"I have always wanted to be a closer," said Gagne, who learned English at Seminole Junior College in Oklahoma. "I see myself as a closer. But a chance to have 15 more saves or win a World Series, that was a pretty easy choice."
As a closer, Gagne had an unprecedented three-year stretch of dominance with the Dodgers from 2002-04. He converted 152 of 158 save chances -- including a major league-record 84 in a row -- and won the Cy Young Award in 2003.
In 2005, Gagne pitched in just 14 games before undergoing Tommy John surgery. The following spring, he battled elbow pain and had more surgery. Gagne returned in June 2006 and pitched just two games before going back to the disabled list with more elbow pain. In July of that year, Gagne was diagnosed with herniated disks in his back and had season-ending surgery.
The Dodgers chose not to exercise their option, so Gagne signed with the Rangers as a free agent. This year, finally, he has been healthy and productive. Gagne is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 16 saves in 17 opportunities.
After almost nothing to show for two years, Gagne was relieved to be back on the mound injury-free. He pointed to a stretch in late June in which he pitched four times in six days as the point where he felt he was back to form.
"That's when I really felt like my arm was bouncing back, my back was feeling good," Gagne said. "I felt great all year, but it just got better, and it got better every week. It's just good to be back on the field and be able to compete and not worry about your body and not worry about anything else and just make pitches."
Gagne can't hit 98 miles per hour with his fastball anymore, but he was able to get up to 94 when the Red Sox were scouting him, and he still has devastating offspeed pitches.
"I'm still throwing pretty hard," he said. "I'm not throwing as hard as I used to, but I've got my changeup. I've got my curveball. I'm the same pitcher pretty much."
The result of Gagne's resurgence was that he was mentioned in trade rumors from coast to coast. Instead of being a nuisance, Gagne said, it was a delight to have so many rumors swirling around him.
