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| Kelly Thesier of MLB.com tweets that Joe Nathan had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on Tuesday. He should be ready for spring training. |
Our View: Nathan has been among the most elite closers of the decade and continued that trend last season. He may get off to a slow start come spring training, but expect him to be a top five closer again next season.
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| Joe Nathan entered Friday's game in the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead and promptly gave up a single and then a game-tying two-run homer to Alex Rodriguez. The Twins ended up losing the game 4-3 in the 11th inning on a walk-off homer by Mark Teixeira, and now trail 2-0 in the ALDS. |
Our View: Nathan, who has had his fair share of problems in Division Series play over his career, looked sloppy on Friday night. He allowed four base runners in just 1.1 innings and was saddled with the blown save. It could have been worse as he left the game with runners at the corners and one out, but a clutch double play kept the runs from scoring.
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| Joe Nathan had his worst outing since September 6, 2005 on Wednesday (four runs against the Rangers in a blown save), allowing four White Sox runs in the ninth inning, as Chicago won 4-2 in Minnesota. |
Our View: After that 2005 blown save, Nathan would pitch 8.2 scoreless innings and collect eight saves to finish the season. In 2009, he now has a 2.36 ERA, and has converted 35-of-40 save opportunities.
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| Joe Nathan nailed down his 21st save in Wednesday's 5-1 win at Kansas City. He did not allow any walks or hits over one third of an inning. |
Our View: Nathan currently ranks second in the majors in saves behind Brian Fuentes (22). Nathan has not allowed an earned run over his last 18 appearances.
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| Joe Nathan nailed down his 17th save of the season in Thursday's 6-4 win at Milwaukee. He racked up two strikeouts over a hitless inning of work. |
Our View: Nathan is a perfect 8-for-8 on save chances in June, and is also yet to give up a run over 9.1 innings. He currently ranks third in the AL in saves.
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| Joe Nathan picked up his 15th save on Saturday in the Twins' 2-0 win over the Cubs in Chicago. Nathan did not allow a run and gave up one hit while walking one and striking out one. |
Our View: Nathan got himself into trouble by letting the first two hitters reach base in the ninth, but he managed to work around it to pick up the save. Nathan is still an elite closer, so expect his numbers to be very impressive at the end of the season.
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| Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth inning while striking out two against Tampa Bay on Sunday for his ninth save of the year. |
Our View: Nathan dropped his ERA to 2.33 and his WHIP below 1.00 and remains one of the game's elite closers.
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| Joe Nathan blew his first save of the season on Tuesday, but his team picked him up as the Twins scored one in the bottom of the ninth and beat the Rays 4-3. Nathan earned the victory and is 1-0 on the season. |
Our View: It's hard to find a more dominant and reliable fantasy closer than Joe Nathan. Even the great ones have hiccups, and that's what happened on Tuesday. Joe is still the same ninth inning beast he has been since coming to Minnesota in 2004.
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| Updating an earlier report, Twins closer Joe Nathan felt good after a session against live hitters on Thursday, according to Minnesota's Official Site. |
Our View: This is great news after Nathan decided to pull out of the World Baseball Classic with soreness in his throwing shoulder. We'll keep you posted on his status, but it seems like he'll be fine.
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| Joe Nathan is scheduled to face live hitters in batting practice Thursday and is hopeful to return to game action Saturday, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. |
Our View: Nathan has been experiencing soreness in his throwing shoulder lately, but no structural damage has been found. He figures to be 100 percent come the start of the season.
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| Joe Nathan will not pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic because of discomfort in his right shoulder, MLB.com reports. "It wouldn't be fair for me to say I'm 100 percent and go play for Team USA when I'm not," Nathan said. "It wouldn't be fair for the Twins or Team USA." |
Our View: Nathan threw on Saturday without any discomfort and is scheduled to throw again today. His absence likely means Angels closer Brian Fuentes will handle the duty of saving games for the Americans.
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| Joe Nathan didn't have a great day on Wednesday, allowing a run off of a walk and two hits in his one inning of work. |
Our View: Nathan's one of the best closers in the majors, so fantasy owners shouldn't be worried by one rough outing to begin the spring.
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| Joe Nathan will throw in the World Baseball Classic, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Nathan will probably close, just as he has done over the past five seasons for the Twins. He has 199 saves in that time.
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| Joe Nathan won his first game of the year on Thursday night. He pitched the ninth and tenth innings to get the win over the White Sox 8-7. It only took Nathan 26 pitches to get the six outs he needed. |
Our View: In a year when Nathan has dominate it kind of awkward that he hasn't had a win. There isn't much more to say about Nathan that hasn't been said many times this year.
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| Joe Nathan saved his 39th game of the year on Wednesday night when the Twins beat the White Sox, 3-2. |
Our View: In the past three months Nathan has only given up five runs in 19.2 innings while recording 16 saves.
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| Joe Nathan recorded his 37th save of the year Thursday night in the Twins' 11-8 win over the Rays. |
Our View: It only took Nathan seven pitches to shut the door on the Rays. Thursday night was the first save of September for Nathan who had an ERA of 6.23 in the month before tonight's effort. We're sure fantasy owners will forgive Nathan for a couple bad outings if they just take a look at his overall ERA of 1.44 and 37 saves.
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| Twins closer Joe Nathan was not called onto close the game against the Royals but was right in the middle of it in the dugout. Alberto Callaspo ripped a foul ball into the Twins dugout and almost took Nathan's head off. The ball didn't hit Nathan but he had a big smile on his face after the fact. |
Our View: That would have been the last thing the Twins would have need in a division race. Nathan has 36 saves on the year to go along with an ERA of 1.05.
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| Joe Nathan commented on Chicago's loss of Carlos Quentin, according to the Star Tribune. Quentin is likely done for the season due a broken wrist and Nathan said, "I feel bad for him. You'd like to see him finish off a really good season. Ask any one of us, we'd much rather try to beat them at full strength. We wish him the best. Hopefully, he'll have a speedy recovery, but it will definitely help us out not having that guy in the lineup the way he's been swinging the bat." |
Our View: Chicago remains on top of the AL Central division with a 1.5 game lead over Minnesota. Quentin was without a doubt the MVP of the White Sox with 36 home runs and 100 RBI.
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| Twins closer Joe Nathan secured his 33rd save of the season today as Minnesota picked up the 11-8 win over Seattle. Nathan pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and one walk with just one strikeout. However, while he failed to dominate, he coaxed two fly outs and one ground out to close the door and get Minnesota a much-needed victory. |
Our View: Nathan has been a rock this month, today gathering his fourth save of August with just seven hits allowed over 8 1/3 innings, posting just two walks and nine strikeouts during that span.
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| Joe Nathan blew his third save of the season on Tuesday night when he allowed a double to Jose Lopez in the bottom of the eighth inning. Two inherited runners scored, and the Mariners won 8-7. |
Our View: Even Nathan is human. He wasn't credited with a run despite the blown effort. The closer has still allowed only six runs over 46.1 innings this season.
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| Joe Nathan picked up his 21st save of the year as he struck out two Padres in a perfect ninth inning on Thursday. |
Our View: Nathan has allowed one run in 10 innings in June (0.90), and his WHIP in that time is microscopic (0.50). Nathan will be named to the All-Star team, a well deserved honor for this fantasy stud.
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| Joe Nathan continues to rack up saves with dominating ratios as he picked up his 19th save of the season on Sunday. |
Our View: Nathan owns some of the best numbers of any relief pitcher in baseball with a 1.47 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a 5.50 K/BB ratio. Few close out games better than the Twins star.
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| Minnesota reliever Joe Nathan closed out the 8-5 win over Cleveland this evening to get his 17th save of the season. Nathan pitched the ninth, needing just 13 pitches to influence one ground out, one fly out, and one strikeout to seal the deal. |
Our View: After earning eight saves through 10 appearances in April, Nathan found just five closings through 12 appearances. Thus far in June, he has three save on four appearances.
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| Joe Nathan blew his first save since September 7, 2007 on Tuesday night. You can't blame him. Outfielder Delmon Young missed a diving catch, and the miscue turned into a three-run, game-tying homer. "I was running down the line, and I thought I got into foul territory," Young informs the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "So I just gave it a shot, but in that situation I should just play it on the hop and just throw it back in, with the closer on the mound." |
Our View: If you only look at the box score, you'd probably assume that Mark Teahen blasted a long ball off Nathan. Instead, the Royal blooped one by Young. Joe was upset with the outfielder after the inning, but we fully expect Nathan to shrug it off by Wednesday.
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| Joe Nathan picked up his 13th save of the season in Friday's 4-2 win over Colorado. He issued one walk and one hit in the ninth inning. |
Our View: He is a perfect 13-for-13 in save opportunities, and has 18 strikeouts and four walks over 17 innings.
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| Joe Nathan gave up two runs in the ninth, but won a showdown with pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez by getting him to ground out to shortstop with the tying run on second base to pick up his 12th save in as many chances. |
Our View: It was Nathan's first appearance in a week, and the rust showed. The Twins fireman is 12-for-12 in save opportunities.
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| Yawn. Joe Nathan calmly picked up his 11th save of the season on Sunday. He pitched a scoreless inning against the Tigers, and his ERA dipped to 0.69. |
Our View: Nathan, Jon Papelbon, and Mariano Rivera have all been absolutely brilliant thus far in 2008. Nobody should be surprised.
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| Joe Nathan picked up his seventh save of the season on Tuesday, and he kept his ERA at 0.00. He allowed a single against the A's but also struck out the side. |
Our View: We hear good things about this Nathan guy. Outside of possibly Johnathan Papelbon, there's no closer we'd rather have leading our fantasy bullpen.
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| Joe Nathan just keeps right on keeping on as he picked up his sixth save of the season on Saturday thanks to a perfect ninth inning. |
Our View: Nathan has five K and zero BB in seven innings this season during which time he has allowed no runs for the Twins. Still a top-5 option at the closers spot, Nathan is off to another hot start.
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| Joe Nathan picked up his third save of the season, throwing 15 pitches (12 strikes) to four batters, giving up one hit and inducing one ground out, one fly out, and one strike out. Nathan has yet to surrender a single run or a walk, and while it's early, it's starting to look like he was worth that fat contract he recently signed. |
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| It appears to be official. The Minnesota Twins and closer Joe Nathan agreed on a contract extension through the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed, this according to The Sports Network. This should take some weight off Nathan's shoulders this year. No future in Minnesota is a certainty regardless of how a player performs. Ask Johan Santana. |
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| Joe Nathan will meet with the club today to try to complete negotiations on his contract extension, this according to the Star Tribune.
There are only a few details left to discuss on the deal, which is believed to be for four years for at least $11 million a year. |
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| Joe Nathan signed with the Twins in March of 2005 and he, his agent and the team are working hard towards an extension, this according to MLB.com. Both sides would like to get an agreement in place and avoid any unnecessary off-the-field distractions. After hearing from his "pessimistic" agent Dave Pepe, Nathan felt a deal is certainly possible, but nothing is definitive at this time. Stay tuned. |
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| Joe Nathan's injured ankle has healed to the point that he will be able to take the hill on Friday, this according to the AP. Nathan landed oddly last week, and though the team has been very careful with him, the injury is thought to be extremely minor and one that will have no bearing on his ability to take the ball on opening day. |
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| Joe Nathan's discussions with the Twins regarding a contract extension have come to a screeching halt, as the two sides haven't talked for nearly three weeks. "It's not about losing hope," Nathan said in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "If we can't get something done, so be it. We'll move on." If the Twins fall out of the race and end up trading Nathan, you have to be at least mildly concerned he could wind up in setup role somewhere. |
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| Joe Nathan, who is entering the final year of his contract, has not talked with the team about a contract extension for the past week and a half, according to MLB.com.
"It just got to a point where my agent and I felt we needed to take a step back," Nathan said. "We wanted to let them know we don't feel that we are getting to where we feel comfortable -- whether it be the years or the numbers or whatever it is. It's just a spot where we felt like taking a step back to think about things and get back after it once we get to Spring Training."
With the team busy the past month trying to unload the contract of Johan Santana, Nathan was second on the team's "to-do" list. It is time however to lock up the free agent if in fact that is the organizational plan. |
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| Joe Nathan, a free agent after the '08 season, would still like to stay in Minnesota despite the trade of Johan Santana. "Obviously, guys have moved on and will be missed," Nathan said in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "But I think they have made some good moves this offseason and have at least shown they're going to be competitive." The Twins have resumed discussions with Nathan's agent, Dave Pepe, about an extension, but so far no offers have been exchanged. |
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| If the Twins trade Johan Santana this offseason, there are indications the club could deal closer Joe Nathan, as well. Nathan, who is set to make $6 million next year, will be a free agent following the 2008 season, and the Twins have been unsuccessful thus far in working out a contract extension. They may not be willing to part with the pieces it would take to get a deal done, but the Brewers are in the market for a closer and would surely have interest in Nathan. |
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| Joe Nathan and the Twins have exchanged recent contract proposals, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Nathan is currently only signed through the 2008 season, so if the Twins don't think a deal will be able to be reached, they could begin entertaining offers for the closer this offseason. |
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| As expected, the Twins exercised their $6 million, 2008 option on Joe Nathan Monday, according to the AP. This decision was a no-brainer for Minnesota. Nathan posted a 1.88 ERA and 37 saves in 2007, and he's arguably the best closer in the game. |
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| Joe Nathan said Wednesday that the Twins plan to pick up his $6 million, 2008 option in the next few days. "We're just waiting for some paperwork," Nathan told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. This news comes as no surprise, considering landing one of the top closers in the game for just $6 million is a steal. Nathan would like to work out a long-term deal with Minnesota, but those talks aren't very far along. |
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| Joe Nathan has been affected by a rash of food poisoning that has gone through the Twins dugout, but it is not expected to keep him out of action. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports he was not 100 percent, but was available to pitch on Thursday if he had been needed. |
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| Joe Nathan surrendered a two-run lead in the ninth inning against the Devil Rays on Wednesday. He allowed a walk and three singles to blow his first save of the season and break a streak of 16 consecutive conversions dating back to August of last year. Nathan was branded with a loss against the Devil Rays a couple of weeks ago and sports a gaudy 12.00 ERA against them this year. Against all other teams, his ERA is 0.96. |
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| Joe Nathan will spend Wednesday at the hospital with his pregnant wife, though he hasn't been ruled out for the night game with Baltimore, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The plan is for Nathan to monitor the game from the hospital; if he's needed, he will drive to the Metrodome, dress and pitch. Nathan already has two saves on the year, throwing a pair of clean innings in the wins Monday and Tuesday. |
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