Hot Stove roundup: Closing in on remaining closers

The pool of potential closers available on the free-agent market shrank on Tuesday, when the Hot Stove was focused on relief pitching.

The Orioles were on the hunt for a closer after trading Jim Johnson to the A's earlier this offseason, and they now appear set to use some of the savings from that deal on Oakland's former closer. Grant Balfour, who saved 38 games for the A's in 2013, reportedly is in agreement on a two-year contract with Baltimore.

The Cubs also might have snatched up a new ninth-inning man after reaching a reported one-year pact with Jose Veras. That would leave Fernando Rodney, Joaquin Benoit, Rafael Betancourt and Chris Perez among a dwindling group of free agents with recent success as closers, and the Padres agreed to a two-year deal with Benoit on Wednesday.

In other news from around the league:

• Highly touted Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has informed his Nippon Professional Baseball club, the Rakuten Golden Eagles, that he wants to be made available to Major League teams. But even with NPB and MLB having a new posting agreement in place, the Eagles do not have to post Tanaka, and it appears they might be reluctant to do so.

• One club that figures to pursue Tanaka if he becomes available is Arizona, which is looking to add more starting pitching this offseason.

• The Yankees are close to signing a pair of veteran players, reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with second baseman Brian Roberts and a two-year contract with left-handed reliever Matt Thornton. Meanwhile, New York still would like to add free agent Mark Reynolds, but is facing competition from the Angels and Twins, among others, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and MLB Network. Jeff Baker is another veteran bat drawing interest from the club, per the New York Post's Joel Sherman.

• The Braves' search for additional starting pitching likely concluded with Monday's signing of Gavin Floyd to a one-year contract, despite the fact that the righty won't be ready until May as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. Atlanta had explored trades for the likes of the Rays' David Price and the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija, but found the asking prices too steep.

• Our Tom Singer checks in on free-agent righty A.J. Burnett, who has yet to make a decision about whether to retire, return to the Pirates or perhaps pitch for another team. It's a delay that is making things difficult for Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington.

• After losing out on Juan Uribe, the Marlins continue to search for a third baseman. The club is looking at both free agents and trade possibilities.

• The Mets' top priority is to trade one of their first basemen, Ike Davis or Lucas Duda. The Brewers and Pirates are the two remaining clubs that seem like obvious trade partners for such a deal. Pittsburgh is interested in both Davis and the Rangers' Mitch Moreland, according to Heyman.

• The Cardinals' recent signing of second baseman Mark Ellis likely was their last significant move of the offseason, as GM John Mozeliak acknowledged on Tuesday.

• On the other hand, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said his club still is looking hard at free agents, with the bullpen one area to address. Houston already has signed relievers Chad Qualls and Matt Albers.