Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen: April 8 – Holds Edition

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  • By Paul Williamson

    Last Updated on April 8, 2026 5:28 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: April 8, 2026

    It is the first Call to the ‘Pen of 2026 (holds edition) and I will keep the format from the end of last year.

    Usually I would drop 3500-4000 words on all 30 ‘pens. It was a large undertaking and I also believe was hard to digest.

    Now I’ve decided to list players in tiers and break the article up into a saves edition and a holds edition. This is the holds edition as the saves one can be found here

    I will list the setup men in the following tiers

    Must-roster – they should be rostered in all leagues.

    Solid play – They are 12-team viable, fringe options for shallower leagues.

    Fringe-play – I would only roster them in 12-team leagues if I was starved for saves or holds

    Deep league play – I’m only using them in deeper than 12-team leagues

    Dart throw – Are you desperate?

    MUST ROSTER

    The following is a list of names that are must roster for holds leagues that I broke down in the saves article already

    David Bednar, Devin Williams, Jhoan Duran, Mason Miller, Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley, Bryan Abreu, Jeff Hoffman, Trevor Megill, Cade Smith, Andres Munoz, Daniel Palencia, Aroldis Chapman, Lucas Erceg, Raisel Iglesias, Emilio Pagan, Paul Sewald, Ryan Walker, Pete Fairbanks, Kenley Jansen, Bryan Baker, Griffin Jax, Jakob Junis, Bryan King, Abner Uribe, Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Robert Suarez, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft

    Names not mentioned in the saves article

    Tyler Rogers (TOR) – Off to a great start and has been one of the most steady bullpen arms in baseball over the years.

    Phil Maton (CHC) – He has too long of a track record to panic over the slow start.

    Matt Brash (SEA) – Dude is so under valued and under appreciated. Excited to see a full health year  out of him.

    Luke Weaver (NYM) – Plenty of high-leverage experience and will be setting up Williams in Queens.

    Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada (SDP) these dudes are going to setup Mason Miller. Should be in line for good number  of holds.

    Brad Keller (PHI) – should be a primary setup man to Jhoan Duran. Was excellent after transitioning to bullpen last year.

    Garrett Whitlock (BOS) – should be key setup man for Chapman and is coming off a rock solid season. Has seven Ks in 5.0 innings.

    Matt Strahm (KCR) – should be the main setup man for Erceg and has loads of success in this role.

    Fernando Cruz (NYY) – is an unheralded late-inning dude that should be the main setup man for Bednar.

    SOLID PLAY

    The following is a list of arms I broke down in the saves article already and are solid plays in holds leagues

    Jordan Romano, Riley O’Brien, Gregory Soto, Dennis Santana, Drew Pomeranz

    The following are the solid holds league plays that were not in the saves piece

    Tyler Wells, Rico Garcia (BAL) – Wells getting Ks in his new bullpen role and am wait and see before I make him a must roster dude. Garcia had some success toward the end of last year and has potential.

    Louis Varland (TOR) – Earned his way up the pecking order last year and should get plenty of chances.

    Dylan Lee (ATL) – plenty of high-leverage experience and looks to have picked up where he left off last year.

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    April 8, 2026, 5:28 pm