5 reasons why Joe Nathan should ride off into the sunset

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Jul 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Detroit was a wake-up call

After recording one of the best seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers in 2013, the then-38-year-old Houston-native should have just ended his career on a high-note. It’s hard to tell a player who had just recorded 43 saves with a 1.39 ERA to call it a career, but he was only going to head downhill after such a season.

He set the bar high enough to snag a two-year, $20 million deal with the Tigers, ensuring that he will never have to worry about money again.

The closer headed to Detroit with high hopes for a World Series contender and he faltered mightily, blowing save after save and getting booed off the field more often than he was cheered by his own fans.

If he does come back, it will likely be with a different organization as no Detroit fans wants to see a 41-year-old Nathan coming off Tommy John surgery. He looked sluggish for the past season-plus and just not like the Joe Nathan of old who Tigers fans dreaded seeing come out of the bullpen in the ninth inning.

Let’s just say Detroit was quite the wake-up call and Nathan should take notice of that. Time to move on to better things, Joe.

Next: 4. Look at him, he's old

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