New Year, New Deals for Relievers

As the year slipped from 2008 to 2009, two relievers signed new contracts, with former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow agreeing to a deal with the Rangers and longtime Joe Torre favorite signing with the Marlins to replace the departed Joe Nelson.

According to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick, Turnbow decided on Texas in large part because of his relationship with new Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux. Turnbow's signing is a calculated risk for the Rangers, who clearly need to roll the dice with a shaky pitching corps. Turnbow only played eight games in 2008 with a shoulder injury, but he didn't have surgery and he's expected to be at full health in 2009. Just keep that old adage in mind: when you hear "shoulder" or "elbow", don't assume full health.

The Proctor deal is a more direct swap out for the Marlins. Proctor arrives from the Dodgers, where he landed after being dealt from the Yankees at the deadline in 2007. The contract is for one year at $750,000 with $250,000 available in incentives, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

Still, as with Turnbow, there are health concerns with Proctor. He missed two months in 2008 with elbow tendinitis, and had surgery to repair a flexor tendon just two months ago. Proctor is expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training, but that all assumes that he progresses healthily until then which, obviously, is a big assumption. Funny thing about those elbows.