7.43 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $4.5 million
Jacob Webb, Texas Rangers
- Age in 2026: 32
- 2025 Stats: 55 G, 66.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4.30 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, 7.91 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $1.25 million
Shawn Armstrong, Texas Rangers
- Age in 2026: 35
- 2025 Stats: 71 G, 74.0 IP, 2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 0.81 WHIP, 9.00 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $1.25 million
Scott Barlow, Cincinnati Reds
- Age in 2026: 33
- 2025 Stats: 75 G, 68.1 IP, 4.21 ERA, 4.70 FIP, 1.39 WHIP, 9.88 K/9
- 2025 Salary: $2.5 million, $6.5 million club option for 2026 with $1 million buyout
Relievers Hitting the Market Off Down Years
Kirby Yates, Ryan Brasier, Ryan Pressly, Liam Hendriks, Michael Kopech, Brent Suter, Paul Sewald, Ryne Stanek, Jonathan Loáisiga, T.J. McFarland, Joe Ross, Josh Walker, Jorge López, José Leclerc, Tim Mayza, Tommy Kahnle, John Brebbia, Kendall Graveman, Luke Jackson, Scott Alexander, Lucas Sims, Dillon Tate, Drew Smith