MLB: Cardinals add closer Greg Holland

Less than two hours before the start of their season, the St. Louis Cardinals found a closer.

Greg Holland and the Cardinals agreed to a $14 million, one-year contract Thursday, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been announced.

A three-time All-Star, Holland was a free agent after leading the National League with 41 saves last season for the Colorado Rockies. His addition would be a major boost to an unsettled Cardinals bullpen lacking a proven closer in the wake of several injuries.

Yuli Gurriel of the Houston Astros started the season on baseball’s restricted list to serve a five-game suspension rather than on the disabled list after hand surgery last month. Gurriel was suspended after making an inappropriate gesture during Game 3 of the World Series. He said then that he didn’t intend to offend then-Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish when he pulled on the corners of his eyes after homering against the pitcher from Japan. Barring rainouts, he will lose $322,581 of his $12 million salary. ... Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was put on the 60-day disabled list because of bone spurs in his right heel, retroactive to Wednesday. Tulowitzki suffered a season-ending ankle injury July 28 and has not played since.