Braves still need a closer

ATLANTA - The countdown to spring training is on for the Atlanta Braves, but general manager John Schuerholz says the team may still be looking for a closer when pitchers and catchers report to Florida in six weeks.

"We don't have a closer, but I'm not concerned about whether we do it before we go to spring training or after we go to spring training," Schuerholz said. "We'll have a closer. We don't have one now. There's no time sensitivity with that."

The Braves went through three closers last year: Dan Kolb, Chris Reitsma and Kyle Farnsworth. After the season, the team traded Kolb back to Milwaukee and lost Farnsworth, who signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Only Reitsma is back, and the comments from Schuerholz indicate Reitsma is not viewed as the top candidate for ninth-inning work.

Schuerholz says his choices are to trade for a closer or to find one already in the organization. The option of bidding for a free-agent closer was too costly for the Braves' budget.

"The reality is, the closer market is closed unless we make a trade or make a conversion of someone on our staff," he said.

Schuerholz shot down growing speculation that last season's breakout starter, Jorge Sosa, might become the closer. He said Sosa was so successful as a starter there is no reason to move him back to the bullpen, where he began the 2005 season.

Instead, expect Sosa to open the season behind John Smoltz and Tim Hudson in the rotation.

"Some would argue he was our most consistent starter, so I don't anticipate that," Schuerholz said of the suggestion Sosa could move back to the bullpen. "He was so valuable when he took over the starter role."

Sosa was 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 44 games, including 20 starts. Smoltz and Hudson each had 14 wins to lead the team.

John Thomson, Horacio Ramirez and 2005 rookie Kyle Davies are the top candidates to fill the two spots behind Smoltz, Hudson and Sosa.

Schuerholz confirmed that it is reasonable to suggest the team could deal from that strength to acquire a closer. One team looking for starting pitching is Tampa Bay, which might offer closer Danys Baez.

The Braves also could hope a closer emerges from its roster during spring training under new pitching coach Roger McDowell. The team has several options.

Reitsma had 15 saves in 24 opportunities last year, but he blew five of six chances after July.

Joey Devine, the Braves' first-round draft pick last June, is viewed as the closer of the future despite giving up grand slams in his first two big-league games and then allowing the homer that knocked the Braves out of the playoffs.

Blaine Boyer, former Screven County star Macay McBride, and newcomers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villareal also could become candidates.