Neues » improved to 4-0 in shootouts

DETROIT -- Joe Nathan expects to fit in just fine in Detroit -- and now the Tigers dont have to face the closer who has dominated them more than perhaps any other in baseball. Nathan agreed with Detroit on a two-year contract with a club option for 2016, enabling the Tigers to accomplish one of their main objectives this off-season by adding one of the games most accomplished closers to the bullpen. The three-time defending AL Central champions announced the deal Wednesday, two days after trading right-handed starter Doug Fister to Washington. Terms were not disclosed. "Why would I come here?" Nathan asked rhetorically. "I think the question is, why wouldnt I? This team is ready to win. Theyre ready to win now. ... Its not just about getting to the post-season. For me, its about getting to the big one." Nathan, who turned 39 last month, has never pitched in the World Series. He had 43 saves in 46 chances for the Texas Rangers last season. Its been a busy off-season already for Detroit, which traded slugger Prince Fielder to Texas for Ian Kinsler in a move that, coupled with the trade of Fister, gave the Tigers more financial flexibility. Detroits bullpen was unsettled for much of last season. Joaquin Benoit eventually performed well as the closer, but he is now a free agent. "A very big part of what we were trying to accomplish was to get a closer," general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "This was always a goal of ours." Nathan posted a 1.39 ERA last season, then declined a $9 million option that would have kept him with the Rangers. Nathan wanted at least a two-year agreement, and the Tigers were willing to give it to him. Now that Mariano Rivera has retired, Nathan is baseballs active leader with 341 saves. Hes pitched for San Francisco, Minnesota and Texas -- and hes been particularly dominant when facing the Tigers, converting all 36 of his save chances with a 1.44 ERA. Thats more saves than any other pitcher has against the Tigers. Nathan even helped hand Detroit one of its most crushing losses in franchise history -- he pitched in relief when the Twins beat the Tigers in extra innings of a one-game playoff for the 2009 division title. "Probably the best game that Ive ever been a part of," Nathan said. "Sorry to bring it up." Nathan missed the 2010 season with the Twins following surgery on his right elbow. He struggled in 2011 but pitched well for the Rangers the last two seasons. Detroit went into last season without a set closer, and after the Tigers brought Jose Valverde back and that didnt work, they went with Benoit. He finished the season with 24 saves in 26 chances, but in Game 2 of the AL championship series, he allowed a tying grand slam by Bostons David Ortiz that was a turning point in the series. The Red Sox went on to win in six games, rallying against the Detroit bullpen again in the finale. Besides trading Fielder and Fister, the Tigers hired Brad Ausmus to replace manager Jim Leyland, who stepped down. The changes will be clear on the field next season. Dombrowski said Wednesday that Miguel Cabrera will move from third base to first -- a switch that seemed likely from the moment Fielder was traded. The Tigers are hoping Nick Castellanos can take over at third. After trading Fister, the Tigers are prepared to move promising left-hander Drew Smyly from the bullpen to the starting rotation. The bullpen will look a lot different next year, especially since Dombrowski says Benoit is unlikely to be back. Detroit declined an option on right-hander Jose Veras, and the Tigers got left-hander Ian Krol in the deal this week with Washington. Dombrowski said he wouldnt think the Tigers would be involved in any other major moves in free agency, although Detroit has been known to pull off an occasional surprise, whether its a free agent signing or a trade. The general manager was asked if the team is now better positioned to sign somebody to a long-term deal, such as Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer, who won the American League Cy Young Award this year and is a free agent after next season. "Well I wouldnt use any specific names, but Id say -- yes, we are," Dombrowski said. "You try to win in the short term, which were trying to do. Were doing everything we can. But youre also trying to maintain long-term success, so youre always trying to work on both of those things." Melky Cabrera Pirates Jersey .Y. -- Kristen Gillman rallied to win the U. Starling Marte Jersey .K. Subban and Matt Duchene will be the two skaters sitting out the teams opening game. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Customized/. The teams all-time leading scorer, DeRo has won everything there is to win in MLS. Lonnie Chisenhall Pirates Jersey . The Blue Jackets announced the injury through their official Twitter account Friday afternoon. Gaborik, 31, has scored five goals and six assists in 17 games with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14. Francisco Cervelli Pirates Jersey . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals scored early and late in regulation before turning toward goaltender Braden Holtby, who sealed a satisfying comeback victory. Holtby had 33 saves, then blanked the Minnesota in a shootout as Washington beat the Wild 3-2 to extend its winning streak to four games. After Holtby helped squelch a Minnesota power play that extended into overtime, Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal in the shootout to secure the Capitals fourth straight home win. Holtby outplayed Wild goalie Josh Harding, who came in with an NHL-best 1.09 goals-against average and stopped 25 shots. "He made a couple of saves that I was like, Wow, incredible," Backstrom said of Holtby. Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal at 8:10 of the first period on Washingtons second shot of the game, and the Capitals didnt beat Harding again until Marcus Johansson forced overtime with a blast from the right circle at 16:52 of the third period. The shot came only minutes after Harding made several outstanding saves with Washington on the power play. "I thought we did a really good job killing that, but it really put us on our heels," Minnesota coach Mike Yeo said. "After that, it seemed like we were hemmed in our end." The Wild had the extra man for the final 57 seconds of regulation and the opening 1:03 of overtime, but could not convert. After two players from each side failed to score in the shootout, Backstrom beat Harding with a wrist shot that went into the upper left corner of the net. Holtby then denied Charlie Coyle to win it. Coyle and Mikael Granlund scored in regulation for the Wild, whose three-game winning streak ended. "The result wasnt there because they got that one (goal) late," Minnesota forward Matt Cooke said. "Its frustrating. You go out and do your part and guys are blocking shots and guys are taking hits to make plays,, and the results not there.dddddddddddd At the end of the day, its about wins and losses." Granlund put Minnesota up 2-1 at 6:07 of the second period with his second goal of the season. Jason Pominville controlled a rebound on the side of the net and passed to Granlund, who sent a fluttering shot past Holtbys left shoulder. Later in the period, Washington rookie Tom Wilson broke free down the left side. Harding kept his ground and plucked the shot out of the air with his glove. The Capitals came into the game with an NHL-leading 26 goals in the second period, but in this one they went scoreless on nine shots. In the third period, however, Washington got the pivotal goal. "What I liked about the tying goal is it took a lot of hard work," Capitals coach Adam Oates said. "We fought through a lot of frustration because they were giving you nothing. It was hard to get shots to the net." The Wild outshot the Capitals 12-5 in a first period that produced one power-play goal from each team. Less than 20 seconds after Minnesotas Nate Prosser was sent to the penalty box for cross checking, Ovechkin scored from the left circle off a pass from Backstrom at 8:10. It was the third power-play goal in two games for Ovechkin, who needs only four more to break Peter Bondras franchise record of 137. Coyle scored against the leagues most effective penalty-killing unit with just over two minutes left in the period. Zach Parise got an assist on the play to extend his point-scoring streak to four games. Notes: Washington improved to 4-0 in shootouts. ... Minnesota D Keith Ballard was scratched with an upper body injury, and is also expected to miss Saturdays game in Carolina. ... Capitals F Eric Fehr was a healthy scratch for a second straight game. ... This was only the second time in the Wilds seven games in Washington that they scored more than one goal. ' ' '