Joe Nathan, the Twins' all-time saves leader, is set to sign a two-year deal with Texas that will pay him roughly $7 million a season with an option for 2014, a source confirmed.

Nathan is in Texas tonight and is expected to be unveiled as the Rangers new closer Tuesday. He became a free agent after the season, when the club declined to pick up the $12 million option on his contract and instead paid him a $2 million buyout.

The Twins offered Nathan a contract after the season - before Terry Ryan replaced Bill Smith as GM. But
Nathan is headed to the Rangers, where he's expected to close and allow flamethrower Neftali Feliz to move into the starting rotation.

``You hate to see him go elsewhere," Ryan said. ``But that's what happens in free agency. He ultimately decided that Texas is where he wanted to pitch. Texas has a good club.

The Twins will be forced to come up with another option to close. Ryan said they remain interested in bringing back t righthander Matt Capps. Capps pitched with an injury during part of the season and struggled at other times. But the Twins could choose from several closers on the free agent market.

Nathan missed all of 2010 while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery and is an unranked free agent. That means the Twins will not receive a draft pick as compensation. He had his ups and downs this past season as he worked his way back from the surgery, losing his closing role in April but regaining it later. He was 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA and 14 saves

Nathan, who turns 37 on Tuesday, came to the Twins along with Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser in a deal for catcher A.J. Pierzynski before the 2004 season., He had little experience as a closer but became one of the best in the game with the Twins, He leaves the team with 260 career saves, a Twins record. He set the record on Aug. 10 against Boston.

Nathan reached 10-and-5 status with the Twins during this past season. The club approached him near the July 31 trade deadline about waiving his 10-and-5 rights, but he declined to.

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