Dotel

Many online sources are reporting that Octavio Dotel is about to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, probably by the end of the day today.  This will have significant implications not only for Joel Hanrahan and Evan Meek, who were expected to compete for the closer's role in spring training, but for Dotel's value itself as he instantly would become the most likely closer candidate on the roster.

Other than a 10 inning stint with the Yankees in 2006, he's only once had an ERA above 3.76 since the 2000 season and even though he's getting up there in age (now thirty-six), he still can be dominating, exemplified by 75 strikeouts last year in just 62.1 innings for the White Sox and 92 a year earlier in 67 innings.

If and when this deal gets finalized, Dotel immediately becomes a threat for at least 10+ saves in the next edition of the forecasts and unlike a lot of the other 10-20 saves projected types, he's a good enough pitcher that the rest of his numbers actually are worth having on your team.