You’ll recall earlier this year we introduced our very own reliever rankings called SOEFA, which you can read about in detail here. For a brief refresher, it combines inherited runner strand rate, expected OBP against, ERA-, and FIP- into a deviation from league average. This is a measure of performance, not necessarily ability, and seeks to provide a single number to judge relievers that balances context neutral and context dependent numbers. Certain pitchers, such as Craig Kimbrel, cannot be credited for stranding runners because they are never put into those situations. They are not penalized either, however. Zero is average, and will generally range between -2.5 to 2.5 with -1 to 1 being most common. This includes all pitchers who have thrown at least 20 IP in relief, so the average score on this list is 0.13. Should you wish to know the SOEFA for any other reliever, or on a day that isn’t Sunday, hit us on Twitter or in the comments section.
Rank | Player | Team | SOEFA |
1 | Alex Torres | Rays | 1.06 |
2 | Drew Smyly | Tigers | 1.00 |
3 | Neal Cotts | Rangers | 0.99 |
4 | Greg Holland | Royals | 0.87 |
5 | Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 0.86 |
6 | Sergio Romo | Giants | 0.84 |
7 | Joaquin Benoit | Tigers | 0.82 |
8 | Javier Lopez | Giants | 0.80 |
9 | Juan Perez | Blue Jays | 0.79 |
10 | Mark Melancon | Pirates | 0.79 |
11 | Jesse Crain | White Sox | 0.78 |
12 | Casey Fien | Twins | 0.77 |
13 | Carlos Torres | Mets | 0.76 |
14 | Joe Thatcher | – – – | 0.73 |
15 | Koji Uehara | Red Sox | 0.73 |
16 | Jordan Walden | Braves | 0.72 |
17 | Preston Claiborne | Yankees | 0.72 |
18 | Jason Grilli | Pirates | 0.71 |
19 | Nick Vincent | Padres | 0.71 |
20 | Will Harris | Diamondbacks | 0.71 |
21 | Casey Janssen | Blue Jays | 0.70 |
22 | Craig Kimbrel | Braves | 0.70 |
23 | Fernando Abad | Nationals | 0.69 |
24 | Sean Doolittle | Athletics | 0.69 |
25 | Jose Veras | – – – | 0.68 |
26 | Edward Mujica | Cardinals | 0.67 |
27 | Sam LeCure | Reds | 0.67 |
28 | Shawn Kelley | Yankees | 0.66 |
29 | David Robertson | Yankees | 0.64 |
30 | Glen Perkins | Twins | 0.63 |
31 | Brandon Kintzler | Brewers | 0.59 |
32 | Manny Parra | Reds | 0.59 |
33 | Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals | 0.53 |
34 | Andrew Bailey | Red Sox | 0.52 |
35 | Brian Matusz | Orioles | 0.52 |
36 | Joel Peralta | Rays | 0.51 |
37 | Ryan Cook | Athletics | 0.50 |
38 | Antonio Bastardo | Phillies | 0.49 |
39 | Luke Hochevar | Royals | 0.49 |
40 | Matt Belisle | Rockies | 0.49 |
41 | Andrew Miller | Red Sox | 0.47 |
42 | Jason Frasor | Rangers | 0.46 |
43 | Josh Collmenter | Diamondbacks | 0.46 |
44 | Juan Gutierrez | – – – | 0.46 |
45 | Boone Logan | Yankees | 0.45 |
46 | Tommy Hunter | Orioles | 0.45 |
47 | Bobby Parnell | Mets | 0.44 |
48 | Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers | 0.44 |
49 | Brett Cecil | Blue Jays | 0.43 |
50 | Chad Qualls | Marlins | 0.43 |
51 | Darren O’Day | Orioles | 0.43 |
52 | Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox | 0.43 |
53 | Jim Henderson | Brewers | 0.42 |
54 | Matt Reynolds | Diamondbacks | 0.42 |
55 | Robbie Ross | Rangers | 0.42 |
56 | Seth Maness | Cardinals | 0.42 |
57 | Brad Ziegler | Diamondbacks | 0.41 |
58 | Chad Gaudin | Giants | 0.41 |
59 | Dale Thayer | Padres | 0.41 |
60 | Vin Mazzaro | Pirates | 0.40 |
61 | Luis Avilan | Braves | 0.39 |
62 | Randy Choate | Cardinals | 0.39 |
63 | J.P. Howell | Dodgers | 0.38 |
64 | Neil Wagner | Blue Jays | 0.38 |
65 | Tyler Clippard | Nationals | 0.38 |
66 | Aroldis Chapman | Reds | 0.37 |
67 | Sandy Rosario | Giants | 0.37 |
68 | Scott Downs | – – – | 0.37 |
69 | Jonathan Papelbon | Phillies | 0.36 |
70 | Pat Neshek | Athletics | 0.36 |
71 | David Carpenter | Braves | 0.35 |
72 | Aaron Loup | Blue Jays | 0.34 |
73 | Addison Reed | White Sox | 0.34 |
74 | Tom Gorzelanny | Brewers | 0.34 |
75 | Nate Jones | White Sox | 0.33 |
76 | Santiago Casilla | Giants | 0.33 |
77 | Tanner Scheppers | Rangers | 0.33 |
78 | Alfredo Figaro | Brewers | 0.31 |
79 | Oliver Perez | Mariners | 0.30 |
80 | Cody Allen | Indians | 0.29 |
81 | Josh Outman | Rockies | 0.29 |
82 | Jared Burton | Twins | 0.28 |
83 | Steve Delabar | Blue Jays | 0.28 |
84 | Tony Watson | Pirates | 0.28 |
85 | Alfredo Simon | Reds | 0.27 |
86 | Kevin Gregg | Cubs | 0.27 |
87 | Dan Jennings | Marlins | 0.25 |
88 | Fernando Rodney | Rays | 0.25 |
89 | Heath Bell | Diamondbacks | 0.25 |
90 | Luke Gregerson | Padres | 0.25 |
91 | Rafael Betancourt | Rockies | 0.25 |
92 | Jerome Williams | Angels | 0.24 |
93 | Steve Cishek | Marlins | 0.24 |
94 | Michael Kohn | Angels | 0.23 |
95 | Caleb Thielbar | Twins | 0.22 |
96 | Jim Johnson | Orioles | 0.22 |
97 | Rafael Soriano | Nationals | 0.22 |
98 | Francisco Rodriguez | – – – | 0.21 |
99 | Jamey Wright | Rays | 0.21 |
100 | J.J. Hoover | Reds | 0.20 |
101 | Tim Collins | Royals | 0.20 |
102 | Craig Breslow | Red Sox | 0.19 |
103 | Ernesto Frieri | Angels | 0.19 |
104 | Jose Mijares | Giants | 0.19 |
105 | Mariano Rivera | Yankees | 0.18 |
106 | Anthony Swarzak | Twins | 0.16 |
107 | Aaron Crow | Royals | 0.15 |
108 | Matt Thornton | – – – | 0.15 |
109 | Rex Brothers | Rockies | 0.15 |
110 | Justin Wilson | Pirates | 0.14 |
111 | Jean Machi | Giants | 0.13 |
112 | Anthony Varvaro | Braves | 0.12 |
113 | David Aardsma | Mets | 0.12 |
114 | James Russell | Cubs | 0.11 |
115 | Logan Ondrusek | Reds | 0.11 |
116 | Manuel Corpas | Rockies | 0.11 |
117 | Matt Guerrier | – – – | 0.09 |
118 | Bryan Morris | Pirates | 0.08 |
119 | Chris Perez | Indians | 0.08 |
120 | Dane de la Rosa | Angels | 0.07 |
121 | Danny Farquhar | Mariners | 0.07 |
122 | Ryan Pressly | Twins | 0.07 |
123 | Joe Kelly | Cardinals | 0.06 |
124 | Joe Nathan | Rangers | 0.06 |
125 | Kevin Jepsen | Angels | 0.06 |
126 | Mike Dunn | Marlins | 0.06 |
127 | Ross Wolf | Rangers | 0.06 |
128 | LaTroy Hawkins | Mets | 0.05 |
129 | Tyson Ross | Padres | 0.04 |
130 | Burke Badenhop | Brewers | 0.03 |
131 | Wilton Lopez | Rockies | 0.03 |
132 | Adam Ottavino | Rockies | 0.02 |
133 | Bryan Shaw | Indians | 0.02 |
134 | Charlie Furbush | Mariners | 0.02 |
135 | Jeanmar Gomez | Pirates | 0.02 |
136 | Craig Stammen | Nationals | 0.01 |
137 | Joe Smith | Indians | 0.01 |
138 | A.J. Ramos | Marlins | 0.00 |
139 | Cesar Ramos | Rays | 0.00 |
140 | Josh Edgin | Mets | 0.00 |
141 | Yoervis Medina | Mariners | 0.00 |
142 | Ryan Webb | Marlins | -0.02 |
143 | Scott Rice | Mets | -0.02 |
144 | Jesse Chavez | Athletics | -0.03 |
145 | Joe Ortiz | Rangers | -0.04 |
146 | Brad Lincoln | Blue Jays | -0.05 |
147 | Darren Oliver | Blue Jays | -0.05 |
148 | J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks | -0.05 |
149 | Edgmer Escalona | Rockies | -0.06 |
150 | Matt Lindstrom | White Sox | -0.06 |
151 | Carter Capps | Mariners | -0.07 |
152 | Greg Burke | Mets | -0.09 |
153 | Troy Patton | Orioles | -0.09 |
154 | Brad Brach | Padres | -0.1 |
155 | Tony Sipp | Diamondbacks | -0.1 |
156 | Darin Downs | Tigers | -0.11 |
157 | Jake McGee | Rays | -0.11 |
158 | Tim Stauffer | Padres | -0.11 |
159 | Blake Parker | Cubs | -0.12 |
160 | Rich Hill | Indians | -0.12 |
161 | Ross Ohlendorf | Nationals | -0.14 |
162 | Wesley Wright | Astros | -0.15 |
163 | Luke Putkonen | Tigers | -0.17 |
164 | Brian Duensing | Twins | -0.18 |
165 | Josh Roenicke | Twins | -0.18 |
166 | Michael Bowden | Cubs | -0.18 |
167 | Cory Gearrin | Braves | -0.19 |
168 | Phil Coke | Tigers | -0.19 |
169 | Jerry Blevins | Athletics | -0.21 |
170 | Joba Chamberlain | Yankees | -0.21 |
171 | Nick Hagadone | Indians | -0.21 |
172 | Ronald Belisario | Dodgers | -0.23 |
173 | John Axford | Brewers | -0.24 |
174 | Scott Atchison | Mets | -0.25 |
175 | Jonathan Broxton | Reds | -0.26 |
176 | Michael Gonzalez | Brewers | -0.27 |
177 | Vinnie Pestano | Indians | -0.27 |
178 | Blake Beavan | Mariners | -0.28 |
179 | Kelvin Herrera | Royals | -0.28 |
180 | Jose Cisnero | Astros | -0.29 |
181 | David Hernandez | Diamondbacks | -0.30 |
182 | Grant Balfour | Athletics | -0.30 |
183 | Tom Wilhelmsen | Mariners | -0.30 |
184 | Garrett Richards | Angels | -0.31 |
185 | Fernando Salas | Cardinals | -0.33 |
186 | Huston Street | Padres | -0.33 |
187 | T.J. McFarland | Orioles | -0.35 |
188 | Drew Storen | Nationals | -0.36 |
189 | George Kontos | Giants | -0.36 |
190 | Kyle Farnsworth | Rays | -0.36 |
191 | Paul Clemens | Astros | -0.37 |
192 | Justin De Fratus | Phillies | -0.38 |
193 | Mike Adams | Phillies | -0.40 |
194 | Clayton Mortensen | Red Sox | -0.41 |
195 | Dallas Keuchel | Astros | -0.41 |
196 | Raul Valdes | Phillies | -0.41 |
197 | Travis Blackley | Astros | -0.43 |
198 | Alex Wilson | Red Sox | -0.44 |
199 | Pedro Strop | – – – | -0.44 |
200 | Al Alburquerque | Tigers | -0.45 |
201 | Matt Albers | Indians | -0.46 |
202 | Brandon Lyon | Mets | -0.48 |
203 | Esmil Rogers | Blue Jays | -0.50 |
204 | Bruce Chen | Royals | -0.54 |
205 | Jeremy Horst | Phillies | -0.59 |
206 | Hector Ambriz | Astros | -0.63 |
207 | Jeremy Affeldt | Giants | -0.64 |
208 | Henry Rodriguez | – – – | -0.70 |
209 | Adam Warren | Yankees | -0.72 |
210 | Michael Kirkman | Rangers | -0.73 |
211 | Brandon League | Dodgers | -0.76 |
212 | Carlos Marmol | – – – | -0.86 |
213 | Anthony Bass | Padres | -0.91 |
214 | Hector Rondon | Cubs | -1.02 |
215 | Shawn Camp | Cubs | -1.03 |