Thursday, 14 February 2013 22:00

Written by Bill Brink

BRADENTON, Fla. — Last spring, I asked Joel Hanrahan what it took to be a good closer.

“Opportunity,” he said.

The debate over closers – whether the final three outs are different from the previous 24, how best to use your best reliever and whether they are worth multi-million dollar contracts – simmers on. Hanrahan got the opportunity in spring 2011 and now has it in Boston.

Because Hanrahan went to Boston, Jason Grilli has the opportunity now. In today’s Post-Gazette, Michael Sanserino writes about Grilli assuming the closer’s role at age 36.

Today is the first full-squad workout. Everyone but Stolmy Pimentel is expected to be present. The intrasquad scrimmage takes place a week from today.