The Top 7 Free-Agent Right-Handed Relievers Available This Offseason

Turned it back around after a disastrous 2024 season put his future in jeopardy. Since a mid-2025 trade to the Yankees, Bednar has a 2.39 ERA with 111 K/28 BB over 94 IP, a 1.011 WHIP, and a 2.61 FIP. Struggles from 2024 seem to be behind him. Throws plenty hard (96.1 average velo) while inducing a ton of chase and generally weak contact. As reliable a ninth inning as you'll see.

Veteran closer put together another excellent season for the Braves, saving 34 games over 60 IP with a 2.55 ERA/3.17 FIP, 1.083 WHIP, and 64 K/17 BB. No reason to expect a major dropoff. Just a reliable plug-and-play ninth inning option. Underrated for much of his career, the Cuban righty is just 13 saves away from 300 for his career.

Picked it up after a rough first half, particularly his March/April performances. While the final line on the back of the baseball card wasn’t as strong as it usually is, the numbers were respectable all the same: 3.73 ERA, 62.2 IP, 80 K/41 BB. The increase in walks is something to be wary of as he went from 3.9/9 to 5.9/9 while his strikeout rate dropped from 13.3/9 to a still solid 11.5/9.

An absolute monster out of the bullpen, Blackburn posted a 1.59 ERA and 1.094 WHIP over 85 IP with 69 K/33 BB. Threw his sinker about two MPH harder on average and increased usage of his changeup while reducing how much he threw his cutter, curveball, and sweeper. Bad contact and a plethora of groundballs followed. Though some regression is likely, Blackburn did a very impressive job as a swingman.

Still very good but saw the strikeouts drop a bit and dealt with a shoulder injury and only came back at the end of September. Velocity was down a bit, though he’s a slider-first pitcher. Over 34.1 innings, Adam had a 2.62 ERA with 10 BB/22 K, and a 1.165 WHIP. Alarmingly, his K/9 dropped from 9.6 to 5.8. His 4.85 FIP, the highest of his career since his rookie season, says the 2010 fifth round pick got awfully lucky. Whether or not the drop is because of injury or general age is yet to be determined.

Looked to be the Yankee closer of the future after a breakout 2021 season, but was badly derailed by injuries to the point that he had to settle for a minor league deal when he finally hit free agency last year. Arizona gave him a chance, and he emphatically rewarded them with 67 innings of a 2.42 ERA, 1.030 WHIP, 48 K/13 BB, ten holds, and two saves. Although he mostly pitches to contact, a 2.88 FIP shows that his success wasn't just luck. Now the question is if he can stay healthy again for another season.

Schreiber has been a steady contributor since his breakout in 2022, averaging a 3.32 ERA (3.74 FIP) with 24 BB/60 K and a 1.213 WHIP over 63 IP. He’s saved 14 games in that time as well. A funky arm slot and his sinker do most of the work for him, inducing bad contact. The Toyota Corolla of relief pitchers, unsexy but extremely reliable.