Detroit Tigers Officially Announce Two-Year Deal With Joe Nathan

Sep 3, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Texas Rangers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers held a press conference to officially announce the signing of free agent closer Joe Nathan on Wednesday afternoon.

Here are some of the pertinent details, presented via embedded tweet:

So still no firm official financial terms presented, but the Fox Sports crew is still running with the $20 million figure that Ken Rosenthal reported yesterday. I like those terms, so I’ll run with it. I also really like the Tigers getting a team option thrown in there which carries almost no risk but would allow for an extra year at a decent price if Nathan works out. To make room on the 40-man roster, shortstop prospect Dixon Machado was designated for assignment.

Machado is a defensive wizard, but he hasn’t hit hardly a lick in the minor leagues (.572 OPS over his five minor league seasons) and would be entering his second option year in 2014. He’s still not a guy you’d like to just throw away, but he’s been passed on the middle infield prospect chart solidly by Hernan Perez, Eugenio Suarez, and Devon Travis. I was expecting the DFA to be more along the lines of Evan Reed, but it’s not really a big deal.

In related news, Dave Dombrowksi doesn’t expect the Tigers will be bringing back Joaquin Benoit to serve in a setup capacity:

And other notes from the presser: