Dennis Santana

Santana doesn't fit the typical closer profile - he struck out just 22.2 percent of the batters he faced last season - but the 29-year-old posted a career-best 2.18 ERA (18th) and 0.87 WHIP (T-5th) that were near the top of the leaderboard for relief pitchers. The Dominican native relied heavily on his slider, tossing it a career-high 46.4 percent of the time with great success (.159 BAA, .286 SLG). He also produced a 43.6 percent O-Swing on the pitch and finished 2025 with a 96th percentile chase rate; signs that more strikeouts are possible if his slider usage persists. When the Pirates traded David Bednar at last year's deadline, Santana was summoned for 10 of the team's final 12 saves (83.3 percent team save share). Overall, he secured 16 saves in 19 chances to increase his odds of opening 2026 as the Pirates' closer. However, Santana's 4.13 career ERA and 3.56 xERA last year paint a cloudy outlook for the right-hander. He's a risky bet to lead Pittsburgh in saves in 2026. Read Past Outlooks