Twins declined RHP Joe Nathan's $12.5 million option for 2012. The decision was made easy for the Twins after Nathan, 36, registered a 4.84 ERA and 43/14 K/BB ratio over 44 2/3 innings of relief this season. He was much better in the second half and should have plenty of suitors on the open market this winter, but the veteran right-hander won't come near that $12.5 million salary again.

The Twins are expected to decline Joe Nathan's $12.5 million option for 2012 within the next week. Nathan posted an underwhelming 4.84 ERA and 43/14 K/BB ratio over 44 2/3 innings this season. He's still a useful setup guy at the age of 36, but not at the price of $12.5 million. The right-hander will have a number of suitors if he hits the open market.

Twins general manager Bill Smith said Tuesday that the team is interested in bringing Joe Nathan back next season. The Twins may decide to decline his $12.5 million option for next season, but could still bring him back at a lesser annual salary. Nathan, 36, posted a 4.14 ERA, 14 saves and a 43/14 K/BB ratio 44 2/3 innings this season. The veteran right-hander has previously expressed interest in returning to Minnesota.

Joe Nathan recorded his 14th save Sunday by tossing a scoreless tenth inning against the Indians. He walked one. This was just Nathan's second save of the month and third since mid-August. He's allowed only three runs since August 18, so it hasn't exactly been his fault. With the Twins shutting down just about every key regular and starting pitcher over the last month, save opportunities just haven't been available. If you want to win a bar bet tonight, ask your friends who has the most Twins saves this season. It isn't Nathan -- Matt Capps has 15. The 36-year-old Nathan reclaimed the job just when the team stopped trying to win games.

Joe Nathan recorded a save Wednesday despite giving up two runs in the ninth against the White Sox. It's the first really shaky save opportunity he's had since returning to the closer's role in mid-July. Still, it did push his ERA back over 5.00 for the season. No trade seems likely this evening, so it looks like Nathan will finish the year as Minnesota's closer.

Joe Nathan said he would consider waiving his no-trade rights if the Twins were able to come together on a deal with a contending team. Nathan earned 10-and-5 rights earlier this season, giving him the ability to veto any trade or waiver claim. "It's something I would consider," Nathan said. "It's not something I would rule out." The reliever added that he would analyze any potential deal on a "case-by-case" basis. It's not clear at this point whether or not the Twins have placed Nathan, who holds a 3.21 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in the second half, on waivers.

Joe Nathan picked up his eighth save despite giving up a pair of base runners in the ninth inning of Minnesota's comeback 9-8 win over Texas on Tuesday. He allowed a leadoff single to Josh Hamilton and later hit Nelson Cruz with a pitch, but struck out David Murphy to end the game. He's 5-for-5 saving games since replacing Matt Capps in the closer's role and has allowed just one run in his last 12 appearances. Capps is still pitching terribly, so Nathan has no competition for the closer's role currently.

Joe Nathan picked up his sixth save despite giving up a homer to Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth inning of Minnesota's 7-5 win over Cleveland on Wednesday. Fortunately, Nathan had a three-run cushion in this one. He's 3-for-3 saving games since replacing Matt Capps in the closer's role. The run he allowed was his first in 10 appearances.

Joe Nathan is available for the second game of Monday's doubleheader against the Indians. Many wondered if Nathan would be available for the doubleheader at all, as he has already pitched three consecutive days for the first time since October 3, 2009. However, the Twins need wins in the worst way right now.

The Twins are shopping for middle-relief help. Once 16.5 games out of first place in the AL Central, the Twins have cut their deficit to five games and now consider themselves buyers instead of sellers. Asked if bullpen help is the target, Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said, "Yes. ... I'm not sure we're looking for a closer. I think we're fine there. I think we're looking for maybe a middle guy and some guys to help bridge the gap and come in in that sixth, seventh inning."