Reports it’s for $7 million total.

Don’t you think?

That would be like us signing a reliever and putting Jordan Walden in the rotation. Crazy!

On second thought, hmmm…

and I will celebrate

that Feliz will be sputtering and out of gas by mid August.

But he’s not that good anymore, sucks for Texas.
:)

Hopefully we have learned from our past mistakes of signing mildly successful free agent relievers who don’t pan out, and hopefully TX will live to regret the same mistake with Nathan.

Nathan at $7m per year allows them to move Feliz to the starting rotation. Feliz was a starter in the minor leagues and did well. So for $7m per year, they really got a starting pitcher with stuff good enough to be a top major league closer.
 
Nathan’s durability is suspect, but it’s also possible that he’s all the way back from the prior injury.
 
Let’s see what Dipoto has up his sleeve in response….

The Nathan of 2011 is another story. THAT Nathan was 37, recovering from TJ surgery, and being used as much as a setup man as a closer. It is true that his first half was rocky as he worked his way back into shape (all three of his blown saves were during this time) and that he consequently was used as a setup man for most of the first half.

His second-half peripherals are a little deceiving because most of his appearances in August were to pitch the 9th in games which were already out of reach (blowout losses). It is a lot easier to post good numbers when the game isn’t on the line and the other team has already given the starters the night off.

At the same time, it remains to be seen if Feliz has the stamina and portfolio of pitches to be an effective starter. He was, after all, a starter from the time he was traded to the Rangers from the Braves in the Teixeira deal, and the Rangers converted him to close because he simply couldn’t fool a patient offense over multiple innings in the minors. 100 mph is a gift but not a great gift if control isn’t included; we may well see a lot of 100 mph Ball 4 pitches thrown on 3-1 counts next season, just as in the World Series.

His maturity and composure will be tested as well. We remember that he blew the lead in the 9th of Game 6, but didn’t come back out to save the bottom of the 10th after Hamilton hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the top half of the inning. Stories out of Arlington indicated Washington didn’t send Feliz back out because the latter was an emotional wreck over blowing the lead earlier. His weakness may turn out to be his emotional makeup as much as anything.

The Rangers could still sign Wilson and odd-man-out Feldman, but I think CJ has seen his Arlington future told very clearly in the signing of Nathan. The Rangers (much to my dismay) are apparently determined not to overpay for Wilson. Maybe the next step is a more reasonable and shorter deal for Oswalt, because that rotation is going to need some veteran presence.

The best closer next year will earn less than 4 million, either a resurrected has been or a young nobody.

You heard it here first.

They are going to have to watch Feliz’ innings to boot. I am digging it.

The second year back from Tommy John is usuallythe best. Nathan could have a solid year for Texas.