After Joe Nathan's departure to Detroit via free agency, the Texas Rangers must find a new closer. So why not go back to an old, familiar face?
Well, not so old, but definitely familiar.
Neftali Feliz was the Rangers' closer in 2010 and 2011 — each a pennant-winning season — before being shifted to the starting rotation in 2012 and blowing out his arm and needing Tommy John surgery.
He worked his way back late last season and pitched out of the bullpen in September, but now he appears to be finding his old stride and his days as a starting pitcher appear to be over.
Feliz looks to be the odds-on favorite to claim the closer job in Texas ahead of teammates Tanner Scheppers, who had a breakout 2013 as a setup man, and Joakim Soria, who's a former all-star closer in his own right from his days in Kansas City and is also coming off Tommy John surgery.
Feliz had 40 saves in 2010 to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors and racked up 32 more saves in 2011 before a stunning collapse in Game 6 of the World Series, and we all know how that ended.
