Twins Extend Nathan
March 25, 2008 by Geoff Young
Filed under Personalities, Transactions
The Minnesota Twins have signed closer Joe Nathan to a 4-year, $47 million deal. Since coming to Minnesota in 2004, Nathan has the best ERA in baseball (1.94, min. 280 IP). Given the apparent going rate for closers, this is pretty good value.
That said, can anyone explain to me what the heck the Twins are doing? They let Johan Santana and Torii Hunter go, and play in one of MLB’s toughest divisions. How is long-terming a 33-year-old reliever (even a great one) close to being a priority?
Maybe the idea is that by having him under contract, the Twins now have a more marketable commodity. I really don’t understand this. Enlighten me, o smart people of the Internet…
Other Voices
It’s a weird move for the Twins. One would think they’ll much rather have the prospects Nathan would get them when contenders are trading for him this season or the pick when Nathan goes into free agency.