Continuing the countdown to Spring Training, FantasyJuice's experts have independently ranked their top 30 relief pitchers heading into Spring of 2009.
is the #1 closer this year with not far behind after signing with the Mets.
The FantasyJuice experts are have differing opinions on and . They should be watched closely in Spring Training.
As usual, the closer position is a fickle one. There are two different fields of thought on drafting closers. The first says you should take closers early on in your draft. The other wants you to hold off and get bargains later in the draft, planning on picking up closers during the season.
These rankings will be updated during Spring Training to reflect position changes and Spring performance.
| Relief Pitcher / Closer | Team | Cody Crosby | Michael Ryan | Average Rank |
| Boston Red Sox | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| New York Mets | 2 | 3 | 2.5 |
| Minnesota Twins | 5 | 2 | 3.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| New York Yankees | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Houston Astros | 7 | 6 | 6.5 |
| Kansas City Royals | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Cleveland Indians | 12 | 11 | 11.5 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 10 | 13 | 11.5 |
| Chicago White Sox | 15 | 10 | 12.5 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 17 | 9 | 13 |
| Chicago Cubs | 6 | 21 | 13.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 11 | 16 | 13.5 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 13 | 14 | 13.5 |
| Atlanta Braves | 20 | 15 | 17.5 |
| Colorado Rockies | 24 | 12 | 18 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 19 | 18 | 18.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 16 | 22 | 19 |
| San Diego Padres | 14 | 25 | 19.5 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 18 | 24 | 21 |
| Texas Rangers | 23 | 20 | 21.5 |
| Oakland Athletics | 26 | 19 | 22.5 |
| New York Mets | 28 | 17 | 22.5 |
| Seattle Mariners | 27 | 23 | 25 |
| Washington Nationals | 25 | 27 | 26 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 21 | -- | -- |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 22 | -- | --
| Tampa Bay Rays | -- | 26 | -- |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | -- | 28 | -- |
| Los Angeles Angels | 30 | -- | -- |
| Tampa Bay Rays | -- | 30 | -- |
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