MLB Top-10 Relief Pitchers Right Now for 2026 New Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz has been ranked as the third-best relief pitcher for the 2026 season by MLB Network’s The Shredder. This marks his first appearance on the list since 2024, when he placed sixth. The Shredder’s rankings include Díaz alongside other top relievers, with Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman ranked first. Other notable names include San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller in second, Cleveland Guardians’ Cade Smith in fourth, and Seattle Mariners’ Andrés Muñoz in fifth. The Dodgers’ Díaz is set to become the team’s first dedicated closer since Kenley Jansen in 2021. Díaz’s inclusion on the list follows a dominant 2025 season with the New York Mets, where he recorded 28 saves, a 1.63 ERA, and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. His performance earned him a third All-Star Game selection and a second Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year award. The Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract, which includes a $9 million signing bonus and more than $13 million in deferrals. His average annual value of $23 million is the highest ever for a relief pitcher in MLB history. The Shredder’s rankings for 2026 are based on a combination of past performance, advanced statistics, traditional metrics, and analysis from the MLB Network research team. The rankings also reflect personal evaluations from analysts like Brian Kenny and Mike Petriello. Kenny placed Díaz fifth, while Petriello ranked him fourth. The Dodgers last had a reliever in The Shredder’s top-10 in 2024, when Evan Phillips placed fourth. Former Dodgers relievers like Tanner Scott (No. 7) and Kirby Yates (No. 8) were included in 2023’s rankings before joining the team.#los_angeles_dodgers #new_york_mets #mlb_network #the_shredder #aroldis_chapman
