Comments on: UPDATE: Rangers ink Joe Nathan to two-year contract, moving Neftali Feliz to rotation

By: nicosamuelson2

nicosamuelson2 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:59:15 +0000

Nathan is now the early favorite for Evan Grant’s 2012 Cy Young pick.

By: purnellmeagrejr

purnellmeagrejr — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:55:57 +0000

nobody can generate negativity like a closer.

By: JB (the original)

JB (the original) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:08:46 +0000

I think this will end up being the steal of the FA signing season.

By: pkiguy22

pkiguy22 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:23:33 +0000

Adams is the Rangers closer by June. Nathan didn’t look like himself last year and I know it takes a while to come back from surgery, but I just don’t think he is the same pitcher he once was.

By: baseballisboring

baseballisboring — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:42:24 +0000

Well…decent value anyway, in terms of money. I think being able to move Feliz makes it more worth it.

By: baseballisboring

baseballisboring — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:36:19 +0000

Yeah, it does seem like they’re starting to work on plan B with this acquisition. I wonder if they add Buehrle or Oswalt to compensate, because even though Wilson might get a lot more money than he deserves, they’re still losing a good pitcher.

By: baseballisboring

baseballisboring — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:32:46 +0000

It makes the Papelbon deal look even more ridiculous, really. If he’s 80% of what he used to be I think that’s good value, plus it’s about damn time they tried Feliz in the rotaton.

By: loganjpat

loganjpat — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:14:10 +0000

Based on Nathan’s performance this year and his age/injury risk, this deal looks really bad to me. I realize that moving Feliz to the rotation is probably the right move, but if I was Texas, I’d rather have Adams or even Uehara at closer than Nathan. A one year deal would have been fine, but 2 years and an option? Yikes.

By: pound30

pound30 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:03:27 +0000

I think this move basically says bye bye CJ. CJ is a good pitcher but the money he will get isn’t justifiable to the Rangers and I can’t blame them.

By: pound30

pound30 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:01:47 +0000

Are you nuts? Pap got 50 million. I think Nathan at 14.5 with an option on the third is a much better ‘gamble’.

By: Richard In Big D

Richard In Big D — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:34:53 +0000

Let C J shop, then match whatever he’s offered, and next year the Rangers will get a little closer to the brass ring. Oh, that’s right, you can’t get any closer! Could it be that the trophy will finally come to Arlington?

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:25:53 +0000

14.5 million guarenteed for a waged up Nathan? Makes Papelbon signing look cheap.

By: gt929

gt929 — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:14:05 +0000

Even with moving Feliz to the rotation, which I support, I didn’t think the Rangers needed to sign another closer. I figured Mike Adams could and would take the spot. Oh well, if Nathan falters, he’ll make a good backup. Nathan will have to do better than a 3.91 ERA. Adams had an ERA of 2.10 with the Rangers.

Btw, Evan Grant of the Dallas News reported that “it was believed” the 2 year contract is for approximately $7 in guaranteed money. That sounds more reasonable.

By: sknut

sknut — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:56:26 +0000

I agree. I don’t mind that not re-signing Nathan but Capps can’t come back. I hope they might take a look at Huston Street from Col.

Good signing by Texas and ends the Feliz bullpen assignment and makes the rotation stronger.

By: cusoman

cusoman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:43:53 +0000

Man alive, I hope this doesn’t mean the Twins will stick with Capps as their closer. Time to see what Perkins has, just anything, ANYTHING but Capps.