Say It Aint So! Joe Nathan’s Season Is Over After Flexor Tear
By Tony Fischer
Ten pitches in to his rehab start, Joe Nathan left the mound in pain. The rehab start was supposed to be the beginning of Nathans return to the active roster but instead ended his season.
Joe Nathan has a UCL tear and a flexor pronator tear, which will require season-ending surgery.
— James Schmehl (@jamesschmehl) April 23, 2015
It has been a tumultuous tenure for Joe Nathan in Detroit. After signing a two-year $10 million deal last offseason, Nathan started 2014 with a “dead arm” resulting in a slow start for the former Texas Ranger. Nathan ended up with 35 saves last season but not without blowing seven opportunities along the way. Even some of the of the saves he converted were more of an adventure than a roller coaster at cedar point.
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Nathan’s inconsistencies last season caused uncertainty about his status as closer. Concern that only grew during spring training when it was rumored Nathan would not even make the 25 man roster out of spring training. Of course Nathan did make the trip north with the team only to find himself on the DL just two games into the regular season.
With the closer role now falling to Joakim Soria now that Nathan is likely done for the season, the Tigers may need to look at the trade market to bolster the back-end of the bullpen. Soria has been lights out so far this season as the closer. If the Tigers are going to make an acquisition it will likely be for the 7th or 8th inning role assuming they remain comfortable with Soria in the 9th.
The other option is to fill that role internally with the return of Bruce Rondon. Although the Tiger’s brass seems optimistic as to Rondon’s ability to contribute this season, he has yet to pitch after missing all of last season recovering from surgery to his right arm.
The bullpen has been the bane of Dave Dombrowski’s existence even since he arrived in Detroit. It appears to be the case for the 2015 season as well.