No longer a Blue Jay, Jeff Hoffman should be given the opportunity to close games with the Twins. Vaughn Ridley / Getty ImagesAug. 4, 2026 1:01 pm EDT Updated When Boston removed Aroldis Chapman from trade discussions and San Diego did the same regarding Mason Miller, it shifted the reliever market ahead of the MLB trade deadline. Although there was volume, the fantasy impact of those deals will not be as significant as it was last year.The fantasy fallout from the trade deadline will be included with my updated leverage pathways, which try to provide accurate team approaches for procuring saves despite the multitude of confusing usage patterns throughout the league. Each team will receive one of the following labels:
Mostly linear: This is a more traditional approach, with a manager preferring one reliever in the seventh inning, another in the eighth, and a closer (when rested) in the ninth. There are shades of gray, but it usually follows a predictable pattern in high-leverage situations.
Primary save share: The team prefers one reliever as the primary option for saves. However, the player may also be used in matchup-based situations, whether dictated by batter-handedness or batting order, especially in the late innings, providing multiple relievers with save chances each series or week throughout the season.
