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Clay Hensley had lunch with Trevor Hoffman last week in Milwaukee where he picked the brain of his mentor and former Padres teammate about the rigors of being a closer.
Hensley, who has converted all five save chances this month, is warming to the idea of coming to Jupiter in February as Florida's new closer. But the Marlins might have different plans for him.
One idea being kicked around by the baseball operations staff is to put Hensley in the starting rotation, a job he nearly landed out of spring training last March.
If Hensley ends up in the rotation in 2011, that doesn't necessarily mean that Leo Nunez will get his closer's job back. Nunez might not even be on the team.
The Marlins will decide whether they want to take a chance on him again - and pay him an increase over the $2 million he made this year.
The Marlins could decide to not tender him a contract and avoid paying Nunez possibly $4 million in arbitration this winter. Nunez has saved 29 games - a career high. He also has blown eight other chances.
He hasn't had a save chance since Aug. 29 when he suffered a loss and blown save in Atlanta, giving up two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With the Marlins eliminated from post-season contention, Rodriguez wants to give Nunez the ball this week in a save situation, to help him regain his confidence before the season ends.
Team officials will discuss Nunez's future plans when they meet in October.
If Nunez isn't here in 2011, the Marlins could go with Hensley, who's entering arbitration, or find a closer on the free-agent market.
Hensley would be the fifth starter next year in a rotation with four other right-handers: Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad.
"I already told (Hensley) I like him better as a starter or a middle reliever than a closer,' Rodriguez said. "But it's good to know as a player, as a manager, you have a guy you can rely on to close games.'
Hensley, who made $425,000 this year, has a career-high 65 appearances, tied with Nunez for most on the Marlins entering Tuesday's game against Atlanta. He's 3-4 with a 2.25 ERA.
For the first time in his career, Hensley didn't make a single start this year. As late as the final week in March, he was penciled in as the Marlins' fifth starter. He wound up opening the season as a middle reliever after the Marlins acquired left-handed starter Nate Robertson from Detroit.
"I love starting, and if I go back to it that's obviously fine. But I kind of enjoy what I'm doing now too,' Hensley, 31, said about closing.
"For the longevity of my career it might be a better fit. I'm also realistic about my body and going out there and throwing 200 innings every year. That can take its toll. Maybe as a career decision, (closing) might be a better move.'
Hensley, who has converted all five save chances this month, is warming to the idea of coming to Jupiter in February as Florida's new closer. But the Marlins might have different plans for him.
One idea being kicked around by the baseball operations staff is to put Hensley in the starting rotation, a job he nearly landed out of spring training last March.
If Hensley ends up in the rotation in 2011, that doesn't necessarily mean that Leo Nunez will get his closer's job back. Nunez might not even be on the team.
The Marlins will decide whether they want to take a chance on him again - and pay him an increase over the $2 million he made this year.
The Marlins could decide to not tender him a contract and avoid paying Nunez possibly $4 million in arbitration this winter. Nunez has saved 29 games - a career high. He also has blown eight other chances.
He hasn't had a save chance since Aug. 29 when he suffered a loss and blown save in Atlanta, giving up two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With the Marlins eliminated from post-season contention, Rodriguez wants to give Nunez the ball this week in a save situation, to help him regain his confidence before the season ends.
Team officials will discuss Nunez's future plans when they meet in October.
If Nunez isn't here in 2011, the Marlins could go with Hensley, who's entering arbitration, or find a closer on the free-agent market.
Hensley would be the fifth starter next year in a rotation with four other right-handers: Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad.
"I already told (Hensley) I like him better as a starter or a middle reliever than a closer,' Rodriguez said. "But it's good to know as a player, as a manager, you have a guy you can rely on to close games.'
Hensley, who made $425,000 this year, has a career-high 65 appearances, tied with Nunez for most on the Marlins entering Tuesday's game against Atlanta. He's 3-4 with a 2.25 ERA.
For the first time in his career, Hensley didn't make a single start this year. As late as the final week in March, he was penciled in as the Marlins' fifth starter. He wound up opening the season as a middle reliever after the Marlins acquired left-handed starter Nate Robertson from Detroit.
"I love starting, and if I go back to it that's obviously fine. But I kind of enjoy what I'm doing now too,' Hensley, 31, said about closing.
"For the longevity of my career it might be a better fit. I'm also realistic about my body and going out there and throwing 200 innings every year. That can take its toll. Maybe as a career decision, (closing) might be a better move.'
What do you think? Do you prefer Hensley in the bullpen (and it what role) or would you prefer he return to the rotation?
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