MLB Closers 2023 Power Rankings: Is Edwin Diaz the best closing pitcher in Fantasy Baseball?

Last season, Edwin Diaz and his entrance from the bullpen was one of the most hyped moments for the New York Mets. The now-iconic entrance to the song Narco by Timmy Trumpet became one of the best social media crazes of the 2022 MLB season. A live performance from Timmy Trumpet himself helped solidify the moment forever in baseball history.

"Man this rules so hard. Edwin Diaz gets the live music entrance with Timmy Trumpet to close out a Mets win." - Chris Vannini

The hype surrounding Diaz's entrance was backed up by an incredible 2022 season by the 28-year-old Puerto Rican closer. Through 62 innings with the New York Mets, the closer posted a 3-1 record with 32 saves and a dazzling 1.31 ERA. Diaz also recorded 118 strikeouts, which led to him being named an All-Star, while also finishing ninth in the National League Cy Young voting.

While Edwin Diaz may be one of the best closers in the MLB, he is not currently projected to be the number-one closer in fantasy baseball. Even though the veteran was a force last season, chances are that he won't be able to reproduce the numbers he did in 2022.

Depending on the scoring format and the website player rankings that you follow, Diaz remains a top 3-5 talent. However, many sites have him ranked behind Emmanuel Clase, Josh Hader, and Jordan Romano.

"When Josh Hader arrived in San Diego, his mechanics were out of whack, and he blew a bunch of saves. By October, he was touching 100 and setting postseason records. Comfortable in his new clubhouse, Hader plans to harness that late-season success:" - AJ Cassavell

One of the reasons for Edwin Diaz not being locked in as the number one closer in fantasy baseball is that he may not be granted as many save opportunities as someone like Clase or Romano. The New York Mets will likely have one of the most potent lineups in baseball, which may result in fewer save opportunities, which will hurt his fantasy value.

Edwin Diaz may very well be the unquestioned best closer in fantasy this season. However, the gap between Diaz, Emmanuel Clase, Jordan Romano, and Josh Hader may not be as distinct as some may think.

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A look at Edwin Diaz's ranking on the all-time MLB career saves list

Throughout his seven-year MLB career with the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets, Diaz has recorded 205 saves. Those 205 saves place him 50th on the all-time list, two behind Rafael Soriano. Given that Diaz is only 28 years old, he should continue to climb the all-time list until the end of his career.