Closer Joe Nathan, who saved a franchise-record 260 games as a Minnesota Twin over the past seven seasons, has signed with the Texas Rangers, reports T.R. Sullivan of Rangers.com.
The Rangers have reportedly signed Nathan to a two-year deal. The right-hander turns 37 years old on Tuesday, and he is coming off his least productive season as a Twin. Nathan battled injuries and went 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 14 saves with Minnesota last season, after never having posted an ERA over 2.70 in as of his previous six years with the club.
Nathan passed Rick Aguilera last year to become the Twins' all-time saves leader, and he exits with 260 saves for Minnesota.
Twins GM Terry Ryan has previously expressed interest in re-signing Matt Capps, who is a year removed from posting a 2.47 ERA and 42 saves in a season he split between the Nationals and Twins. Like Nathan and many Twins in 2011 however, he struggled through injuries last season. For Texas, signing Nathan appears to indicate that Netfali Feliz, who has saved 72 games over the past two seasons, will move to the starting rotation.