By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies are making a change at the closer's role, but perhaps not the one that fans anticipated.
Manager Pete Mackanin spoke to collective media this afternoon, which included Kevin Cooney of Calkins Media, and said that Joaquin Benoit will replace Jeanmar Gomez in the ninth inning:
Joaquin Benoit will be the Phillies closer for now. Jeanmar Gomez will take an undefined role towards the middle innings
— Kevin Cooney (@KevinCooney) April 10, 2017
This decision comes a day after Gomez blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of yesterday's 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals. It also comes on the heels of him giving up a two-run home run in the season-opener and after a disastrous month of September 2016 saw him lose the closer's job. Gomez did seize the closer's job last April under similar circumstances and closed out 37 games, but it had become apparent that he was no longer suited to pitch in the ninth inning.
Though Benoit has primarily been a set-up man throughout the course of his career, he does have 51 saves in his career, including a career-high of 24 in 2013 with the Detroit Tigers. By placing him the ninth inning, the Phillies will gain stability and perhaps increase the summer trade value of the 39-year-old.
It does come as a minor surprise that Hector Neris wasn't named the team's closer, but Benoit also wasn't handed the job for the rest of the year. If Benoit struggles, Neris or Edubray Ramos will likely get the next look at the ninth inning. If he thrives and is traded prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, both Neris and Ramos will likely still be with the team and one of them will get a chance to assume the closer's role.
