Tigers Say Bye to Joe Nathan

The Tigers parted ways with closer Joe Nathan on Tuesday. Instead of paying Nathan $10 million for next season, they pay him one million dollars. Nathan faced only one batter this year.  He struck out former team mate Torii Hunter after a decent spring, and it looked like the Tiger bullpen woes might be behind them.  But Nathan missed the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his pitching elbow. The 40-year old Nathan, a free agent once again, Nathan signed with the Tigers before the 2014 season. He had 35 saves that year but gave up nearly 5 runs per 9 innings pitched. The injury cost him any chance to rebound in 2015. It remains to be seen if Nathan will try to make another comeback, following surgery.

The Tigers put pitcher Luis Cessa on their roster to replace Nathan. Cessa was acquired from the Mets as part of the Yoenis Cespedes on July 31^st. They had to put Cessa on the roster, or risk losing him.   The Tigers still have 5 spots open on their 40 man roster.