ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Detroit Tigers had seen enough from their shaky bullpen to know something had to be done. So the AL Central leaders acquired right-hander Joakim Soria. "Obviously, Im excited to have Joakim on the team," manager Brad Ausmus said Thursday before the Tigers began a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. "Anytime you can get help of his calibre, especially at the back end of the bullpen, I dont think there would be a manager who wouldnt be excited about it." Detroit dealt pitching prospects Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson to the Texas Rangers to get the 30-year-old Soria on Wednesday night. "We gave up a lot, guys that we valued," Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers general manager said. "But it was a necessity." The Tigers have been working on improving their bullpen for weeks because closer Joe Nathan has been inconsistent and Joel Hanrahan apparently will not be able to pitch this year. Setup man Joba Chamberlain has been their only reliable reliever. Soria was 1-3 with a 2.70 ERA, saving 17 games in 19 chances this year with the Rangers. He is 15-18 with a 2.51 and 177 saves in 199 chances over five years with the Kansas City Royals and two in Texas. The Rangers signed Soria to an $8 million, two-year contract before last season as he was recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. His contract includes a $7 million club option for 2015 with a $500,000 buyout, making him even more attractive to the Tigers. Soria sounded as if he will be happy with whatever role the Tigers give him. He is joining a franchise aiming for its first World Series championship since 1984 and leaving a last-place team that has had high hopes dashed by a slew of injuries. "This is a good feeling," the Mexican-born Soria said at his locker in Angel Stadium while accepting welcoming handshakes from several of his new teammates. "Im grateful to Texas, because they picked me up when I was hurt. So I wish all the best for them. But now Im in a different family, its a different feeling. Im willing to do whatever they want me to do and do whatever it takes to help this team win as many games as we can. My goal is to win the World Series." Ausmus said that Nathan, a six-time All-Star, will remain as the closer with Soria starting out as the seventh-inning reliever and Chamberlain staying in his current setup role. "Id probably leave Joba in the eighth inning because hes pitched so well there," Ausmus said. "I talked to Joakim about pitching in the eighth if Joba wasnt available, and in the ninth of Joe wasnt available. So he was open to help any way he can. Hes pitched in all those roles before, so having someone with Joakims experience in the ninth if Joe cant go is enormous." Ausmus is grateful for the chance to have two closers with All-Star credentials at his disposal, but insisted that Nathan is his guy right now -- although he wouldnt use him more than three days in a row. "I never saw (Soria) as a threat as a teammate," Nathan said. "Hes another great arm that we brought over here. Hes a gamer. Hes a winner. He wants the baseball and he just loves to compete." Nathan has struggled at times this season, but not enough to give Ausmus a reason to take him out of the closer role. "Even though Ive done quite a bit in this game, one of those things Ive also done is pull myself out of the closer role when I dont feel as if Im helping the club," Nathan said. "But right now is not one of those instances. Im definitely throwing the ball with more consistency and getting a lot more swings and misses, which is always a good sign. But with that said, this is Brads decision." When the Tigers were considering making a move to add Soria, they asked Nathan and Ian Kinsler about him. "Both of them were effusive in their praise of him as a player and a pitcher and as far as his makeup on the team," Dombrowski recalled. "One of the comments was, Why dont we have him yet? It was a real plus for us to know we can have another quality pitcher for next year." To help this season, Detroit signed Hanrahan to a $1 million, one-year deal in May -- a year after he had elbow surgery -- to pitch out of the bullpen. Dombrowski, though, said it is "highly unlikely," that Hanrahan will pitch this season. "Were not counting on him at all," Dombrowski said. USA Soccer Gear . The Argentine midfielder made the announcement himself on Twitter on Tuesday and posted a picture of his swollen left foot. His message said he would be out "at least three weeks. USA Soccer Jerseys 2019 . Founding members of the Genie Army, a group of Eugenie Bouchard supporters who cheered for the rising tennis star during the Australian Open in January, will be in the city for the Rogers Cup, beginning this weekend. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/. -- The Denver Broncos are shuffling their offensive line this off-season and Orlando Franklin provided some insight into their plans Monday by tweeting that hes moving from right tackle to left guard. USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 . Both of Padakins goals came in the second period while Zane Jones added a single in the first period for Calgary (13-6-4). Hitmen goaltender Chris Driedger finished with 30 saves for the shutout. USA Soccer Pro Shop . Goins is the early favourite to win the starting job at second base. Pillar is an outsider to secure a role off the bench, which becomes an even more difficult spot to win if the number of back up jobs is reduced by one. That happens if the Blue Jays decide to start the season with an eight man bullpen.VALENCIA, Spain - Spanish qualifier Roberto Bautista Agut upset eighth-seeded Kevin Anderson of South African 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 Monday in the first round of the Valencia Open. Anderson finished with 15 aces but was broken twice in the final set as Bautista Agut wrapped up the win in 2 hours, 26 minutes. Seventh-seeded Fabio Fogniini of Italy avoided a similar set by beating Martin Klizan of Slovenia 7-5, 3-6, 6-0.dddddddddddd Marcel Granollers of Spain advanced when Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia was forced to retire with an injury while leading 2-1 in the first set. Also, Dmitry Tursunov of Russia eased past Spains Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-1. ' ' '