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The Twins have long been searching for help in the arms department, and it seems they've addressed at least one of their concerns by getting Matt Capps from the Nationals.
Matt Capps has 25 saves this year. Jon Rauch has 21 saves this year. As of about an hour ago, they're both on the same team. So who closes?
capps will close, rauch set up. i like the way twins are going for it in 1st yr at target.
Capps has the superior numbers anyway, so he's the logical choice. What's most important, though, is that the Twins have both, and have the makings of a solid, playoff-capable bullpen.
Earlier reports had Matt Capps going to Minnesota and Wilson Ramos going to Washington, straight up. Now Ken Rosenthal has an update:
Spoke too soon: Twins get Capps and cash for Ramos and LHP Joe Testa, recently demoted from AA to A. Still wonder . . .
The cash will presumably cover much of, if not all of Capps' remaining salary. Joe Testa, meanwhile, is a 24 year old lefty reliever who got absolutely pounded this year in his first exposure to AA. He would appear to be something of a non-prospect.
That Washington is sending money to Minnesota explains at least in part why the Twins were willing to pay as much as Wilson Ramos.
If there was any doubting the previous report concerning the Matt Capps/Wilson Ramos trade, here's Scott Miller to put your mind at ease:
The Twins have acquired closer Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals for Triple-A catcher Wilson Ramos, CBSSports.com has learned.
A source with knowledge of the talks said Thursday night that the deal is done. It is expected to be announced later tonight or tomorrow.
This is a classic exchange of long-term value for short-term need, and Nationals fans have to be pleased. Even given Ramos' down year, he's a good young player at an important position, and Capps - while useful - is a luxury a team in Washington's position doesn't really need.
Earlier this evening, rumors started spreading that the Twins were getting serious about Matt Capps. And now it looks like they've pulled it off:
was told Ramos is headed to Washington by a reliable scouting source.
Says Jon Morosi:
Source says deal is "close" -- Capps for Ramos, straight up. #Nats #Twins
Ramos is Wilson Ramos, a soon-to-be 23 year old catcher in the Twins' system who was pulled from the AAA Rochester lineup today, leading to speculation. Baseball America's preseason No. 58 prospect in baseball has had a difficult year, posting a .625 OPS with Rochester after having good success in AA a year ago. Even so, the tools are there, and while he's obviously blocked in Minnesota, the door's more open in Washington, where Ivan Rodriguez is starting and promising youngster Jesus Flores is still recovering from major surgery on his shoulder.
As for Capps, Washington's closer has had a big season, pitching like the Matt Capps of old. He's thrown a lot of strikes and been difficult to hit, leading to a 2.80 ERA. It's unknown whether he would take over for Jon Rauch as Minnesota's closer, or if he'd slide into an eighth inning role. Whatever the case, when this trade is completed, he'll answer what's been one of the team's biggest questions.
It's weird to see a prospect as highly-regarded as Ramos get moved for a reliever - especially when the prospect is a catcher - but Ramos' name has been popping up in rumors for the last month or two, and it's no surprise to see him get moved. Be sure to check out more on the rumored deal at Twinkie Town, Federal Baseball, SB Nation DC, and SB Nation Minnesota.
Twins Overpaid For Matt Capps In Trade With Nationals By Overvaluing The Save Stat
The Twins have improved their bullpen by trading for closer Matt Capps. There’s not much doubt about that. But at what cost?
NBC’s Aaron Gleeman writes that Minnesota paid for a great reliever, but got merely a good one:
Over at SB Nation’s Twinkie Town, they offer a different perspective, noting that Matt Capps makes the Twins a better team this year, and that’s basically the bottom line. Which is true. But if Minnesota doesn’t win this year, and Ramos goes on to be the above-average starting catcher he’s projected to become, this deal could look awfully bad for the Twins long-term.
Jul 30 9:21a by Chris Mottram - 0 comments