Former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan is getting another chance to pitch for a Major League Baseball team.
With Spring Training just two weeks away the Washington Nationals announced they had signed Nathan, 42, to a minor-league contract.
Nathan ranks eighth all-time with 377 career saves, while his 89.1 percent save conversion rate ranks fourth all-time (1st among those with 260 or more career saves).
Nathan spent seven seasons with the Twins (2004-2011). He was 24-13 with a 2.16 ERA and converted 260 saves in Minnesota. He has also played for San Francisco, Detroit, Texas and the Cubs.
He underwent Tommy John surgery during the first month of the 2015 season and totaled just 6 1/3 innings in 10 appearances with the Cubs and Giants last year, but he did not allow a run over those 10 appearances.
According to CBS Sports, Nathan has a chance to land the Nationals closer role. Shawn Kelley enters Spring Training as the most likely to hold the role, but Kelley has also undergone two Tommy John surgeries.
Veterans like Nathan often get signed to minor league deals before Spring Training opens. If the Nationals like what they see from the right-hander, he could then be added to the 40-man roster.
joe nathan gets $1.25m on nats minors deal. gives them another closing option.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 31, 2017
However, the last time Nathan converted a save was Sept. 28, 2014 while he was pitching for the Detroit Tigers.
