The Athletics will open the season with Grant Balfour as their closer. Balfour, who has eight years of Major League service time but has never been a full-time closer, made no secret about the fact that he wanted the job. "I was happy to hear it," Balfour said. "You don't want to get too excited and lose track of what you've got to do. ... I've just got to keep doing what I've been doing." He had been in competition for the role with veteran left-hander Brian Fuentes, who has saved more than 20 games in seven separate seasons, including an American League-leading 48 when he was with the Angels in 2009.