Closer News: Hanrahan to DL for Red Sox, Parnell to remain as closer for Mets

Joel Hanrahan to the DL

The Boston Red Sox have officially placed de facto closer Joel Hanrahan on the disabled list with inflammation in his arm, reports Jenny Dell of NESN. To replace him on the roster, Boston has called up Allen Webster from Triple-A.

Hanrahan, 32, left Monday's game with an arm injury that was labeled as a right forearm strain. There is reportedly nothing wrong with his arm structurally, which indicates that he should not be on the shelf long. Hanrahan reclaimed the closer role in Boston after Andrew Bailey was placed on the DL a few days ago. Hanrahan started the year as closer before ineffectiveness and a separate disabled list stint cost him the job.

Red Sox manager John Farrell has said that Junichi Tazawa will collect any save opportunities while the two closers are out of action. Tazawa has been excellent in relief for Boston, with a 1.70 ERA over 53 games since 2012. In that span, he has a 9.7 K/9 with just a 1.2 BB/9.

Many expected Boston to name Koji Uehara as closer in the interim, but Farrell wants Uehara to remain as set-up man, where he has excelled since 2010.

Allen Webster has been called up to take Hanrahan's roster spot. Webster, 23, was ranked by Baseball America as the 49th best prospect in the nation prior to 2013. He made a spot start earlier in the year for Boston, pitched six innings against the Kansas City Royals and allowing two earned runs. He is expected to start on Wednesday while Felix Doubront will move to the rotation for one turn.

Bobby Parnell to remain as closer for Mets

As Frank Francisco nears a return for the New York Mets, manager Terry Collins says that Bobby Parnell will remain in the ninth inning, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN.

Parnell, 28, may still relinquish the closer role to Francisco, but not until the latter throws some major league innings first. Francisco, 33, has not pitched for the Mets this season since undergoing offseason elbow surgery, but made a minor league rehab appearance on Sunday. Francisco had a lot of troubles in 2012, finishing the season with a 5.53 ERA in 48 games and collecting 23 saves.

For his part, Parnell has been lights out in 2013. He has given up just two earned runs in thirteen games and has improved his once erratic control. This season has been a continuation of 2012 for Parnell, when the right hander had a 2.49 ERA over 74 games.