Twins have no obvious candidate to replace Nathan

Short of catcher Joe Mauer declaring he always wanted to be a Yankee, there couldn't have been worse news for Minnesota Twins fans than the stunning announcement that All-Star closer Joe Nathan is probably out for the year with a torn elbow ligament.

Signing Mauer to a contract extension now becomes Priority 1A for the Twins, sharing top billing with finding a closer to replace Nathan if the Twins hope to contend for the AL Central title again.

An unscientific poll of fans at the Minneapolis Star Tribune website this afternoon was almost evenly split among three options: trade for a closer, pick one from the current bullpen, wait until the end of spring training.

The in-house options include Jon Rauch, who has some closing experience (26 career saves) but never in a pennant race, and Matt Guerrier, who posted lights-out numbers as a set-up man last year (5-1, 2.36 ERA, .969 WHIP in 79 games). Jesse Crain, who struggled early last year but flashed his old form after a trip to the minors, is another possibility.

The trade options are limited or expensive. The Twins would probably have no trouble obtaining Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians. All they'd had to do is pick up his $10.5 million contract, with a vesting option for 2011 if he finishes 55 games.

San Diego's Heath Bell, earning $4 million, is probably the name we'll hear most in the coming weeks, along with the Blue Jays' Jason Frasor, in a three-man competition for the closer's role in Toronto. Cincinnati's Francisco Cordero and Kansas City's Joaqim Soria, sidelined with a shoulder injury part of last year, are other names that have already been floated. And former Braves closer John Smoltz, 42, is still unsigned.

The best guess from this view is that the Twins stand pat for now. Their track record is one of patience, so you can expect them to try to sort it out internally before giving up prospects in a trade. It's unlikely anyone will run away with the AL Central Division, and they could still have a chance to land someone like Bell, Oakland set-up man Michael Wuertz or Pittsburgh's Octavio Dotel at the trading deadline.

By Mike Dodd