The Tampa Rays Finally Found a Closer
While the Tampa Rays have went from perennial doormat to possible perennial contender the last three years, they've always lacked something: a competent closer.
They've tried a series of washed-up veterans like Troy Percival, Jason Insringhausen, Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler and J.P. Howell over the years. It's a smart strategy for a small market team with a small budget. Closers are a luxury, and a pricey one at that.
But after trading prospect Jesse Chavez to the Braves for Rafael Soriano at the Winter Meetings, the Rays have easily their best back-end arm in their history. Soriano can be a free agent after the season, so he's probably not a long-term fix, but while the Yankees made the splashier move, the Rays quietly improved what was already a team good enough to contend with New York.
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