The Detroit Tigers have recently made two trades that will save the team a lot of money in the coming years, shipping Doug Fistric to the Washington Nationals for depth pieces, as well as shipping Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports; the Tigers have started to spend the money saved, giving free agent closer Joe Nathan a two-year deal. Financial terms are not yet known.
The 39-year-old Nathan is coming off a season in which he saved 43 games with a 1.39 ERA and 73/22 K/BB ratio in 65 innings for the Rangers. He saved 80 games over his two years in Texas. Nathan has 8 seasons in his career with at least 36 saves.
A former teammate of Nathan, during his time with the Twins, was thrilled with the deal.
“I’m glad he joined the team,” Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter said. “With his experience, he just made us stronger. He was a lot of fun when we played together in Minnesota.
“He wants the ball every day, if he could.”
Given his age, Nathan is a risky pickup, but he has been remarkably consistent through his career, and didn’t show signs of slowing down in Texas. The Tigers late inning issues were also well-publicized last year, and cost them greatly in the team’s ALCS loss to the Boston Red Sox.
Nathan is the second free agent the Rangers have lost today, with A.J. Pierzynski signing with the Boston Red Sox.
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