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 as of this morning, so the average score on this list is closer to 0.11. 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 | Carlos Torres | Mets | 1.14 |
2 | Neal Cotts | Rangers | 0.99 |
3 | Drew Smyly | Tigers | 0.97 |
4 | Alex Torres | Rays | 0.95 |
5 | Greg Holland | Royals | 0.91 |
6 | Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 0.90 |
7 | Joaquin Benoit | Tigers | 0.82 |
8 | Mark Melancon | Pirates | 0.81 |
9 | Nick Vincent | Padres | 0.79 |
10 | Casey Fien | Twins | 0.78 |
11 | Jesse Crain | White Sox | 0.78 |
12 | Koji Uehara | Red Sox | 0.76 |
13 | Jordan Walden | Braves | 0.72 |
14 | Craig Kimbrel | Braves | 0.71 |
15 | Jose Veras | – – – | 0.71 |
16 | Kevin Siegrist | Cardinals | 0.71 |
17 | Jason Grilli | Pirates | 0.71 |
18 | Edward Mujica | Cardinals | 0.68 |
19 | Joe Thatcher | – – – | 0.67 |
20 | Sean Doolittle | Athletics | 0.67 |
21 | Casey Janssen | Blue Jays | 0.66 |
22 | David Robertson | Yankees | 0.65 |
23 | Javier Lopez | Giants | 0.64 |
24 | Will Harris | Diamondbacks | 0.64 |
25 | Sergio Romo | Giants | 0.63 |
26 | Shawn Kelley | Yankees | 0.62 |
27 | Glen Perkins | Twins | 0.59 |
28 | Sam LeCure | Reds | 0.58 |
29 | Jim Henderson | Brewers | 0.56 |
30 | Brandon Kintzler | Brewers | 0.56 |
31 | Manny Parra | Reds | 0.54 |
32 | Brian Matusz | Orioles | 0.54 |
33 | Dan Otero | Athletics | 0.52 |
34 | Andrew Bailey | Red Sox | 0.52 |
35 | Matt Belisle | Rockies | 0.52 |
36 | Luke Hochevar | Royals | 0.51 |
37 | Darren O’Day | Orioles | 0.51 |
38 | Juan Perez | Blue Jays | 0.51 |
39 | Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals | 0.50 |
40 | Boone Logan | Yankees | 0.50 |
41 | Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers | 0.49 |
42 | Preston Claiborne | Yankees | 0.49 |
43 | Antonio Bastardo | Phillies | 0.49 |
44 | Seth Maness | Cardinals | 0.49 |
45 | Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox | 0.48 |
46 | Tommy Hunter | Orioles | 0.48 |
47 | Brett Cecil | Blue Jays | 0.47 |
48 | David Carpenter | Braves | 0.47 |
49 | Andrew Miller | Red Sox | 0.47 |
50 | Ryan Cook | Athletics | 0.45 |
51 | Brad Ziegler | Diamondbacks | 0.44 |
52 | Bobby Parnell | Mets | 0.44 |
53 | Joel Peralta | Rays | 0.44 |
54 | J.P. Howell | Dodgers | 0.44 |
55 | Matt Reynolds | Diamondbacks | 0.42 |
56 | Scott Downs | – – – | 0.41 |
57 | Chad Gaudin | Giants | 0.41 |
58 | Robbie Ross | Rangers | 0.41 |
59 | Randy Choate | Cardinals | 0.40 |
60 | Caleb Thielbar | Twins | 0.39 |
61 | Luis Avilan | Braves | 0.38 |
62 | Jason Frasor | Rangers | 0.38 |
63 | Aroldis Chapman | Reds | 0.36 |
64 | Vin Mazzaro | Pirates | 0.36 |
65 | Addison Reed | White Sox | 0.36 |
66 | Dale Thayer | Padres | 0.35 |
67 | Josh Collmenter | Diamondbacks | 0.35 |
68 | Jonathan Papelbon | Phillies | 0.34 |
69 | Tom Gorzelanny | Brewers | 0.34 |
70 | Sandy Rosario | Giants | 0.34 |
71 | Josh Outman | Rockies | 0.32 |
72 | Oliver Perez | Mariners | 0.32 |
73 | Tanner Scheppers | Rangers | 0.32 |
74 | Fernando Abad | Nationals | 0.32 |
75 | Jared Burton | Twins | 0.31 |
76 | Nate Jones | White Sox | 0.31 |
77 | Chad Qualls | Marlins | 0.31 |
78 | Dan Jennings | Marlins | 0.30 |
79 | Alfredo Figaro | Brewers | 0.30 |
80 | Francisco Rodriguez | – – – | 0.30 |
81 | J.C. Gutierrez | – – – | 0.30 |
82 | Tyler Clippard | Nationals | 0.29 |
83 | Alfredo Simon | Reds | 0.29 |
84 | Steve Delabar | Blue Jays | 0.28 |
85 | Steve Cishek | Marlins | 0.27 |
86 | Heath Bell | Diamondbacks | 0.27 |
87 | Tony Watson | Pirates | 0.26 |
88 | Rafael Betancourt | Rockies | 0.25 |
89 | Santiago Casilla | Giants | 0.25 |
90 | Jerome Williams | Angels | 0.25 |
91 | J.J. Hoover | Reds | 0.24 |
92 | Rafael Soriano | Nationals | 0.24 |
93 | Kevin Gregg | Cubs | 0.24 |
94 | Neil Wagner | Blue Jays | 0.24 |
95 | Craig Breslow | Red Sox | 0.23 |
96 | Cody Allen | Indians | 0.22 |
97 | Jim Johnson | Orioles | 0.21 |
98 | Jose Mijares | Giants | 0.20 |
99 | Tim Collins | Royals | 0.20 |
100 | Luke Gregerson | Padres | 0.19 |
101 | James Russell | Cubs | 0.19 |
102 | Aaron Loup | Blue Jays | 0.18 |
103 | Pat Neshek | Athletics | 0.16 |
104 | Aaron Crow | Royals | 0.15 |
105 | Matt Thornton | – – – | 0.15 |
106 | Jamey Wright | Rays | 0.15 |
107 | Michael Kohn | Angels | 0.15 |
108 | Danny Farquhar | Mariners | 0.15 |
109 | David Aardsma | Mets | 0.14 |
110 | Jean Machi | Giants | 0.14 |
111 | Rex Brothers | Rockies | 0.13 |
112 | Kevin Jepsen | Angels | 0.12 |
113 | Jeanmar Gomez | Pirates | 0.12 |
114 | Anthony Varvaro | Braves | 0.12 |
115 | Mike Dunn | Marlins | 0.12 |
116 | Bryan Morris | Pirates | 0.11 |
117 | LaTroy Hawkins | Mets | 0.11 |
118 | Darren Oliver | Blue Jays | 0.10 |
119 | Justin Wilson | Pirates | 0.10 |
120 | Ross Wolf | Rangers | 0.10 |
121 | Charlie Furbush | Mariners | 0.10 |
122 | Yoervis Medina | Mariners | 0.08 |
123 | Anthony Swarzak | Twins | 0.08 |
124 | Joe Smith | Indians | 0.08 |
125 | Mariano Rivera | Yankees | 0.07 |
126 | Ernesto Frieri | Angels | 0.06 |
127 | Adam Ottavino | Rockies | 0.06 |
128 | Joe Kelly | Cardinals | 0.06 |
129 | Wilton Lopez | Rockies | 0.05 |
130 | Craig Stammen | Nationals | 0.04 |
131 | Tyson Ross | Padres | 0.04 |
132 | J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks | 0.04 |
133 | Burke Badenhop | Brewers | 0.04 |
134 | Bryan Shaw | Indians | 0.04 |
135 | A.J. Ramos | Marlins | 0.04 |
136 | Jesse Chavez | Athletics | 0.04 |
137 | Carter Capps | Mariners | 0.02 |
138 | Fernando Rodney | Rays | 0.02 |
139 | Joe Nathan | Rangers | 0.01 |
140 | Dane de la Rosa | Angels | 0.01 |
141 | Matt Guerrier | – – – | 0.00 |
142 | Scott Rice | Mets | 0.00 |
143 | Cesar Ramos | Rays | 0.00 |
144 | Ryan Webb | Marlins | 0.00 |
145 | Josh Edgin | Mets | -0.01 |
146 | Jared Hughes | Pirates | -0.02 |
147 | Ryan Pressly | Twins | -0.03 |
148 | Joe Ortiz | Rangers | -0.04 |
149 | Brian Duensing | Twins | -0.06 |
150 | Troy Patton | Orioles | -0.06 |
151 | Edgmer Escalona | Rockies | -0.06 |
152 | Blake Parker | Cubs | -0.06 |
153 | Matt Lindstrom | White Sox | -0.06 |
154 | Chris Perez | Indians | -0.07 |
155 | Jerry Blevins | Athletics | -0.07 |
156 | Rich Hill | Indians | -0.08 |
157 | Greg Burke | Mets | -0.09 |
158 | Jake Diekman | Phillies | -0.09 |
159 | Brad Lincoln | Blue Jays | -0.09 |
160 | Brad Brach | Padres | -0.10 |
161 | Tony Sipp | Diamondbacks | -0.10 |
162 | Darin Downs | Tigers | -0.11 |
163 | Josh Roenicke | Twins | -0.12 |
164 | Logan Ondrusek | Reds | -0.13 |
165 | Ross Ohlendorf | Nationals | -0.14 |
166 | Phil Coke | Tigers | -0.15 |
167 | Luke Putkonen | Tigers | -0.17 |
168 | Tim Stauffer | Padres | -0.18 |
169 | Jake McGee | Rays | -0.18 |
170 | Wesley Wright | Astros | -0.19 |
171 | Cory Gearrin | Braves | -0.19 |
172 | Ronald Belisario | Dodgers | -0.20 |
173 | Nick Hagadone | Indians | -0.21 |
174 | Jonathan Broxton | Reds | -0.21 |
175 | Ian Krol | Nationals | -0.21 |
176 | Ramon Troncoso | White Sox | -0.21 |
177 | Huston Street | Padres | -0.22 |
178 | Manuel Corpas | Rockies | -0.24 |
179 | Ryan Mattheus | Nationals | -0.25 |
180 | Kelvin Herrera | Royals | -0.25 |
181 | Vinnie Pestano | Indians | -0.26 |
182 | Blake Beavan | Mariners | -0.27 |
183 | Grant Balfour | Athletics | -0.27 |
184 | Tom Wilhelmsen | Mariners | -0.29 |
185 | Michael Gonzalez | Brewers | -0.29 |
186 | John Axford | Brewers | -0.30 |
187 | Raul Valdes | Phillies | -0.30 |
188 | Garrett Richards | Angels | -0.30 |
189 | Fernando Salas | Cardinals | -0.33 |
190 | Scott Atchison | Mets | -0.34 |
191 | T.J. McFarland | Orioles | -0.35 |
192 | David Hernandez | Diamondbacks | -0.35 |
193 | Pedro Strop | – – – | -0.36 |
194 | Drew Storen | Nationals | -0.36 |
195 | Paul Clemens | Astros | -0.36 |
196 | George Kontos | Giants | -0.36 |
197 | Michael Bowden | Cubs | -0.37 |
198 | Kyle Farnsworth | Rays | -0.38 |
199 | Matt Albers | Indians | -0.38 |
200 | Joba Chamberlain | Yankees | -0.38 |
201 | Al Alburquerque | Tigers | -0.39 |
202 | Mike Adams | Phillies | -0.40 |
203 | Clayton Mortensen | Red Sox | -0.41 |
204 | Justin De Fratus | Phillies | -0.43 |
205 | Travis Blackley | Astros | -0.44 |
206 | Alex Wilson | Red Sox | -0.45 |
207 | Dallas Keuchel | Astros | -0.48 |
208 | Brandon Lyon | Mets | -0.49 |
209 | Esmil Rogers | Blue Jays | -0.49 |
210 | Bruce Chen | Royals | -0.54 |
211 | Jose Cisnero | Astros | -0.57 |
212 | Jeremy Horst | Phillies | -0.60 |
213 | Hector Ambriz | Astros | -0.62 |
214 | Jeremy Affeldt | Giants | -0.65 |
215 | Josh Fields | Astros | -0.66 |
216 | Lucas Luetge | Mariners | -0.66 |
217 | Adam Warren | Yankees | -0.68 |
218 | Henry Rodriguez | – – – | -0.71 |
219 | Michael Kirkman | Rangers | -0.73 |
220 | Carlos Marmol | – – – | -0.81 |
221 | Hector Rondon | Cubs | -0.82 |
222 | Brandon League | Dodgers | -0.88 |
223 | Anthony Bass | Padres | -0.91 |
224 | Shawn Camp | Cubs | -1.04 |