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Relief pitchers are inherently unpredictable, and even the most dominant closers can experience sudden declines. As a result, teams constantly seek to reinforce their bullpens, which have become increasingly critical to World Series aspirations. With MLB free agency underway, several bounce-back relief arms could make a profound impact if they can stay healthy.
A.J. Puk
Left-hander A.J. Puk missed the entire 2026 season due to elbow and shoulder injuries. However, from 2024 to 2025, he posted a 3.18 ERA (3.04 FIP) with a 30.4% strikeout rate and a 9.1% walk rate over 79 1/3 innings. Puk, who will be 32 for the duration of next season, is expected to be fully healthy by spring training. The sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Oakland Athletics, Puk has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, leading to an early move to the bullpen. Despite an up-and-down career, he owns a 3.53 ERA (3.40 FIP) and a 29.4% strikeout rate, with a career-best 41.7% strikeout rate in 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins, and a career-high 71 1/3 innings pitched. In his career year in 2024, per Baseball Savant's Pitching Run Value, he posted +15 PRV, placing him in the 87th percentile among pitchers. He excelled in chase, whiff, strikeout, barrel, and hard-hit rates, relying on an elite four-seam fastball that held batters to a .145/.194/.211 slash line and generated a 31.6% whiff rate. Puk has fairly neutral splits, suggesting he could seamlessly slide into a closer role, and since he is coming off essentially two lost seasons, he could be signed to a cheap prove-it deal.
Joe Jiménez
Right-hander Joe Jiménez has pitched sparingly over the last two seasons with the Braves due to left knee injuries. Like Puk, Jiménez will spend next season in his age-32 year. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers, he spent six unremarkable years in Detroit before being traded to Atlanta prior to the 2023 season. During his tenure with the Braves, he improved drastically, posting a 2.81 ERA (2.90 FIP) over 125 innings (exclusively from 2023-2024). He accumulated 2.6 bWAR with a 30.1% strikeout rate and a 7.2% walk rate, both excellent marks. In his last healthy season in 2024, he posted a +18 PRV (91st percentile) and elite chase, whiff, strikeout, barrel, and hard-hit rates. He dominated hitters with his slider and four-seam fastball, leading to an xBA of .182, which ranked in the 97th percentile. His slider and fastball were effective against both right- and left-handed hitters, giving him the ability to be an elite eighth-inning option.
Brusdar Graterol
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol has dealt with several injuries throughout his MLB career. He underwent shoulder surgery in November 2024, causing him to miss the entire 2025 season. In June 2026, he suffered a setback during rehab, which led to back surgery, and he did not pitch in 2026. He will spend most of next season in his age-28 year. Over his six-year career with the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers, he has posted a 2.78 ERA (3.20 FIP) with a below-average strikeout rate of 19.5%. He is aided by an elite walk rate of 5.5% and a groundball rate that has ranked in the 99th percentile. Graterol is more effective against right-handed batters, as his sinker and slider have produced net positive PRV. In 2023, his sinker netted a +11 PRV against right-handers, but he had success against lefties with an emphasis on his cutter and four-seam fastball. Additionally, his fastball velocity has consistently ranked above the 97th percentile, averaging at least 98 mph with a maximum effort of 99.9 mph in 2021.
The Last Word
These three relief pitchers epitomize high-risk, high-reward free agent options. None has had a healthy season since 2024, but when healthy, they were among the best relievers in the sport. According to fWAR, Jiménez and Puk tied for ninth best among relievers in 2024. Graterol posted a 1.20 ERA (3.03 FIP) over 67 1/3 innings in 2023. This year's free-agent relief pitcher class includes several talented players who had underwhelming or injured seasons. While these players might not be counted on for a heavy workload out of the bullpen, they all possess the skill and talent to return to elite status.
Originally reported by yahoo.