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 | Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 0.94 |
2 | Neal Cotts | Rangers | 0.93 |
3 | Greg Holland | Royals | 0.92 |
4 | Drew Smyly | Tigers | 0.92 |
5 | Chris Withrow | Dodgers | 0.90 |
6 | Carlos Torres | Mets | 0.87 |
7 | Nick Vincent | Padres | 0.86 |
8 | Joaquin Benoit | Tigers | 0.81 |
9 | Mark Melancon | Pirates | 0.80 |
10 | Jesse Crain | White Sox | 0.78 |
11 | Koji Uehara | Red Sox | 0.77 |
12 | Alex Torres | Rays | 0.74 |
13 | Craig Kimbrel | Braves | 0.72 |
14 | Kevin Siegrist | Cardinals | 0.72 |
15 | Jason Grilli | Pirates | 0.71 |
16 | Jim Henderson | Brewers | 0.70 |
17 | Edward Mujica | Cardinals | 0.68 |
18 | Javier Lopez | Giants | 0.68 |
19 | Shawn Kelley | Yankees | 0.67 |
20 | Sergio Romo | Giants | 0.66 |
21 | Sam LeCure | Reds | 0.65 |
22 | Sean Doolittle | Athletics | 0.63 |
23 | Jordan Walden | Braves | 0.63 |
24 | Manny Parra | Reds | 0.62 |
25 | Brandon Kintzler | Brewers | 0.62 |
26 | Jose Veras | – – – | 0.59 |
27 | Matt Belisle | Rockies | 0.58 |
28 | Paco Rodriguez | Dodgers | 0.57 |
29 | Glen Perkins | Twins | 0.57 |
30 | Casey Fien | Twins | 0.55 |
31 | Randy Choate | Cardinals | 0.54 |
32 | Casey Janssen | Blue Jays | 0.54 |
33 | Andrew Bailey | Red Sox | 0.52 |
34 | Preston Claiborne | Yankees | 0.52 |
35 | Luke Hochevar | Royals | 0.51 |
36 | Joe Thatcher | – – – | 0.51 |
37 | Dan Otero | Athletics | 0.51 |
38 | Brian Matusz | Orioles | 0.51 |
39 | Trevor Rosenthal | Cardinals | 0.50 |
40 | Caleb Thielbar | Twins | 0.50 |
41 | Juan Perez | Blue Jays | 0.50 |
42 | Antonio Bastardo | Phillies | 0.49 |
43 | Seth Maness | Cardinals | 0.49 |
44 | J.P. Howell | Dodgers | 0.47 |
45 | Andrew Miller | Red Sox | 0.47 |
46 | David Carpenter | Braves | 0.46 |
47 | Ryan Cook | Athletics | 0.46 |
48 | David Robertson | Yankees | 0.45 |
49 | Junichi Tazawa | Red Sox | 0.45 |
50 | Tommy Hunter | Orioles | 0.45 |
51 | Scott Downs | – – – | 0.45 |
52 | Bobby Parnell | Mets | 0.44 |
53 | Brad Ziegler | Diamondbacks | 0.44 |
54 | Joel Peralta | Rays | 0.44 |
55 | Josh Collmenter | Diamondbacks | 0.43 |
56 | Neil Wagner | Blue Jays | 0.43 |
57 | Robbie Ross | Rangers | 0.42 |
58 | Matt Reynolds | Diamondbacks | 0.42 |
59 | Darren O’Day | Orioles | 0.42 |
60 | Brett Cecil | Blue Jays | 0.40 |
61 | Luis Avilan | Braves | 0.40 |
62 | Chad Gaudin | Giants | 0.40 |
63 | Aroldis Chapman | Reds | 0.39 |
64 | Will Harris | Diamondbacks | 0.39 |
65 | Addison Reed | White Sox | 0.39 |
66 | Dale Thayer | Padres | 0.39 |
67 | Jason Frasor | Rangers | 0.39 |
68 | Jared Burton | Twins | 0.37 |
69 | Vin Mazzaro | Pirates | 0.37 |
70 | Josh Outman | Rockies | 0.36 |
71 | J.J. Hoover | Reds | 0.35 |
72 | Boone Logan | Yankees | 0.34 |
73 | Jonathan Papelbon | Phillies | 0.34 |
74 | Tom Gorzelanny | Brewers | 0.34 |
75 | Tanner Scheppers | Rangers | 0.32 |
76 | Chad Qualls | Marlins | 0.32 |
77 | Francisco Rodriguez | – – – | 0.31 |
78 | Craig Breslow | Red Sox | 0.31 |
79 | Rafael Betancourt | Rockies | 0.31 |
80 | Tyler Clippard | Nationals | 0.30 |
81 | Alfredo Figaro | Brewers | 0.30 |
82 | Steve Cishek | Marlins | 0.30 |
83 | Cody Allen | Indians | 0.30 |
84 | Heath Bell | Diamondbacks | 0.29 |
85 | Steve Delabar | Blue Jays | 0.28 |
86 | Alfredo Simon | Reds | 0.28 |
87 | Kevin Gregg | Cubs | 0.27 |
88 | Tony Watson | Pirates | 0.27 |
89 | James Russell | Cubs | 0.25 |
90 | Jerome Williams | Angels | 0.24 |
91 | Nate Jones | White Sox | 0.22 |
92 | Tim Collins | Royals | 0.22 |
93 | Anthony Varvaro | Braves | 0.21 |
94 | Jamey Wright | Rays | 0.20 |
95 | Joe Smith | Indians | 0.17 |
96 | Santiago Casilla | Giants | 0.17 |
97 | Ernesto Frieri | Angels | 0.16 |
98 | Aaron Loup | Blue Jays | 0.16 |
99 | Fernando Abad | Nationals | 0.16 |
100 | J.C. Gutierrez | – – – | 0.16 |
101 | Jake Diekman | Phillies | 0.15 |
102 | Matt Thornton | – – – | 0.15 |
103 | Danny Farquhar | Mariners | 0.14 |
104 | Jim Johnson | Orioles | 0.14 |
105 | Jean Machi | Giants | 0.13 |
106 | Craig Stammen | Nationals | 0.12 |
107 | Charlie Furbush | Mariners | 0.12 |
108 | Justin Wilson | Pirates | 0.12 |
109 | Ross Wolf | Rangers | 0.11 |
110 | Rex Brothers | Rockies | 0.11 |
111 | Jeanmar Gomez | Pirates | 0.11 |
112 | Luke Gregerson | Padres | 0.10 |
113 | Mike Dunn | Marlins | 0.10 |
114 | Sandy Rosario | Giants | 0.10 |
115 | Pat Neshek | Athletics | 0.09 |
116 | Anthony Swarzak | Twins | 0.09 |
117 | Wilton Lopez | Rockies | 0.09 |
118 | Yoervis Medina | Mariners | 0.08 |
119 | Brad Lincoln | Blue Jays | 0.08 |
120 | Jesse Chavez | Athletics | 0.08 |
121 | Bruce Rondon | Tigers | 0.07 |
122 | Aaron Crow | Royals | 0.07 |
123 | Kevin Jepsen | Angels | 0.07 |
124 | Bryan Shaw | Indians | 0.06 |
125 | LaTroy Hawkins | Mets | 0.06 |
126 | Fernando Rodney | Rays | 0.06 |
127 | Luis Ayala | – – – | 0.06 |
128 | Joe Kelly | Cardinals | 0.06 |
129 | Dan Jennings | Marlins | 0.05 |
130 | Scott Rice | Mets | 0.05 |
131 | Oliver Perez | Mariners | 0.05 |
132 | Cesar Ramos | Rays | 0.05 |
133 | Burke Badenhop | Brewers | 0.04 |
134 | Tyson Ross | Padres | 0.04 |
135 | Darren Oliver | Blue Jays | 0.04 |
136 | Rafael Soriano | Nationals | 0.04 |
137 | Joe Nathan | Rangers | 0.04 |
138 | Jared Hughes | Pirates | 0.03 |
139 | Edgmer Escalona | Rockies | 0.03 |
140 | Brian Duensing | Twins | 0.02 |
141 | Ryan Webb | Marlins | 0.02 |
142 | Jose Mijares | Giants | 0.01 |
143 | Troy Patton | Orioles | 0.01 |
144 | Matt Guerrier | – – – | 0.00 |
145 | Carter Capps | Mariners | 0.00 |
146 | Dane de la Rosa | Angels | 0.00 |
147 | Josh Edgin | Mets | -0.01 |
148 | Kelvin Herrera | Royals | -0.01 |
149 | Ryan Pressly | Twins | -0.02 |
150 | Jerry Blevins | Athletics | -0.02 |
151 | Adam Ottavino | Rockies | -0.02 |
152 | Chris Perez | Indians | -0.03 |
153 | Blake Parker | Cubs | -0.04 |
154 | Michael Kohn | Angels | -0.04 |
155 | Joe Ortiz | Rangers | -0.04 |
156 | J.J. Putz | Diamondbacks | -0.05 |
157 | Mariano Rivera | Yankees | -0.05 |
158 | Josh Roenicke | Twins | -0.05 |
159 | Matt Lindstrom | White Sox | -0.05 |
160 | Ronald Belisario | Dodgers | -0.06 |
161 | David Aardsma | Mets | -0.07 |
162 | Phil Coke | Tigers | -0.08 |
163 | Bryan Morris | Pirates | -0.09 |
164 | Greg Burke | Mets | -0.09 |
165 | Brad Brach | Padres | -0.10 |
166 | Tony Sipp | Diamondbacks | -0.10 |
167 | Darin Downs | Tigers | -0.12 |
168 | Logan Ondrusek | Reds | -0.12 |
169 | Jake McGee | Rays | -0.13 |
170 | Rich Hill | Indians | -0.14 |
171 | Ross Ohlendorf | Nationals | -0.14 |
172 | Wesley Wright | – – – | -0.16 |
173 | Luke Putkonen | Tigers | -0.17 |
174 | Huston Street | Padres | -0.18 |
175 | Tim Stauffer | Padres | -0.18 |
176 | Ramon Troncoso | White Sox | -0.19 |
177 | Cory Gearrin | Braves | -0.19 |
178 | Nick Hagadone | Indians | -0.21 |
179 | A.J. Ramos | Marlins | -0.23 |
180 | Raul Valdes | Phillies | -0.23 |
181 | Manuel Corpas | Rockies | -0.25 |
182 | Jonathan Broxton | Reds | -0.25 |
183 | Drew Storen | Nationals | -0.26 |
184 | Matt Albers | Indians | -0.27 |
185 | Vinnie Pestano | Indians | -0.27 |
186 | Blake Beavan | Mariners | -0.28 |
187 | Joba Chamberlain | Yankees | -0.29 |
188 | Al Alburquerque | Tigers | -0.29 |
189 | Tom Wilhelmsen | Mariners | -0.30 |
190 | Garrett Richards | Angels | -0.30 |
191 | Justin De Fratus | Phillies | -0.31 |
192 | Scott Atchison | Mets | -0.31 |
193 | John Axford | Brewers | -0.32 |
194 | Fernando Salas | Cardinals | -0.33 |
195 | Pedro Strop | – – – | -0.34 |
196 | Grant Balfour | Athletics | -0.34 |
197 | David Hernandez | Diamondbacks | -0.35 |
198 | Paul Clemens | Astros | -0.36 |
199 | George Kontos | Giants | -0.36 |
200 | Michael Gonzalez | Brewers | -0.37 |
201 | Michael Bowden | Cubs | -0.37 |
202 | Kyle Farnsworth | Rays | -0.39 |
203 | Mike Adams | Phillies | -0.40 |
204 | T.J. McFarland | Orioles | -0.41 |
205 | Clayton Mortensen | Red Sox | -0.41 |
206 | Travis Blackley | Astros | -0.44 |
207 | Ian Krol | Nationals | -0.44 |
208 | Alex Wilson | Red Sox | -0.45 |
209 | Josh Fields | Astros | -0.46 |
210 | Dallas Keuchel | Astros | -0.48 |
211 | Brandon Lyon | Mets | -0.49 |
212 | Esmil Rogers | Blue Jays | -0.50 |
213 | Ryan Mattheus | Nationals | -0.51 |
214 | Bruce Chen | Royals | -0.54 |
215 | Adam Warren | Yankees | -0.55 |
216 | Jose Cisnero | Astros | -0.57 |
217 | Jeremy Horst | Phillies | -0.60 |
218 | Hector Ambriz | Astros | -0.62 |
219 | Jeremy Affeldt | Giants | -0.65 |
220 | Carlos Marmol | – – – | -0.66 |
221 | Lucas Luetge | Mariners | -0.71 |
222 | Henry Rodriguez | – – – | -0.71 |
223 | Michael Kirkman | Rangers | -0.73 |
224 | Hector Rondon | Cubs | -0.78 |
225 | Brandon League | Dodgers | -0.84 |
226 | Anthony Bass | Padres | -0.91 |
227 | Shawn Camp | Cubs | -1.05 |