As MLB bullpens keep evolving, is the sport devaluing the save stat?

In 2008, Francisco Rodríguez saved 62 games, setting an MLB record. That was the high water mark for the save, a statistic that had only been around for about 30 years at that point.Things have changed. That season, 139 pitchers recorded a save, as teams generally tabbed one pitcher as their closer and stuck with it until a change was obviously needed. In 2025, 212 pitchers earned a save. It seems everyone is getting saves now, and the notion of having a single closer for each team is less prevalent.Advertisement