Dotel could end up on DL

According to MLB.com, the Royals could be without their new closer, Octavio Dotel, for more than just opening day. Dotel is feeling discomfort in his left oblique and won't pitch Monday against the Red Sox. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday. "There is a chance that he could be put on the disabled list," manager Buddy Bell said before the Royals' public workout Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. "We don't think it is a long-term situation." GM Dayton Moore said the team does not want to rush Dotel and risk further injury. "He wants to go, but we want to be cautious," Moore said.

Bell doesn't know who will close while Dotel is out, but said Joakim Soria and Todd Wellemeyer could pitch in the later innings. "We are going to play it by ear right now," Bell said. The sad part for Dotel is that he had a great spring training and looked as good as ever. Fantasy owners should keep Dotel out of active Fantasy lineups until further notice. Soria has closer's experience, but that came in the Mexican Pacific League last season. He would be the likely candidate to close games, if Dotel is out for an extended period. Although the team could go with Wellemeyer because he is more accustomed to the MLB game. Either way, all three players are just low-end options because the Royals might have a hard time getting their closer save opportunities.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Gagne: Not injured, but will start season on DL

Rangers closer Eric Gagne will start the season on the disabled list. Gagne isn’t injured, but he needs more time to build up arm strength after throwing just three innings in Cactus League action. "He's feeling great," pitching coach Mark Connor said. "He just needs to pitch more innings." The Rangers are hoping Gagne can be activated on April 13. In the meantime, Akinori Otsuka, who saved 32 games for the Rangers last year, will serve as the team’s closer.
Source: MLB.com

Gagne: Roughed up against Padres, still Rangers closer

Eric Gagne was roughed up in Tuesday's game against the Padres, surrendering four earned runs in one inning of work. Rangers manager Ron Washington said he's confident Gagne will be ready to be his closer on Opening Day. "Yes, without a doubt," Washington said. "He's healthy. I've seen better stuff than he's shown today, but he's healthy. He's the closer. I'm not going to take the ball away from him." The one thing the Rangers do know is Gagne is unlikely to be ready to pitch back-to-back games once the regular season starts.
Source: MLB.com

Borowski: Role as Indians closer secure

Indians closer Joe Borowski was inserted into his first ninth-inning save situation of the spring Monday, allowing a leadoff single before recording two strikeouts to finish off the Devil Rays. Borowski is anything but the typical closer who intimidates with high-90s heat, but he’ll be the one anchoring the Cleveland bullpen when the regular season kicks off. Furthermore, with the ancient Roberto Hernandez and the erratic Rafael Betancourt serving as the primary setup options, Borowski’s job may be safer than many think...for the time being, anyway. If you’re looking for cheap saves in mixed formats, then Borowski certainly has to be considered.
Source: MLB.com

Marlins trade for Julio to fill closer role

The Marlins announced a trade of Yusmeiro Petit for Jorge Julio, who will become the team's closer. Julio is a sleeper at the closer position in deeper leagues. Petit will have to work his way back through the minors as a starter or in the D-Backs' bullpen.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Devil Rays closer job still open

Devil Rays Manager Joe Maddon indicated the team may determine by Tuesday whether right-hander Edwin Jackson or lefty J.P. Howell will fill the final rotation spot, the Rays won't name a specific closer before Opening Day. "The answer is no," Maddon said Sunday when asked if the ninth-inning job would be clarified this week. "As we get to that moment, I'm going to do what we did last year, pretty much - kind of mix and match in the beginning." That means any number of relievers could be in line for whatever save opportunities arise early in the season. Dan Miceli, Brian Stokes, Shawn Camp, Al Reyes, Seth McClung - you name a pitcher and he might have a shot if he's on the roster.
Source: The Tampa Tribune

Papelbon returns to closer role

Jonathan Papelbon will return to the closer role, ESPN reported. Fantasy owners scratching their heads about whether to gamble on Julian Tavarez, Joel Pineiro, Mike Timlin, Brendan Donnelly or Craig Hansen can rest easy. The overpowering right-hander, whose 0.92 ERA was the eighth-best single-season mark in history (min. 50 IP) last year, is back in the bullpen after an attempted conversion to the rotation. Once the trio of Joe Nathan, B.J. Ryan and Francisco Rodriguez are off the board, Papelbon is as good a choice as any fireman.
Source: MLB.com

Ryan: Recovering from sore back

Recovering from a sore lower back, B.J. Ryan played catch on Wednesday with no setbacks. If all goes well, Ryan could make it back into a Grapefruit League game by the upcoming weekend. The Blue Jays closer hasn't appeared in a Spring Training game since March 11.
Source: MLB.com

Jenks: In danger of losing closer role?

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has voiced concerns about closer Bobby Jenks, whose ERA rose to 10.50 in Wednesday's win against the Giants. "I worry about Bobby -- I'm not going to lie," said Guillen of Jenks, who allowed all three runs in the sixth but bounced back with a scoreless seventh. "If you're not ready 1 1/2 weeks [before] the season starts, we have problems." With Jenks' velocity down and his location off target, fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily dismiss this as another case of "Ozzie being Ozzie," especially since the White Sox tend to let performance dictate team roles. Given the late-inning anxiety, locking up setup man Mike MacDougal as insurance has to be considered no-brainer for Jenks owners.
Source: MLB.com

Tavarez has inside track on Sox's closer role

Sidelined since Feb. 25 because of a strained left oblique injury, veteran Mike Timlin will start the regular season on the disabled list. The most likely scenario is that the Red Sox will place Timlin on the disabled list for the first six games and retroactive the date so that he'll be ready for the home opener. Timlin, along with Joel Pineiro, Brendan Donnelly had been in competition to win the closer's job with Julian Tavarez, who appears to have the latest inside track on the spot.
Source: MLB.com

Gagne: Rangers hope he will be ready for Opening Day

Appearing in his first A game in spring, Eric Gagne allowed a solo homer and struck out one in an inning of work on Tuesday. Despite the long ball, this was another positive step for the Rangers closer, who the team hopes will be ready in time for Opening Day. Even so, considering Gagne's shaky health record over the past two seasons, not to mention multiple surgical procedures, owners gambling on him are almost obliged to select teammate Akinori Otuska, last year's fireman, as a precaution.
Source: MLB.com

Reds Find Their Closer: Dustin Hermanson?

The Cincinnati Reds aren't going to make any announcement, but the feeling in camp is that they've found their closer. The question about Dustin Hermanson was whether his back was sound. Through three outings, several bullpen sessions and one very tough play at first, his back has been fine.

If Hermanson can be what he was in 2005 – when he saved 34 games and had a 2.04 ERA with the Chicago White Sox – one of the biggest questions about the Reds will be answered.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

Henry Owens: Leading Candidate For Marlins Closer Role

Marlins RP Henry Owens pitched two scoreless innings Sunday against the Nationals. He allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out three. Owens has now made six relief appearances this spring totaling nine innings and has yet to allow a run to cross the plate. Owens -- a Miami native -- appeared in three games with the Mets last season, plus went 2-2 with 20 saves for Double-A Binghamton. It is believed he is the leader to take over the vacant closer's job in Florida and has done nothing yet to show otherwise. Continue to track his progress, but he could be a huge sleeper in Fantasy leagues if he wins the closer's job.

The other top candidate for the Marlins closer role is Matt Lindstrom, who has made six relief appearances totaling 7 1/3 innings, and has allowed just one earned run for a 1.23 ERA. He pitched one scoreless inning Sunday against the Nationals to earn his first save of the spring. He allowed two hits while striking out one.

Lindstrom complements his fastball with a slider he throws in the 80s. Command wasn't a problem last year, when he walked 21 and struck out 70 in 58 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.37, but he has been told his best pitch is too straight.
Source: CBS SportsLine.com

Putz: MRI Results Show Mild Strain

The Mariners received "great news" on Saturday after their medical director reviewed the results of an MRI taken on right-hander J.J. Putz's right elbow. The diagnosis, made in Seattle by Dr. E. Edward Khalfayan, was a "mild flexor pronator strain."

There was a huge sigh of relief on the Mariners' side of the Peoria Sports Complex, although Putz had expressed confidence on Friday that there was nothing seriously wrong and that he would have plenty of time to prepare himself for the regular season, which begins on April 2 at Safeco Field against the Athletics.

With two weeks remaining in Spring Training, it would seem that Putz has enough time to get ready for the regular season. Putz, 30, replaced Eddie Guardado as the Mariners' closer last May 6, and finished with 36 saves in 43 chances. He led American League relievers with 104 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings, posting a 3-1 record and 34 saves in 57 appearances following his promotion to the closer role.
Source: MLB.com

Putz: Undergoes MRI On Elbow

Mariners closer J.J. Putz underwent an MRI for his sore right elbow on Friday. Putz reported tightness in his arm after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session earlier in the day. The 30-year-old right-hander has been bothered by arm problems throughout camp, making just one game appearance.
Source: MLB.com

Benitez: Confirmed As Giants Closer

Manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Friday that Armando Benitez will begin the season as the Giants' closer. Time will tell whether the Giants are showcasing Armando Benitez for a trade or renewing their commitment to him. Either way, the embattled veteran will remain the team's closer and fellow right-hander Brian Wilson will serve as its primary setup man for the foreseeable future.
Source: MLB.com

Isringhausen: Hip Appears Good

Making his first appearance of the spring, closer Jason Isringhausen allowed two hits and struck out one over a scoreless inning of relief Thursday vs. the Dodgers. Though he hadn't seen big-league action since Sept. 6 of last year, Izzy looked sharp, throwing 14 of his 16 pitches for strikes. More importantly, he showed no ill effects from the hip surgery he underwent last September.
Source: MLB.com

Seth McClung: Losing the Hold on Closer's Job

Seth McClung had a poor outing for the Devil Rays against Houston on Sunday, and after the game, manager Joe Maddon indicated the closer's role was still up for grabs, the Tampa Tribune reports.

McClung allowed two runs and four baserunners in one inning of work Sunday (two hits, one walk, one HBP, no strikeouts). According to the report, Maddon indicated McClung still has trouble harnessing his fastball, and until that's no longer an issue, Maddon said McClung can't be considered the closer. "By no means has that role been established for him," Maddon said. So far this spring, McClung has allowed eight of 17 batters to reach base while registering just one strikeout; those are awful performance indicators for any reliever, let alone a closer. If McClung pitches his way out of the closer's role, it appears Al Reyes and Chad Orvella are on the short list of candidates to claim the job at the moment.
Source: RotoWire.com

Flash Gordon: Injury Risk

Phillies closer Tom Gordon flew back to Philadelphia on Monday night for a visit with the team doctor. Gordon says the forearm and elbow stiffness he’s experienced this spring are normal for this time of year, and the Phillies insist that his trip north is for nothing more than a routine medical checkup. That may be the case, but this sidebar serves to remind us that the 39-year-old closer is a bit of a risk because of his age and injury history. Case in point: Gordon got off to a terrific start with the Phillies last year, but missed parts of August and September with right shoulder inflammation and finished with a 5.32 ERA after the All-Star break.
Source: MLB.com

Timlin: Candidate To Be Red Sox Closer

When Joel Pineiro signed a $4-million contract with incentives for games finished, it was assumed he would get first crack at closing games for the Boston Red Sox in 2007.

But lately signs have pointed to veteran Mike Timlin being handed ninth-inning duties. Pineiro has struggled in spring training and Timlin recorded nine saves last year when Jonathan Papelbon was injured.
Source: Providence Journal