Troy Percival

With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler. With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.

With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler. With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.With Percival healthy again after missing almost two seasons with a major elbow injury, Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was the Angels' bench coach during Percival's glory years, convinced Tampa Bay to snap him up this winter. Percival will replace Al Reyes as the Rays' closer; should he falter, there will be other options for the Rays to turn to, including Reyes and Dan Wheeler.

Percival was shut down last season because of a partial tear of the right flexor pronator muscle mass in his right arm. His career is in jeopardy and the Tigers are moving ahead assuming he won't return this season. Even if Percival were able to make a miraculous comeback his closing days are likely over.

Percival doesn't have overpowering stuff anymore, but he combines good command with enough craftiness to get the job done. He should begin the 2005 season as the Tigers stopper, but assuming Ugueth Urbina stays on the squad, Percival could get bumped to set-up duty fairly quickly were he to hit a rough patch. Given the degradation in his ratios, injury history and age, he might be someone to avoid in 2005.

Percival was hampered by injuries in 2003, yet it surprisingly only cost him a half dozen saves. The only troublesome thing is that the 34-year-old Percival sticks by his claim that the 2004 season could be his last. Keep an eye on his health during spring training, and if his hip isn't giving him any problems, it's okay to put him high on your closer list.

Skill-set wise, Percival is coming off of his two finest seasons since his first two years in the majors. He's had 30 or more saves the past five seasons, and appears to have overcome any lingering doubts about his shoulder. The only current threat to him losing his job is the lingering presence of Francisco Rodriguez. Even that concern should be allayed by the fact that the Angels shelled out $16 million to keep him signed through 2004.