Troy Percival : December 3rd, 2008, 6:12 pm est

News: Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival had back surgery this week and is expected to be ready to return to the AL champions before opening day. The surgery was performed Tuesday in California. The reliever is expected to take three months to recover. With 352 saves, Percival is eighth on the career list.

Analysis: Percival, a 39-year-old right-hander, went 2-1 with a 4.53 ERA and a team-leading 28 saves this year, but also missed 42 games while spending three stints on the DL because of hamstring and knee injuries. He had only one save after Aug. 13 and also was bothered during the final months of the season by tightness in his back and was left off the postseason roster. He is an injury-risk closer at this point, but the Rays figure to be a contender and Percival could be a good Fantasy option if he can prove healthy in spring training. We won't know his health and closer's status until very late in the spring, so watch him closely if you need a sleeper for saves