Relievers for a buck (or after the 125th pitcher taken in recent NFBC)

This is a fun annual exercise where the focus is not on save situations. Instead, we strip out the relievers who are going in auctions and drafts and then apply filters to the relievers who remain. Here, the cutoff is after 125 pitchers (in a 15-team mixed league) have been taken in the most recent two weeks of NFBC drafts. The remaining list would be free in auction or draft (15-team mixed). 
 

That list then is further culled by some filters: xERA at or under 3.70, WHIP at or under 1.25, K%-BB% at or above 20%. These are the skill sets you want. What we find is a lot of elite leverage relievers (many left-handed) who probably won't get saves but will help ERA/WHIP and holds, for those who value holds. These relievers are also...

Almost!

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