Joe Nathan RUMORS & NEWS

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "The music was booming late Tuesday night in the visitor’s clubhouse at O.co Coliseum. Even Charles Ramsey knows that’s a dead giveaway that the Texas Rangers had won a game. But all had been quiet after the previous five times the Rangers had played at the home ballpark of their division..." May 15

Dallas Morning News "Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan gave up back-to-back triples Monday, but the bigger development was the progress of his slider. After the two triples, which accounted for San Francisco’s second run in a 2-1 victory, he found the Giants committing to and chasing his slider. That led to three..." March 12

Lone Star Ball "Eyebrows were raised when the Rangers signed Joe Nathan last November. At 37 years old, and coming off a two year stretch where the entire 2010 season was lost to Tommy John surgery and the 2011 season had Nathan voluntarily relinquish the closer role for the Twins as he struggled in his outings,..." October 24

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "The Texas Rangers still haven't clinched a postseason berth. They were on the cusp Sunday afternoon with a 4-3 lead over the Angels in the ninth inning and Joe Nathan coming in. But Nathan gave up a two-out, two-run double to Torii Hunter and the Angels held on for a 5-4 victory. It was..." September 30

Dallas Morning News "Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for a $300,000 save. Nathan realized the final incentive bonus in his contract: $300,000 for his 60th game finished. He has earned an additional $1 million based on games finished. Nathan has had five consecutive scoreless appearances since a blown save against..." September 28

Hardball Talk "Rangers bullpen-mates Joe Nathan (who grew up in New York) and Mike Adams (who grew up in Texas) made a bet on Wednesday night's Giants-Cowboys game. Nathan took the Giants, Adams took the Cowboys, and the loser had to dress up like Tony Romo and wear a full football uniform for all of batting..." September 12

Dallas Morning News "Tony Romo won't run onto a football field again until he takes on the Seahawks in Seattle this weekend, but someone who looked curiously like the Cowboys' quarterback spent Tuesday afternoon milling around Rangers Ballpark. Rangers closer Joe Nathan, a noted New York Giants fan, donned a full..." September 12

Dallas Morning News "RHP Joe Nathan did not get a save for protecting a four-run lead in the ninth inning Monday, but did earn $300,000 for it. It was his 50th game finished this year, the second of his incentive thresholds. Nathan earned $100,000 at 45 games and will earn another $300,000 each at 55 and 60 games..." September 04

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Joe Nathan made sure he kept the baseball from his save Friday night, and it wasn't because of the history he had made. Nathan got the final two outs against Cleveland for his 28th save of the season, and has converted 26 consecutive save chances -- the most in Texas Rangers history. Nathan..." September 02

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Before Thursday's game, Rangers closer Joe Nathan spent a long time talking with Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson behind the batting cage at Rangers Ballpark. On Friday, Nathan stood out in the outfield with Justin Morneau and other Twins players for several minutes, catching up with his former..." August 26

Dallas Morning News "Closer Joe Nathan's perfect ninth inning on Saturday set a club record for consecutive save chances converted, passing the mark of 21 set by Francisco Cordero in 2004. It is not, however, the longest save streak of Nathan's career. He converted 27 saves in a row in 2004 in his first year as a..." August 20

Dallas Morning News "Rangers closer Joe Nathan confirmed that he received a cortisone injection last week to alleviate some shoulder inflammation that arose last week, but said the injection worked well. Nathan struggled or the final three weeks of July, then pitched on back-to-back days against Los Angeles..." August 07

Dallas Morning News "While he is expected to be bypassed for a second straight night should a save opportunity present itself, suddenly-struggling RHP Joe Nathan said Saturday there is no issue with his surgically-repaired right elbow. Nathan, 37, said that his recent rocky stretch is due to a lack of life on his..." August 05

Lone Star Ball "When the Texas Rangers signed Joe Nathan last November there was a fair amount of head scratching and hand wringing over bringing in a 37 year old pitcher only a year removed from Tommy John surgery and coming off a shaky 2011 season. From an outsider's perspective, the move seemed more related to..." June 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Old home week continued as another dearly departed Twins star returned to Target Field to wax nostalgic and scheme for a return trip to the postseason in a different uniform. Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan held court Friday, April 13, in front of the same corner locker in the visitors'..." April 14

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Joe Nathan entered Target Field and eventually made his way to the home clubhouse, a walk he has made many times. This one felt strange, even awkward. Any uneasiness quickly disappeared, however, as he reconnected with a dozen former teammates and coaches inside the Twins clubhouse on Friday...." April 14

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "The sample size is small and manager Ron Washington is loyal, so don't expect Joe Nathan to suddenly lose his job as the Texas Rangers' closer. But the early results aren't favorable for Nathan, especially when he works on consecutive days. He was the losing pitcher in the Rangers' first..." April 12

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "When the Texas Rangers signed closer Joe Nathan this off-season, general manager Jon Daniels viewed it as a two-player acquistion. With Nathan as the closer, Neftali Feliz would move into the starting rotation. The moves paid off Tuesday night. Feliz threw seven scoreless innings in his..." April 11

Dallas Morning News "Joe Nathan took small steps the last couple of times on the mound. They were luge leaps for his return to being one of the game's pre-eminent closers. After making a slight tweak to his delivery, Nathan had back-to-back impressive one-inning outings Monday and Tuesday. He had more sink to..." March 29

Dallas Morning News "In Surprise, Ariz, closer RHP Joe Nathan allowed three hits and a walk in the sixth inning and coughed up a lead Monday as the Rangers lost for the seventh time in their last nine games. At 4-12-1, the Rangers are last in the not-so-important Cactus League standings. Using what could be the..." March 20

Dallas Morning News "Closer Joe Nathan's first peaceful spring training in three years continued with an economical debut. Nathan needed only seven pitches, five fastballs and two sliders, to get retired three White Sox minor-leaguers on grounders in the seventh. ``This is the best I've felt in a long time,''..." March 09

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Three different times on that epic night in St. Louis, on three different pitches in a ninth and 10th inning fraught with history, the Texas Rangers were within one strike of a world championship. And after blowing Game 6, and ultimately the 2012 World Series, in excruciating fashion, the Rangers..." March 07

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Joe Nathan has always been able to run well, which helps explain how the 37-year-old has been able to keep pace or even outpace Texas Rangers pitchers 10 to 15 years younger than him this spring. But there's also the notion that someone is only as old as he thinks he is, and, after an..." March 06

Detroit Free Press "In his seven-year career with the Twins, Joe Nathan had 33 save opportunities against the Tigers. He converted all 33. Never in those seven years did the Tigers erase a ninth-inning deficit against Nathan. The Tigers beat Nathan once. It happened in 2007, when he entered a tied game. In..." January 05

Dallas Morning News "On the Joe Nathan deal: Moore: I think it's a great move for them. I think he pitched well enough and you saw a large enough sample at the end of this past season to feel that he's gotten past any injury concerns. And I think it also ducktails into Feliz. I'm not sure that you can go into..." November 29

Dallas Morning News "On why he chose the Rangers: I think it's pretty obvious what this club has been able to do the last couple of years, so the question probably was, why me for these guys? So once the interest was there on their part, we knew we were interested in coming here. I was just excited when we got the..." November 23

Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Big news from the two-time defending American League champions. The Rangers have signed former All-Star closer Joe Nathan to a two-year contract with a club option and have moved Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation. That could be indication that the Rangers are out on the bidding for C.J...." November 22

New York Daily News "We know what the Mets are seeking on the free agent market this winter: An affordable closer. We also know that Brad Lidge, Jonathan Broxton and Joe Nathan are available former All-Star closers. So what do those pitchers want? According to Broxton's agent, B.B. Abbott, the former Dodger is..." November 11

New York Daily News "The dedication ceremony for Stony Brook's new baseball stadium yesterday culminated with big-league closer Joe Nathan throwing out a ceremonial first pitch. It's not a reach to envision that the next real pitch he throws will be in a Mets uniform. "The Mets are a team on our radar for sure, but..." October 30

CSN Philly "Ruben Amaro was pretty blunt about it. If the Phillies and Ryan Madson can't agree on a new deal, the general manager said he'll likely look outside the organization to find a closer since he isn't "comfortable" with the team's internal options. If Madson walks, one of the names mentioned by..." October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press "The Twins told Joe Nathan they couldn't justify a $12.5 million salary for him in 2012. So who will be the Twins' closer next season? "Obviously, (Glen) Perkins is going to be a candidate," said Nathan, 36, who will receive a $2 million buyout and soon head for the open market. "I'm sure..." October 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press "The Twins on Tuesday declined to pick up a $12.5 million team option on Joe Nathan, but general manager Bill Smith said the team still thinks the right-hander can be Minnesota's closer in 2012. "Joe Nathan wants to be a closer, and is a closer," Smith said. "Obviously if we've expressed our..." October 26

Minneapolis Star Tribune "The Twins cut ties with four-time All-Star closer Joe Nathan at least temporarily on Tuesday, declining his $12.5 million option for next year, choosing instead to pay him a $2 million buyout. It was an expected move that makes Nathan a free agent, just like Matt Capps, Michael Cuddyer and..." October 26

St. Paul Pioneer Press "With just 10 days left for the Minnesota Twins to pick up the $12.5 million option for 2012 on Joe Nathan's contract, the 36-year-old closer said Thursday he hasn't heard anything from the club. Nathan, who turns 37 next month, had 14 saves for the 99-loss Twins this season after recovering..." October 21

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Being a member of the Minnesota Twins is important to Joe Nathan. The organization made him a closer after acquiring him from San Francisco after the 2003 season, and he has thrived in the role, becoming the franchise saves leader this season with 259. But also important to Nathan is winning,..." September 03

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Twins closer Joe Nathan watched his final pitch Wednesday get hit to Tsuyoshi Nishioka. The shortstop threw to first baseman Michael Cuddyer to wrap up a 5-2 victory over Boston, and Nathan pumped a fist, then clasped his hands over his mouth. It took a long time -- seven-plus seasons and one..." August 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Joe Nathan was happy just to be joining a good, young team when he was traded to Minnesota before the 2004 season. Becoming the closer was not really on his mind. "(Eddie) Guardado and (LaTroy) Hawkins were still a part of this team, so I thought I was joining an already very good bullpen and..." August 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Nick Blackburn scattered six hits and struck out four in 6-2/3 innings, and Joe Nathan became the Twins' all-time saves leader as Minnesota snapped a six-game losing streak in front of 40,491 at Target Field. Jim Thome drove in two runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth, when the Twins..." August 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Joe Nathan said he hasn't heard "one way or the other" about a contract extension. And that apparently doesn't surprise the 36-year-old Minnesota Twins' closer. "I understand both sides of it," Nathan said Monday. "It doesn't concern me. The only thing I really can do is keep going out and..." August 10

St. Paul Pioneer Press "If there were any lingering doubts Twins closer Joe Nathan could return to all-star form, he eradicated them with his shutdown performance Tuesday night against an explosive Texas Rangers lineup, just in time to clear space in the record book. Nathan's next save will be his 255th as a Twin,..." July 28

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had a thin bullpen to work with Tuesday night. But if the game was close in the late innings, he had Matt Capps, Glen Perkins and Joe Nathan ready to go. Capps and Perkins combined for two scoreless innings as the Twins battled from four runs down to take a one-run..." July 27

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Less than 24 hours after being informed he is, once again, the Twins' closer, Joe Nathan closed down a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night at Target Field. And though he now has pitched on consecutive days for just the second time this season, he said he's ready to do it..." July 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune "In this All-Star moment, Michael Cuddyer won. A week and a half after popping out in his only at-bat in the showcase in Phoenix, the hot-hitting Cuddyer faced another All-Star, Royals reliever Aaron Crow, and showed just why he deserved the honor. With the score tied in the eighth inning,..." July 17

Minneapolis Star Tribune "The Twins had a record of 17-37 and were 16 1/2 games behind first-place Cleveland through the games of June 1. But they have made a great surge since then, going 24-11 and are only 6 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit at the All-Star break. One person who has helped the turnaround is..." July 11

St. Paul Pioneer Press "In his last three appearances, Joe Nathan has not allowed a hit or run or walk while striking out four. "I'm starting to trust my fastball a little more," the Minnesota Twins reliever said. "I feel I've got more 'finish' on my pitches now. So we're turning the corner." Nathan, 36, missed..." July 06

Minneapolis Star Tribune "With the Twins riding a six-game losing streak and coming off a 15-0 loss, manager Ron Gardenhire knew how much was at stake Tuesday night when he turned a two-run lead over to Joe Nathan in the eighth inning. The Dodgers had a runner on first, no outs, and National League triple crown..." June 29

Minneapolis Star Tribune "The Twins will be closer to full strength by Friday, when designated hitter Jim Thome and reliever Joe Nathan re-join the team in time for a weekend series in Milwaukee. Thome took five at-bats Wednesday during a simulated game in Fort Myers, Fla. Thome, who has been slowed by back and..." June 23

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Piece by piece the Twins are hoping to continue filling out their big-league roster, and Joe Nathan should be the next player to return. Nathan pitched a scoreless inning for Class AAA Rochester on Saturday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday and Wednesday for the Red Wings. If that goes..." June 20

Minneapolis Star Tribune "Joe Nathan put everything he had into rehabilitation following Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in March of 2010 to be ready for the start of the 2011 season. And he accomplished that. Yet he hasn't been the pitcher he wants to be -- or the Twins need -- posting a 7.63 ERA with..." May 29

St. Paul Pioneer Press "Joe Nathan wants his fastball back, but he's going to have go back to basics to find it. Working his way back from ligament reconstruction surgery performed 14 months ago, Nathan is headed to the disabled list because of a tender elbow. A magnetic resonance imaging taken Saturday revealed..." May 29