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Who Wants to be a Closer?

One of the glaring holes heading into the start of the 2007 baseball season is who will shut down games for the Florida Marlins. The Fish have always had a knack for turning a mediocre pitcher into a top 5 closer each year. Those closers then go on to reap the rewards of a nice free agent contract from a club who can afford a top notch closer. The Marlins idea of who would close games ranges from many unknowns to semi veteran unknowns. Enter the pitcher who nearly 5 teams have tried to make a closer without success. From Jack Macgruder’s East Valley Tribune report…

Florida on Monday sent a scout to Hi Corbett Field to watch Jorge Julio, who retired six of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless innings against Colorado regulars. He walked Kaz Matsui. The D-Backs appear to have an excess of bullpen right-handers, although any trade they make is likely to occur at the end of spring to make sure their inventory does not take a hit via injury.

I’m not against bringing in a semi proven closer for the job. It’s not like we are going to overpay for him, we really can’t afford too. If any club can turn a malcontent into a top closer it would be the Marlins bullpen staff. They have rejuvenated the career’s of Armando Benitez and Todd Jones. Bring him in, he has much more experience then the rest of the bunch.