As we head into spring training, MLB teams are beginning to iron out their final bullpen roster spots. The AL Central defied just about everyone’s expectations last year and finished as one of the best divisions in baseball with 3 teams making the postseason and the Twins finishing just short. The Guardians had the best bullpen ERA in baseball and other teams showed rapid improvement as the season went on. Today, I take a look at all of them and rank each team’s bullpen going into 2025.

1. Kansas City Royals

Key Names to watch in 2025:

Carlos Estévez

Lucas Erceg

Angel Zerpa

Hunter Harvey

The biggest improvement to the Royals’ roster over the last 365 days came in the bullpen, where the team has undergone an immense overhaul recently. The Royals’ bullpen got off to a very bad start in 2024 with several of their offseason additions underperforming, causing them to re-evaluate their situation mid-season. At the trade deadline, the Royals added Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey with hopes they could help flip the script. 

Their risk was rewarded, as Lucas Erceg instantly became the pitcher the Royals felt they could lean on in important situations, and he was able to set up other guys for success. The addition of Sam Long and improvements from Angel Zerpa were helpful as well. This offseason, the Royals added Carlos Estévez to be their closer, and on paper, they have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball.

2. Cleveland Guardians

Key Names to watch in 2025:

Emmanuel Clase

Hunter Gaddis 

Paul Sewald

Cade Smith

In 2024, the Cleveland Guardians had the best bullpen in all of baseball which played a significant role in them winning the AL Central. Emmanuel Clase is one of the best pitchers in the MLB and finished 3rd in Cy Young voting despite being a closer. Clase posted an INSANE 0.61 ERA over 74 innings last season and totaled 47 saves. Behind Clase, the Guardians’ bullpen was also dominant with Gaddis and Smith posting sub-2 ERAs in 2024.

The assumption across the league is that the Guardians’ bullpen will take a step back this season. It is very hard to remain as consistent as the Guardians’ pitching staff was last season, and with some losses to free agency as well, it’s likely they could slow down. The team returns their two set-up guys and closer, as well as adding veteran reliever Paul Sewald. If you need 9 outs, the Guardians’ bullpen is up there with the best in baseball, but they lack depth and that slots them just below Kansas City.

3. Minnesota Twins

Key Names to watch in 2025:

Jhoan Duran

Griffin Jax

Scott Blewett

Danny Coulombe

Similar to the Guardians, the Twins have star power on the back end of their bullpen. The headliner is Jhoan Duran who has proven himself as a dominant reliever with 50 saves over the last two years as well as 240 Ks over the last 3 seasons. He has a dominating fastball that sits well over 100 MPH and a great curve and splitter as well. Duran will be the closer again this year for the Twins and he hopes to bounce back into his 2022 form where he posted a sub-2 ERA.

Behind Duran, the Twins have effective relievers coming onto the scene like Scott Blewett and Griffin Jax who both posted incredible ERAs around 2.00. They also made the addition of Danny Coulombe, who was a great reliever for the Orioles last season and should hold a solid late-leverage role with the Twins this season. The Twins’ bullpen lacks solid early relievers, but the back end of their bullpen is up there with some of the best in baseball and could lead them to be very successful in 2025.

4. Detroit Tigers

Key Names to watch in 2025:

Jason Foley

Sean Guenther

Brenan Hanifee

Tommy Kahnle

The Tigers’ bullpen is a solid one and is well above average in the MLB, likely making a significant impact in their hopes to win the Central this season. The Tigers are a tier below where the Royals and the Guardians stand, but they are a very solid unit in their own right. They slide right in below the Twins because they are still an unproven group, and Jhoan Duran’s star power and pedigree put the Twins a step ahead. The Tigers had some losses this offseason to free agency, but the team also made additions, the most significant of which was Tommy Kahnle who they hope can make a significant impact this season. 

Jason Foley is a solid closer who is experienced in that role after a season with 28 saves in 2024. He should fill that role again and the Tigers are looking for similar success out of him. The rest of the pen is tough for the Tigers, with several guys that they hope can make an impact but will need to prove themselves. Adding Tommy Kahnle helps that cause, but the Tigers’ bullpen is still a relatively unproven group that shows real boom or bust potential.

5. Chicago White Sox

Key Names to watch in 2025:

Justin Anderson

Gus Varland

Jared Shuster

Mike Clevinger

Ah yes…the White Sox, who will likely hold the last spot on almost any list concerning the AL Central, or the AL as a whole for that matter. The bullpen is potentially the weakest part of their team and is very hard to make consistent projections for. The roster for the Sox is unclear and they have active competition for several of their bullpen spots left open.

The White Sox are taking shots on young guys that they hope can improve and be a part of their future. The team is also taking shots on veterans, hoping for some bounce back to add to their farm at the trade deadline. All this to say, it is very hard for me to project what the White Sox pen may look like in 2025, but I think it is a relatively safe bet to put them at the bottom of the AL Central going into this season.