After the Miami Marlins acquisition of Heath Bell this week, Sportsnet.ca showcases some of the contracts closers have warranted in the past few years, as well as some free agents who could be next in line.

Heath Bell (Miami – 134 career saves)
After taking over the closing role from Trevor Hoffman in 2009, Bell made the all-star game in each of his three seasons as a full-time closer. The Marlins gave the 34-year-old a three-year, $27 million contract on Thursday.

Joe Nathan (Texas – 261 career saves)
After a long and successful tenure with the Twins, Nathan found himself as a free agent this off-season after the team declined his option. The Rangers gave the 37-year-old a two-year, $14.5 million contract to take over the closing role from the flame-throwing Neftali Feliz, who will now be a starter.

Fransisco Rodriguez (Free agent – 291 career saves)
K-Rod had four great years of closing for the Angels, and in 2008 saved an MLB record 62 games. The following year, Rodriguez took off to Queens for a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets. His tenure in New York was incredibly disappointing, and was shipped to the Brewers this past season to help their playoff run, serving as the setup man. He is now a free agent.

Brian Wilson (San Francisco – 170 career saves)
One of the more entertaining sports personalities, Wilson will be entering the final year of a three-year, $21.5 million contract. His penchant of allowing base runners (career WHIP of 1.33) hasn’t hurt his production; he has been an all star three of the past four seasons, getting better than 36 saves in each of those years.

Ryan Madson (Free agent – 52 career saves)
Despite having similar numbers to Jonathan Papelbon in 2011, the 31-year-old Madson is still without a team for this coming season. 2011 was his first year as a full-time closer, a role the Phillies gave him after Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list early in the year. For the past two seasons, Madson had been earning close to $5 million a year. Expect him to get a pay increase when a team makes him their undisputed closer.

Mariano Rivera (New York Yankees – 603 career saves)
The greatest closer the game has ever seen, Rivera is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $15 million in 2012. It is heavily rumoured that this will be Rivera’s final year, as he has already accomplished just about everything a relief pitcher can in professional baseball. The Yankees prepared themselves for this scenario by signing …

Rafael Soriano (New York Yankees – 90 career saves)
After being traded to the Tampa Bay in 2010, Soriano had an impressive year for the Rays. He led the American League with 45 saves, and appeared in the all star game. A free agent in 2011, the Yankees signed him (as an insurance policy for the aging Mariano Rivera) to a three-year, $35 million contract.

Jose Valverde (Detroit – 242 career saves)
‘Papa Grande’ has had a fruitful nine-year career in the majors, saving 40-plus games with three different teams (Arizona, Houston, Detroit). 2011 was his best season yet, saving 49 games and registering a career low 2.24 ERA. The Tigers picked up the option this year, and will pay Valverde $9 million before he becomes an attractive free agent next off-season.

Jonathan Papelbon (Philadelphia – 217 career saves)
Before Papelbon contributed to the famous final-day collapse of the Red Sox in 2011, he was considered one of the more effective closers in the league. The Phillies believed that when they gave him massive four-year, $50 million contract in November.

Matt Capps (Free agent – 124 career saves)
At the age of 28, Capps is the youngest player on this list. He started closing games in Pittsburgh, where he held the role for three years before signing a deal with the Washington Nationals. While in DC, Capps made the 2010 All-Star Game, before being traded shortly thereafter to Minnesota. He pitched in a variety of roles for the Twins, and now hits the free agent market with an impressive resume for such a young pitcher.

JJ Putz (Arizona – 151 career saves)
Between 2006 and 2007, Putz closed 76 games for the Seattle Mariners. Two awful years followed (with Seattle and the New York Mets), and a decent year with the White Sox before the Diamondbacks gave him a two-year, $8.5 million contract (with an option for a third year). Putz revitalized his career in the desert, saving 45 games and helping the team win a National League West title.