Is Joe Nathan Open To The Tigers Trading For Another Closer? [AUDIO]

July 21, 2014 at 9:22 am

Filed Under:Detroit Tigers, Jeff Riger, joe Nathan

DETROIT, MI - JULY 9: Pitcher Joe Nathan #36 of the Detroit Tigers delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of an interleague game at Comerica Park on July 9, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. Nathan recorded his 18th save in the tigers 4-1 win over the Dodgers. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)DETROIT, MI - JULY 9: Pitcher Joe Nathan #36 of the Detroit Tigers delivers against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning of an interleague game at Comerica Park on July 9, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. Nathan recorded his 18th save in the tigers 4-1 win over the Dodgers. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

By: Jeff Riger
@riger1984

Tigers closer Joe Nathan continues to be the talk of Detroit fans everywhere.

On Saturday, Nathan trotted out of the pen in a 2-2 game in the 9th and left after giving up 3 runs. Tigers lost to the Indians 5-2. Then Sunday, Nathan pitched again. This time Detroit had a 4-1 lead and the team was trial to salvage one game of a four game series. Nathan went 1,2,3!

The veteran closer has been better since making a mechanical tweak about a month ago, but he hasn’t been that much better as his season stat line shows an ERA of over 6 and a WHIP of over 1.5. In the meantime, fans clamor for the team to make a trade for a closer and then part ways with Nathan; a guy that is owed $20 million for the remainder of this season and next.

What will happen?

Who knows as we await the trade deadline on July 31st, but Nathan seems pretty open to talking about it.

After skipping out on the media Saturday night, the 39 year old took about 15 minutes to chat on Sunday before catching a plane to Arizona for the start of a 7 game road trip out west. Nathan was asked a litany of questions ranging from the booing fans to the team making a trade for another closer.

Take a listen to the answers to the questions below…

1. Does he worry about the Tigers trading for another closer, a move that would bring uncertainty to Nathan’s current role with the team?