By Mark Sheldon

I am back to work after a very needed and relaxing vacation. Hope you haven’t forgotten about getting Reds news here.

I will have a more detailed story on Reds.com/MLB.com later today on the Reds and their closer situation, which is in limbo pending the outcome of where free agent Francisco Cordero lands.

There are a lot of closers on the market right now … one less now that the Phillies formally announced a four-year, $50 million deal with ex-Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.

“We’ve had probably seven or eight teams inquire with interest, a couple of more since Papelbon’s deal,” Cordero’s agent, Bean Stringfellow, said on Monday. “It’s all ongoing and it’s still early.

“There’s been strong interest, including from the Reds.”

Other closers out there include Ryan Madson, Heath Bell, Joe Nathan, Francisco Rodriguez, Frank Francisco, Matt Capps, Jonathan Broxton and Brad Lidge.

Cordero is still interested in returning to the Reds, Stringfellow said. But if he doesn’t, I can’t see the free agent averse Reds spending a truckload to get one of the big names on the market.

Stay tuned…