Carlos Marmol has been replaced by Kyuji Fujikawa as the Cubs' closer.

Marmol allowed a pair of homers while blowing a save Saturday and has given up at least one run in all three appearances this season. There's always the possibility that he could eventually get the job back, but don't bet on it.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said there will be a discussion about other closer options after Carlos Marmol blew his first save of the season on Saturday.

It wasn't just Saturday's blown save against the Braves that caused Sveum to make those comments. Marmol has allowed runs in all three of his appearances this season. Sveum indicated the team might look to Shawn Camp or James Russell in save situations in the future. Kyuji Fujikawa has struggled too much to be given a shot.

Carlos Marmol blew his first save of the season on Saturday, allowing a walkoff home run to Justin Upton.

Marmol nearly blew a save Thursday when he yielded two earned runs in the ninth inning against the Pirates. He looks lost at the moment, but so does next-in-line setup man Kyuji Fujikawa. The Cubs may have to get creative in order to solve their ongoing ninth-inning woes.

Carlos Marmol yielded two earned runs in the ninth inning Thursday against the Pirates but got the save.

Marmol was disastrous, yielding three singles and a walk before striking out Pedro Alvarez and getting Neil Walker to ground into a game-ending double play. The wild right-hander also struggled in his first outing of the season on Monday. Kyuji Fujikawa should be the Cubs' ninth-inning man before long.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Monday that he is sticking with Carlos Marmol as his closer.

Marmol was pulled from a save opportunity Monday against the Pirates after he allowed three out of the four batters he faced to reach base, but Sveum isn't ready to give up on him after one appearance. "He's still the closer," said Sveum. "I'm not making any changes or anything like that, he just didn't have it today." We expect that the Cubs will give him an opportunity to straighten things out, as they could eventually find a taker in the trade market, but it's likely only a matter of time before Kyuji Fujikawa (who notched the one-out save Monday) gets the job.

Carlos Marmol was pulled from his first save opportunity of the season Monday after allowing three out of the four batters he faced to reach base.

Never change, Carlos. After striking out Garret Jones swinging, Marmol hit Andrew McCutchen with a pitch. McCutchen then stole second base and was brought home on an RBI single by Pedro Alvarez. Cubs manager Dale Sveum finally brought the hook after Marmol walked Gaby Sanchez. James Russell was able to get Neil Walker to fly out while Kyuji Fujikawa finished off the Pirates by getting Russell Martin on a routine fly ball. The Cubs were hoping that Marmol could get off to a hot start so that they could trade him, but he's not cooperating with the plan. It might not happen right away, but Fujikawa should have the closer job before long.

Carlos Marmol surrendered three runs in two-thirds of an inning and took a loss Saturday against the Astros.

Marmol ended up allowing 13 runs -- eight earned -- in 10 1/3 innings this spring. He walked nine and struck out five. The Cubs would certainly prefer to keep Marmol in the closer's role and let him build up a little trade value early in the year. However, if he keeps struggling, they'll have no choice but to go to Kyuji Fujikawa. We view Fujikawa as the superior fantasy option.

Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago reports that the Tigers are not, and never were, interested in acquiring right-hander Carlos Marmol from the Cubs.

Levine had originally reported two weeks earlier that the Tigers were taking a "hard look" at acquiring the Cubs' closer. But it doesn't sound like it's going to happen. Detroit's ninth-inning role is still up for grabs.

The Cubs have told Carlos Marmol's agent to expect a trade this season.

This isn't breaking news, as the Cubs have already agreed to trade Marmol once this offseason. However, the expectation is that he won't be dealt before Opening Day. Marmol, who has limited no-trade rights, is making $9.8 million in the final year of his contract.

Carlos Marmol indicated Friday that he isn't paying any attention to the recent trade rumors swirling around him.

Marmol added that he "doesn't believe anything", and that his sole focus in camp is to keep working to prepare for the season. Given the fact that they've already agreed to trade him once this offseason, it seems like there's a legitimate chance that he is indeed moved before the season begins. It's a messy situation for fantasy owners, as those speculating for saves will have to monitor both Marmol and Kyuji Fujikawa closely heading into draft day.

The Chicago Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer reports that there is "nothing to" reports of trade interest in Carlos Marmol, "especially with Detroit."

It backs up Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune's report. Wittenmyer adds that the Cubs "don't expect to move Marmol until after the season starts, probably at the trade deadline." The Tigers are looking at trade possibilities to fill their ninth inning void, but it appears Marmol is not on their radar.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Tigers and Cubs have yet to discuss a Carlos Marmol trade, and "at the moment it appears Detroit is focusing on other possibilities."

Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago reported earlier Tuesday that the Tigers were "taking a hard look" at Marmol, but it appears that report might have overstated their interest. Rogers did add that talks between the two teams "could still surface." Although it does appear that the Tigers will add someone, Marmol is an odd fit since, like Bruce Rondon, he has control issues.

Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago reports that the Tigers are "taking a hard look" at the Cubs' Carlos Marmol.

Cubs president Theo Epstein said he believes Carlos Marmol will be exonerated after his domestic abuse case was sent to a higher court Friday.

"We take any accusation of this nature seriously," Epstein told the Chicago Tribune. "All the information we could gather supports Carlos' contention that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. We expect this matter to be behind him soon." Mamol, who is currently set to open season as the Cubs' closer, is expected to be available for the start of spring training.

Carlos Marmol has been accused of abusing a 24-year-old woman in his native Dominican Republic.

Marmol is denying the claim and his lawyer has filed a counter complaint against the woman accusing here of blackmail and extortion. Cubs president Theo Epstein has not commented on the story. Marmol is expected to open the 2013 season as Chicago's ninth-inning man.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said Friday that Carlos Marmol will remain the team's closer, despite the recent signing of Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa.

This is assuming that Marmol is still with the team come spring training. They've already attempted to trade him once this offseason, in the potential Dan Haren deal, and will likely continue to do so. If he begins the season with the club, his margin for error will be small.

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have told Carlos Marmol he's a trade candidate, but they won't "give him away."

It comes as no surprise, as Marmol was set to be dealt to the Angels last month before the deal fell through due to Dan Haren's iffy physical. Since then, the Cubs have come to terms with Japanese reliever Kyuji Fujikawa, making Marmol even more expendable. Marmol is set to earn $9.8 million next season in the final year of his contract.

According to reports, the Angels have acquired Carlos Marmol from the Cubs in exchange for Dan Haren.

Marmol is on the final year of his contract and will earn $9.8 million this season. He joins Ernesto Frieri, Scott Downs and Jordan Walden at the backend of what's shaping up to be an impressive Angels bullpen.

Carlos Marmol snapped a string of 19 consecutive converted saves, when he allowed a solo home run to Carlos Beltran in the ninth inning on Saturday.

Marmol pitched his way out of the inning, only allowing the one run on one hit plus a walk, and also struck out a batter. It was enough to give the Cardinals life though, and they pushed a run across in the 10th to win the game. Even with the setback, it was just his third blown save in 23 chances on the season to go along with a 3.61 ERA and 67/44 K/BB ratio in 52 1/3 innings.

Carlos Marmol has converted a career-best 18 straight save opportunities.

Marmol previously converted 17 straight the end of the 2010 season. He looked like a lost cause a couple of months ago, but he has allowed just four earned runs over his last 21 appearances and now has a 3.88 ERA for the year. Walks continue to be an issue, but the Cubs could potentially find a trade partner this offseason if they eat some his $9.8 million salary for 2013.