My NBCSports.com/Hardball Talk colleague Craig Calcaterra reports live from the Twins' clubhouse in Fort Myers that Joe Nathan has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and will likely undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Before going under the knife he'll rest for 2-3 weeks to see if he could possibly pitch through the injury, but Ron Gardenhire called it a "significant" tear and Craig notes that "everyone's body language and mood is that they're pessimistic and surgery is going to happen."

Damn. Just ... damn.

UPDATE: I'll have much more tomorrow, but for now here's my quick take on the closer options.