Detroit Tigers will be looking for a new closer, as Joe Nathan is o..."/> Detroit Tigers will be looking for a new closer, as Joe Nathan is o..."/>
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5 replacements for Joe Nathan

By Nathaniel Reeves

Sep 1, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) celebrates a 12-1 over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) celebrates a 12-1 over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain (44) pitches during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Yankees Beat the Tigers 13-4. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain (44) pitches during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Yankees Beat the Tigers 13-4. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Joba Chamberlain

If Soria gets hurt or struggles for whatever reason, the Tigers will be in some trouble with an already thin bullpen. The current in-house options are far from appealing.

Chamberlain at least stands out a bit due to his amount of experience. This is his ninth season in the majors and Chamberlin has put together a solid career apart from 2013, and he’s looked good to start this year.

Despite some massive issues in the postseason, Chamberlain was decent in Detroit in 2014 (3.57 ERA, 3.16 FIP), although his 9,1 percent walk rate is higher than you would want from a closer. Chamberlain might be nominally next in line behind Soria, although it would take something going wrong for him to become the Tigers closer.

3) Al Alburquerque

Alburquerque is one of the more interesting arms in Detroit’s bullpen. A career strikeout rate of 31.2 percent (thanks to a devastating slider) indicates that Alburquerque has the stuff to be a dominant reliever, and he has put together a couple of very good seasons with the Tigers.

The problem is that Alburqueque’s stuff hasn’t always translated to good results, as he has also had issues with walking batters. Alburqueque was bad in 2013, and he’s off to a disastrous start in 2015 through his first 4.1 innings.

If the Tigers end up in a situation where they need to move on from Soria, Alburqueque wouldn’t be first in line but has name would be on the table. Moving him to more high-leverage situations would be a high-risk, high-reward move.

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