Say It Aint So, Joe

Senior Beisbol (@HoffyBeisbol) Seniorbeisbol@gmail.com www.profantasybaseball.com It looks like 2010 will be a lost season for Joe Nathan. An MRI has revealed a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his throwing elbow. He will rest the arm for two weeks before trying to throw through the pain. It is more likely that he will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entire season. With Nathan gone, the closer role in Minnesota goes from being crystal clear, to very cloudy. As I said on Sunday, Jon Rauch is the only pitcher in the bullpen that has any extended closing experience. Of course that experience was a half season with Washington two years ago. Standing nearly seven feet tall, he certainly has the look of an intimidating closer, but does he have the stuff? If not Rauch, then maybe Matt Guerrier. Guerrier had an outstanding 2009 as a set-up man, his ratios mirrored the now injured Nathan. He walked only 16 hitters in over 70 innings, had an ERA of 2.36 and a WHIP under 1.00. Those numbers may scream 'closer material,' but does Twins manager want to weaken two positions at once by moving his best set-up guy to closer? The other option that the Twins have is to look outside the organization for a closer. There are a few closers out there that could be had, but the price might be a bit high for the thrifty Twins. While they have bulked up their payroll dramatically this year to ensure a good on-field product as they open up their new stadium, I do not see them going out to get Kerry Wood and his $11 million salary from Cleveland. If the Blue Jays were willing to part ways with Scott Downs or Jason Frasor, I am sure the Twins could nab one of them. As a strong believer in not paying for saves, this is a situation that I will be monitoring closely. A lot of times all it takes to become a solid fantasy closer is a manager that gives him the ball in the ninth, and one lucky Twin will be given an opportunity soon.