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OOTPRealTime · 01-31-2014, 01:19 PM

@KenRosenhaus Joe Nathan and #Dodgers close to breaking long spell of no big name signings. Told 2-years. Stay tuned. #MLB

@JohnHayman Confirmed: @Dodgers sign veteran closer Joe Nathan to a two-year deal. Creates dynamic 1-2 with him and Kenley Jansen.

@DodgerBlueLA Holy hell. Starters, just get us to the 8th and … ball game. Nathan to Jansen. #lightsout

JOE NATHAN SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH DODGERS
Former Texas closer inks two-year deal with vesting option.
By: Sandy Guerrero, Dodgers.com

The hold-up on the Dodgers signing of veteran reliever Joe Nathan was his demand to be the ninth-inning guy for any club that commits to him. The minute that demand was waived, the Dodgers had the right money in place to get him to sign on the dotted line. With a dominant closer already in place, Kenley Jansen, who nailed down 38 games for the Dodgers a year ago, Nathan made the exception to sign in Los Angeles.

“I’ve always admired the Dodgers the Dodgers organization and they have what it takes to win right now, which is high on my priority list,” said the 39-year old Nathan. This will likely be my last contract and I want to be on a team that has a chance to get me back to the post-season. Nathan won his first ring last year with the Texas Rangers. A season that saw him close out 33 games and post a 3.67 ERA in 70 appearances.

The deal is two years in length at $12.7 Million per year. There is a vesting option for the second year (2015) and that is a caveat that seems unlikely to be reached, making this most likely a one-year deal. That performance milestone that needs to be reached is 35 “games finished.”

“We are thrilled to add a power arm and veteran presence to our mix here in LA,” new manager Tom Brookens said in a conference call. “I think we have the eighth and ninth innings figured out,” he added. Though he was non-committal on who exactly would be pitching the ninth inning, it would be hard to believe the Dodgers would go with a 39-year old veteran over the 26-year old phenom who has recorded 63 saves over the past two seasons for the team. GM Ned Coletti wasn’t so shy about naming the teams closer, “Kenley is our guy and that was the reason for the hold up. We wanted Joe. He wanted us. We just needed to come to the understanding that at the get-go, Jansen would be our ninth inning guy. He understands that.” Being a veteran, he also understands that nothing is guaranteed and a stretch of poor performance, stroke of luck or injury can thrust him back into the role he has coveted much of his career.

Nathan has 331 career saves...and counting.

----------------

@ESPNRumorCentral Hearing that the #Giants are close with Coco Crisp. Could sign as early as tomorrow.

@JohnHayman Crisp has narrowed his search down to the #Reds and #Giants. Will know more tomorrow. Should sign his deal then.

01-31-2014, 01:19 PM	#127
OOTPRealTime Minors (Double A) Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 147	Joe Nathan Signs; Rumors on Coco Crisp @KenRosenhaus Joe Nathan and #Dodgers close to breaking long spell of no big name signings. Told 2-years. Stay tuned. #MLB @JohnHayman Confirmed: @Dodgers sign veteran closer Joe Nathan to a two-year deal. Creates dynamic 1-2 with him and Kenley Jansen. @DodgerBlueLA Holy hell. Starters, just get us to the 8th and … ball game. Nathan to Jansen. #lightsout JOE NATHAN SIGNS TWO-YEAR DEAL WITH DODGERS Former Texas closer inks two-year deal with vesting option. By: Sandy Guerrero, Dodgers.com The hold-up on the Dodgers signing of veteran reliever Joe Nathan was his demand to be the ninth-inning guy for any club that commits to him. The minute that demand was waived, the Dodgers had the right money in place to get him to sign on the dotted line. With a dominant closer already in place, Kenley Jansen, who nailed down 38 games for the Dodgers a year ago, Nathan made the exception to sign in Los Angeles. “I’ve always admired the Dodgers the Dodgers organization and they have what it takes to win right now, which is high on my priority list,” said the 39-year old Nathan. This will likely be my last contract and I want to be on a team that has a chance to get me back to the post-season. Nathan won his first ring last year with the Texas Rangers. A season that saw him close out 33 games and post a 3.67 ERA in 70 appearances. The deal is two years in length at $12.7 Million per year. There is a vesting option for the second year (2015) and that is a caveat that seems unlikely to be reached, making this most likely a one-year deal. That performance milestone that needs to be reached is 35 “games finished.” “We are thrilled to add a power arm and veteran presence to our mix here in LA,” new manager Tom Brookens said in a conference call. “I think we have the eighth and ninth innings figured out,” he added. Though he was non-committal on who exactly would be pitching the ninth inning, it would be hard to believe the Dodgers would go with a 39-year old veteran over the 26-year old phenom who has recorded 63 saves over the past two seasons for the team. GM Ned Coletti wasn’t so shy about naming the teams closer, “Kenley is our guy and that was the reason for the hold up. We wanted Joe. He wanted us. We just needed to come to the understanding that at the get-go, Jansen would be our ninth inning guy. He understands that.” Being a veteran, he also understands that nothing is guaranteed and a stretch of poor performance, stroke of luck or injury can thrust him back into the role he has coveted much of his career. Nathan has 331 career saves...and counting. ---------------- @ESPNRumorCentral Hearing that the #Giants are close with Coco Crisp. Could sign as early as tomorrow. @JohnHayman Crisp has narrowed his search down to the #Reds and #Giants. Will know more tomorrow. Should sign his deal then. __________________ OOTP in Real-Time - St. Louis Cardinals View Current Organizational Depth Chart (dynamic)