Free agent Joe Nathan joins Texas Rangers – MLB News
Minnesota Twins’ free agent and relief pitcher Joe Nathan has finally decided to join the Texas Rangers’ bullpen after receiving multiple offers from many other Major League Baseball teams including New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Chicago
Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers.
No official statement has confirmed his arrival in the Rangers but several league inside sources have reported and are certain over his signing with the 2011 World Series finalist.
Nathan, who has spent almost seven seasons with the Twins, was determined to play for another team after his squad declined a contract worth $12.5 million team options on him and made him a free agent. Several teams were also looking as the favourites to
sign Nathan but the Rangers came-up with a good two year offer. His former team has also paid him $2 million in buyout while he will earn $7 million per year in the Texas Rangers with an optional buyout on a third year.
Nathan has also stated in the media regarding his commitment to the game, Twins and with any MLB team last September, was certainly sure that he might not come into the franchise where he played for seven years and made bold comments at the end of the season.
Nathan said, “That's what my ultimate goal was coming into the season was just to get back to form and at least show this organization — and other clubs, if I'm not back here — that I am back to form, I'm as close now as I can be back to form without getting
some rest. … At this moment right now, I just feel good about where my pitches are, how consistent I've been, especially since coming back toward the second half of June.”
Joe Nathan, who is a very talented professional, went 4.84 ERA along with 14 saves, 43 strike-outs and 1.16 WHIP in 2011 MLB season but overall his career shows a healthy 2.87 ERA, 261 saves, 761 strike-outs and 1.11 WHIP.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Nathan’s arrival will make in the Rangers roster next season. One thing for sure is that his presence will definitely make the Rangers a stronger team in 2012.
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