Paul’s Call to the ‘Pen: August 5

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  • By Paul Williamson

    Last Updated on August 5, 2025 9:55 pm by Paul Williamson | Published: August 5, 2025

    It was a whirlwind of a trade deadline and that means we have plenty of movement in value for both holds and saves.

    The ‘pen is stacked in the Bronx so how safe is Devin Williams? The Rays added a big arm in Griffin Jax, is he a threat to Pete Fairbanks? Jhoan Duran in Philly has to be huge. Mason Miller in San Diego could be a threat to Robert Suarez. The Rangers added arms and the Twins absolutely cleaned house.

    I dive into all of these teams and tell you how to evaluate them.

    The closers I will label in the following tiers (I’ve added a fourth tier from last year and modified my definition of ‘weak’*)

    Strong – they are definitely the closer.
    Probably – they look to be the closer, for now.
    Weak – there is a good chance they don’t get the next save chance*
    Committee – We just don’t know who will get the ball in the ninth. Shrug.

    Alright, let’s get into it!

    NOTE: I added some Tuesday updates to a few teams as games are ending as I publish. The Yanks and Rangers are in the midst of a tight ball game as well, so keep an eye on that game.

    Guardians

    Closer – Cade Smith – Weak

    Nic Enright and Hunter Gaddis each got a save this week.

    First, Enright might be the best story in baseball no one is talking about.

    He is in the midst of battling cancer. He didn’t used to have cancer. He isn’t in remission.

    Enright is set to undergo more immunotherapy treatments this fall for his Stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma.

    And he is out here locking down a save in the 10th inning of a meaningful MLB game as the Guards remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

    While this is Cade Smith’s closer’s role, Enright has earned some high-leverage spots with his 2.01 ERA in 22.1 innings this year.

    Gaddis got the ninth after Smith’s 23-pitch outing made him unavailable.

    Smith got the save right before I hit ‘publish’.

    Holds

    Erik Sabrowski got two holds with Enright and Gaddis each getting one.

    With a 13.83 K/9 and 1.32 ERA  and Paul Sewald now dealt, Sabrowski can be considered a deep league holds play.

    Gaddis is the only must roster dude right now in Cleveland.

    Enright is a dart throw.

    Still keep your eye on Jakob Junis, who worked the eighth a head of Smith on Tuesday. .

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    August 5, 2025, 9:55 pm