The Yankees had expressed interest in the right-handers Jose Mesa and Julian Tavarez, to help fill the gap in case the setup man, Jeff Nelson, signs elsewhere.
He wins a championship in 1996 as the setup man for John Wetteland and, soon, leaps into hyperspace as the closer, becoming such a feared adversary that opponents will talk about needing to win games against the Yankees in seven or eight innings before he takes the mound.
Bautista began 2008 with the Tigers in a relief role, often pitching in the eighth-inning as the "setup man" for veteran closer Todd Jones.
Jonathan Papelbon left Boston to join the Phillies in free agency, and the setup man Daniel Bard is headed for the starting rotation - again, depending on what other moves the Red Sox make or don't make.
Chamberlain on Friday repeated his often-stated opinion that he does not care whether he works as a starter or in relief, perhaps as the setup man to Mariano Rivera.
In 2011, he was the setup man for closer Javy Guerra, going 2-1 with a 2.85 ERA and five saves, striking out an amazing 96 and giving up 30 hits in only 53 and 2/3 innings.
The Rangers executive Nolan Ryan; closer Joe Nathan and John Wettelandd, the Yankees closer in 1996 when Rivera was the setup man, presented Rivera with cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a $5,000 check for Rivera's foundation.
The Yankees are also moving on other fronts -- they made a three-year, $9 million offer to the right-handed reliever Jeff Nelson, a strong first offer that is a sign of how serious the team is about retaining the setup man, in an off-season when there are very few quality right-handed relievers available.
But because Benitez will pitch in such high-pressure situations as the setup man for Mariano Rivera, this deal could have a great impact on the Yankees' pennant drive.
The setup man Tom Gordon has played in a Yankees-Red Sox A.L.C.S., for Boston in 1999.
