Ed Zurga/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The back end of the Detroit Tigers bull pen just got a whole lot stronger as the team has acquired closer Joakim Soria from the Texas Rangers.
“I’m going to a new team, and that’s going to be my new family and I will do whatever they want me to do,” Soria said of the Tigers. “I want to help them win the World Series — that’s what this is all about — and I hope to help them out as much as I can.”
Despite the recent trade, Tigers closer Joe Nathan is expected to remain the team’s closer, for now.After a hot start to the season, Nathan has struggled mightily recently. He has 20 saves this season, but also has a bloated ERA of 5.89 and has blown five saves.
Soria may not have been the dominant closer he was while he was a member of the Kansas City Royals, but he’s still an above-average reliever who is capable of closing out games. In 35 games this season, Soria is 1-3 with a 2.70 ERA with 17 saves.
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