Here is a look at the fantasy baseball closer report for week 22. It contains all of the most recent closer news, plus the current closers and the current handcuffs.
The trade of Brian Fuentes from the Los Angeles Angels puts Fernando Rodney in the closer role in LA with Fuentes moving to a set up role in Minnesota behind Matt Capps. Although Fuentes picked up a one-out save Saturday based on a lefty matchup, Capps is still the closer to own for the Twins. For keeper leagues, it means Fuentes will be trying to win a job on a new team next season as a free agent and Rodney should be the closer in LA as he is under contract for 2011 at $5.5 million. Dynasty owners should keep an eye on recent call-up Jordan Walden who could figure into the mix for saves down the line, but he still has some work to do on his control with 24 walks in 49 2/3 innings in the minor leagues.
Koji Uehara tied for the American League lead with three saves last week in Baltimore and is firmly in control of the closer role for the Baltimore Orioles with Mike Gonzalez serving in a setup role. Gonzalez is due to earn $6 million in 2011 so he could get a crack at regaining the job next spring.
With J.J. Putz on the disabled list and Matt Thornton out with a forearm injury the last two weeks, Bobby Jenks should see the majority of saves for the Chicago White Sox. Of course having said that, Jenks allowed three runs in the ninth against the Cleveland Indians to send the game into extra innings.
Brandon Lyon led the National League with three saves last week and has entrenched himself as closer in Houston with Matt Lindstrom out of action. With Lyon under contract through 2012, if he closes out the year as closer like has been pitching the last few weeks, he will head into 2011 as the main guy.
| Team | Closer | Handcuff |
| BAL | Koji Uehara | Mike Gonzalez |
| BOS | Jonathan Papelbon | Daniel Bard |
| CHW | Bobby Jenks | Matt Thornton |
| CLE | Chris Perez | |
| DET | Jose Valverde | Phil Coke |
| KC | Joakim Soria | Robinson Tejada |
| LAA | Fernando Rodney | John Walden |
| MIN | Matt Capps | Brian Fuentes |
| NYY | Mariano Rivera | Joba Chamberlain |
| OAK | Andrew Bailey | Michael Wuertz |
| SEA | David Aardsma | Brandon League |
| TB | Rafael Soriano | Dan Wheeler |
| TEX | Neftali Feliz | Frank Francisco |
| TOR | Kevin Gregg | Jason Frasor |
| AZ | Aaron Heilman | Juan Gutierrez |
| ATL | Billy Wagner | Takashi Saito |
| CHI | Carlos Marmol | Sean Marshall |
| CIN | Francisco Cordero | Arthur Rhodes |
| COL | Huston Street | Rafael Betancourt |
| FLA | Leo Nunez | Clay Hensley |
| HOU | Brandon Lyon | Wilton Lopez |
| LAD | Hong-Chih Kuo | Octavio Dotel |
| MIL | John Axford | Trevor Hoffman |
| NYM | H. Takahashi | Pedro Feliciano |
| PHI | Brad Lidge | Jose Contreras, Ryan Madson |
| PIT | Joel Hanrahan | Evan Meek |
| STL | Ryan Franklin | Jason Motte |
| SD | Heath Bell | Luke Gregerson |
| SF | Brian Wilson | Sergio Romo |
| WAS | Drew Storen | Ty Clippard |


