Quick closer update here, written in the style of someone who's rushing to catch a flight out of Newark, 17 hours later than expected.

We've had two important saves-related developments:

1) Lou Piniella named Kevin Gregg his closer. This means the Cubs can use their bullpen's best pitcher (clearly Carlos Marmol) in set-up situations, where there's often more stress and no margin for error. It's a nice real-life move, but a bummer for fantasy purposes. Had he won the job, Marmol would have been a top-tier RP. He's still worth owning, of course. Marmol delivered 114 Ks and a 0.93 WHIP in 87.1 innings last year.

2) Brandon Morrow is headed back to the Mariners' bullpen, and he'll likely close. He's the team's most only highly skilled end-game option. This from the Mariners' website:

Manager Don Wakamatsu said Morrow would become "a bullpen piece and we'll see where it slots out. We think we can get three more outings from him before Spring Training ends. Then we'll evaluate and make a decision, probably in Las Vegas." ...  Morrow presumably would move into the closer role at some point.

Seattle just released Tyler Walker, so you won't find him on the blinding spreadsheet below.

Update: OK, the update to the update will be written in the style of someone who hasn't really slept much, but at least they're not at Newark Liberty International Airport anymore. 

• There's still a battle underway in Colorado between Manuel Corpas and Huston Street. Corpas has clearly had the better spring (1.13 ERA vs. 5.40), but Street has only allowed four hits and one earned run in his last eight innings. Expect an official decision soon -- perhaps today, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding.

• We may not have an official closer in St. Louis yet, but Jason Motte has had an exceptional spring (1.74 ERA, 10.1 IP, 15 K, 1 BB). He's your frontrunner. 

• Matt Lindstrom is looking a little safer all the time. 

• According to...well, according to everyone, but we're citing a report in the Toronto Globe and Mail, BJ Ryan is in fact missing a few ticks: "Ryan's fastball that has been hovering between an underwhelming 84 and 87 miles an hour as he struggles to find his form during the Blue Jays' spring training campaign."

It's important to note that last year, Ryan's average fastball was an underwhelming 88.9 mph. Let's not overstate how much he's lost. Ryan has undeniably had a poor spring (9.00 ERA), although his worst outings were in late-February. I downgraded him in the most recent round of RP rankings (those will be posted shortly), but he's still the guy in Toronto. As for the handcuff, the Globe and Mail reports that Jays' manager Cito Gaston "would have left-hander Scott Downs slide into Ryan's spot should that eventuality arise."

Update II: Hey, Chris Perez is the closer!

...in Triple-A Memphis, not in St. Louis. He's been optioned to the minors. Said Tony La Russa, "He needs to work on his stuff and the big leagues are not a place to work on stuff. He lacks experience, and he needs to pitch."

When asked about the Cards' closer situation, La Russa offered this nugget, via the team's website:

"We're going to use whoever is available," La Russa said. "But I would believe that Motte will get a chance to close games." 

That's all he's gonna give you. Stop asking for more.

And from the stuff-we've-covered-but-now-it's-official department, Trevor Hoffman is on the DL. He's eligible to return April 11, but that date seems optimistic. Carlos Villanueva is the add -- and he qualifies at SP, so that's a nice little bonus.  

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