With Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes, it’s becoming less and less a matter of if he gets dealt to a contender and more who makes the trade and when it happens. The Denver Post reported on Sunday that the Tampa Bay Rays have jumped into the driver’s seat for his services and are reportedly pushing to make a deal happen.

The three favorites to land Fuentes all reside in the American League East, with the Red Sox and Yankees also known to have a great interest in the three-time National League All-Star. The division-leading Rays have the best stocked farm system of the three and feature a pair of pitching prospects - Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis - that have intrigued the Rockies in the past, the Post reported.

For fantasy managers who own Fuentes, this comes as a little better news. With trade rumors swirling for the past month, it has been assumed that Fuentes will lose his value as a closer and be relegated to a set-up role. Not necessarily so in Tampa, where 38-year old closer Troy Percival is on the disabled for a second time with a troublesome left hamstring.

While it’s likely that the Rays will want to keep his left-handed arm in a set-up role, Fuentes is much more apt to unseat Dan Wheeler as a closer than Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon or New York’s Mariano Rivera.

In Colorado, there has been some debate over who will shift into Fuentes’ vacated ninth inning duties. With Taylor Buchholz in the midst of a career year, he was the logical choice in the early going. But, recently it was speculated that Manuel Corpas, removed from the closer role in May, would return to the ninth inning in the event of a trade.

There is value to be had in either candidate, but Corpas is the guy to grab with a speculative pick. He has gotten his act together with a 2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 16 strikeouts and just 1 walk in 16.2 innings since June 1. Control problems were the root of his troubles as a closer when he struck out 14 and walked 16 in his first 27.2 innings of work. One walk in the last 16.2 innings is a very encouraging sign that Corpas has righted the ship.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.