Francisco Cordero notched his 37th save of the year despite walking four batters over one inning in Tuesday's 13-inning win over the Mets.

CoCo has managed to escape danger all year but this was extreme, even for him. With a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 13th, Cordero walked leadoff hitter Nick Evans. Evans was promptly picked off trying to steal. Cordero then walked Josh Thole and gave second base to pinch-runner Jason Bay on a balk. He then walked the next two batters before inducing a game-ending double play on a line drive off the bat of Justin Turner. Assuming he doesn't pitch Wednesday, Cordero posted a 2.45 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 2011 despite fanning just 42 batters in 69 2/3 innings.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Tuesday that he is optimistic about working out a new contract with closer Francisco Cordero in the near future.

It sounds like the two sides are on the same page, as Jocketty said it will "probably" be a two-year deal. The Reds hold a $12 million club option for next season, but they are likely to decline and bring him back at a lesser annual salary.

Francisco Cordero told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday that he is optimistic about returning to the Reds next season.

"They called my agent and talked about me coming back," said Cordero. "And they told me personally that they want me back. They know I want to come back." The Reds hold a $12 million club option on Cordero for next season, but they could decline and work out a multi-year deal for less money in order to bring him back.

Francisco Cordero notched his 34th save of the year in Tuesday's win over the Astros.

He allowed one hit and no runs in protecting a two-run lead. CoCo has only struck out 40 batters all season, but his control has been good and he's posted a nice 2.43 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. The Reds have a $12 million option on Cordero for 2012, which they will not pick up, but Reds GM Walt Jocketty is open to discussing an extension with the veteran closer.

Reds GM Walt Jocketty said an extension for Francisco Cordero is a "possibility."

"We've discussed it quite a bit," Jocketty said. "We haven't made a final decision. Hopefully, we'll address before the end of the season." The Reds have a $12 million option on CoCo for 2012, which they will not pick up, but they could re-negotiate a new deal. Cordero holds a 2.30 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while converting 32 of 37 save chances this season.

Francisco Cordero wants to remain with the Reds beyond this season.

The Reds have a $12 million option on Cordero for 2012, which they surely won't pick up, but CoCo said he's willing to negotiate a new deal. Cordero has had a terrific season, posting a 2.41 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, but he'll turn 37 early next season, so giving him a multi-year contract would be risky.

Francisco Cordero picked up a win in relief after pitching a scoreless ninth against the Braves on Sunday.

Cordero has had three clean outings in a row after giving up runs in four straight outings prior to the All-Star break. His job security was never really in question, but fantasy leaguers will appreciate the resurgence.

Attempting to protect an 8-7 lead in the ninth inning in St. Louis on Wednesday, Francisco Cordero blew his first save since May 25 (14 appearances), allowing a solo home run to Jon Jay.

Cordero was just one of many Reds hurlers to falter this evening, as Cincinnati allowed St. Louis to come all the way back from an 8-0 deficit before eventually winning 9-8 in 13 innings. A disappointing night, but not a concerning one, as Cordero is coming off a June that saw him post a 0.90 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in 10 appearances. For the season, he is the owner of a 1.69 ERA and 0.88 WHIP to go along with 17 saves.

Francisco Cordero has allowed just one earned run in nine relief appearances this month.

Cordero is holding opponents to a .037 batting average in that span and now has a stellar 1.57 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over 34 1/3 total innings this season. He has successfully converted 15 of 17 save opportunities.

Francisco Cordero gave up a run in the ninth Tuesday against the Dodgers, but held on to record his 14th save of the season in a 3-2 victory.

We're still wary of Cordero falling back to earth, but he's certainly been a reliable fantasy closer all season. He is currently sporting a 1.67 ERA and 0.83 WHIP through 32 1/3 innings.

Francisco Cordero has not allowed an earned run in his past eight relief appearances.

Cordero has been a reliable fantasy closer all season and is currently sporting a 1.44 ERA and 0.83 WHIP through 31 1/3 innings. He has 13 saves in 15 chances.

Francisco Cordero currently has the best ERA of his career at 1.77.

Cordero blew eight saves in 48 chances in 2010 and posted his worst ERA (3.84) and WHIP (1.43) since 2000 while watching his K/9 rate drop for the third straight season. He entered this season in serious risk of losing his closer role to Aroldis Chapman or Nick Masset. Instead, Chapman has struggled while Cordero is enjoying his finest season. CoCo is 3-1 with eight saves out of nine chances and a 0.98 WHIP in 20 appearances. He hasn't allowed a run since May 7 and has about as much job security as anyone right now.

Francisco Cordero has successfully converted his first three save chances this season.

Cordero may not be near the top of the total saves leaderboard, but he has allowed just five hits and two earned runs in nine appearances and is currently working with a 2.00 ERA. He should remain a steady presence in the ninth inning all season.

Francisco Cordero claimed he's lost 10 pounds since the end of last season.

"I've never been that heavy as I was last year," Cordero said, who believes His greater girth adversely affected his pitching mechanics. That could help explain last year's eight blown saves, reduced K/9 rate, and elevated ERA and WHIP. A little less mass and a little more competition from guys like Aroldis Chapman should motivate Cordero to get his groove back.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said there's no closer controversy with the Reds and that Francisco Cordero is his man.

Baker noted that while Cordero made things exciting at times, he finished second in the NL in saves in 2010. We don't doubt that there's no controversy at this point, but Cordero will have to improve if he wants to keep his job for the duration of the 2011 season. If CoCo gets off to a slow start and Aroldis Chapman is mowing them down, you can bet Reds fans will be calling for a change.

Reds MLB.com beat writer Mark Sheldon thinks Francisco Cordero needs to get off to a fast start or will risk losing his closer role to Aroldis Chapman or Nick Masset.

CoCo blew eight saves in 48 chances in 2010 and posted his worst ERA (3.84) and WHIP (1.43) since 2000 while watching his K/9 rate drop for the third straight season. He's heading into the final year of his contract (his $12 million option for 2012 almost surely won't be picked up) and enters 2011 on one of the hottest closer seats in baseball.

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Reds have made Francisco Cordero available.

Cordero, 35, posted a 3.84 ERA to go along with a 59/36 K/BB ratio and 40 saves in 48 opportunities this past season. He's still owed $12 million in 2011 and either a $12 million option in 2012 or a $1 million buyout, so the Reds would have to absorb some of his salary in a potential deal. There are plenty of closer-types available this offseason, so we don't see anybody biting. If the Reds are somehow successful, keep an eye on Nick Masset.

Reds manager Dusty Baker has defended struggling closer Francisco Cordero.

"I don't get nervous handing him the ball," Baker said. "I get nervous in the game like everybody else... Everyone wants you to go get somebody else and put them in there. Who are you going to find out there that's better?" Cordero has 30 saves this season, but he's blown six and has an un-closer like 4.11 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. He was removed from Saturday's game in the ninth inning after walking the bases loaded and hitting a batter to force in a run. It appears that Baker is comfortable with Cordero, but that doesn't mean his fantasy owners should be.

Francisco Cordero bounced back from Monday's blown save with a scoreless ninth in Tuesday's win over the A's.

He picked up his 18th save. Worth noting, though, is that it took him 21 pitches. He just threw 33 pitches on Monday, so he's probably due for a day off Wednesday. That could lead to a save chance for Arthur Rhodes.

Francisco Cordero blew his fifth save Monday against the A's and ended up allowing three runs in one-plus innings.

After inheriting a 2-1 lead headed into the bottom of the ninth, Cordero immediately gave up a home run to Kevin Kouzmanoff on the first pitch he threw. He finished the ninth and preserved the tie, which should have been good enough for the Reds. However, manager Dusty Baker kept him in after the Reds scored four times in the top of the 10th. Cordero walked both hitters he faced in the bottom of the frame and was charged with two more runs as Daniel Ray Herrera and Jordan Smith combined to finish off the A's. Smith recorded his first career save in his fourth major league appearance.