The Diamondbacks are nearing a deal with reliever Tom Gordon, a move that would bolster a bullpen that took an offseason hit and could give the D-backs a fall-back closer candidate.
The D-backs lost two quality free agent relievers, Brandon Lyon and Juan Cruz, in the offseason, and while neither has signed with a new team, the D-backs consider both to be out of their price range. Gordon spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia but missed the Phillies' run to the 2008 World Series title after undergoing ulnar nerve decompression surgery in early July. He spent the rest of the season on the disabled list.
Gordon, 41, is 138-125 with 158 saves and a 3.94 ERA in 20 major league seasons. He was a starter the first half of his career but was converted to closing in Boston in the second half of 1997 and had a career-high 46 saves in 1998. He had 34 saves in his first season with the Phillies, 2006.
He would be penciled in as a setup man behind closer Chad Qualls, who enters spring training with that job after taking over from Lyon last September.
Scott Schoeneweis already has been added to serve as a left-handed specialist in a bullpen that also includes right-handers Tony Pena and Jon Rauch, both of whom also have closing experience.
