New Face, New Place: Rafael Soriano, Rays

If the Tampa Bay Rays had one glaring weakness in 2009, it was at closer , where no one in manager Joe Maddon's "amorphous" bullpen really rose to the occasion in the ninth inning.

Consider that problem addressed with this offseason's addition of lightning-armed Rafael Soriano, last seen closing out games for the Atlanta Braves in '09. The right-hander notched a career-high 27 saves (in 31 chances) last season but became expendable when the Braves signed graybeards Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito.

Soriano can be dominant when he's not injured (Tommy John surgery in 2004, elbow tendinitis in 2008). The 30-year-old boasted a 12.13 K/9 mark last year and was second among major league relievers in strikeouts (102). The closer's job is pretty much all his in Tampa Bay, and with the Rays projected to win upward of 90 games this year, there should be plenty of save chances coming Soriano's way. He'll be a bit under the radar but could easily finish as a top-10 fantasy closer in 2010, provided he adjusts to American League hitters.

Photo by The Associated Press

Is this the end for John Smoltz?

Terrible news for John Smoltz and his owners ... the 41-year-old Braves pitcher is having season-ending surgery.

It's been a whirlwind season for Smoltzie, who got off to a very hot start to the season before he experienced inflammation in his shoulder. After a stint on the DL, the talk was Smoltz would return to his former role as Atlanta's closer. But after a successful rehab, he blew a save in his first appearance back in the majors, woke up the next day with a sore shoulder, and now he's done for the year.

This is a big blow to anyone who built their rotation around Smoltz, but his owners likely already prepared themselves for the worst when he got hurt the first time. Those who have held onto Rafael Soriano throughout his own lengthy stay on the DL are now rewarded with a guy who could be one of the league's better closers from here on out. If he should falter, Manny Acosta and the soon-to-return Mike Gonzalez might get a shot, but for now, the job is Soriano's to lose.

As for Smoltz, is this the end? Smoltz doesn't think so, but we'll have to wait and see.

Photo by The Associated Press

Save situations, April 16: Bye-bye, Borowski

Looks like Joe Borowski's days as a fantasy producer could be numbered. The Indians closer has been put on the DL with a strained triceps, an injury the team's kept secret and partially explains his eye-popping 18.00 ERA and .412 batting average against this season.

Borwoski's been something of an enigma these past few years, a guy who piles up saves and escapes ninth-inning jam after ninth-inning jam, all while giving his manager and fans serious nausea. Yet he's somehow been able to hold onto his job. That may change with Rafael Betancourt, one of the league's best set-up men last year, taking over closing duties in Cleveland. Betancourt doesn't have a great history closing out games (12 of 29 in save opportunities), but he may very well take hold of the job and run with it.

The smart move here is to put Borowski on your DL slot and grab Betancourt if he's available. The Indians say Borowski will resume closing duties when (if) he returns, and although his ratios stink, you probably drafted him purely for saves, and he led the AL in those last year. The bottom line is you want whoever's pitching the ninth inning for the Indians, because there will be plenty of saves to be had.

Elsewhere in closer country:

g The Braves' closing carousel continues. First Rafael Soriano goes on the DL, now replacement Peter Moylan joins him. Just like Soriano, Moylan has an elbow strain, although this one's believed to be much worse, and he's scheduled to take a dreaded visit to Dr. James Andrews, often the baseball equivalent of your girlfriend telling you she just wants to be friends. The good news is Soriano should be back shortly, so Moylan's short-lived fantasy worthiness has probably expired with just one save to his credit this year. Looks like Manny Acosta gets the save chances in the interim by default until Soriano returns.

g The Mariners are taking their sweet old time in getting J.J. Putz (ribcage) back in their bullpen. Seattle's closer-by-committee approach with Putz out has been pretty maddening, so I'd probably look elsewhere in the meantime.