Twins get closer Capps in trade with Nationals for Ramos
[picappgallerysingle id="9305637"]The Twins sent minor leaguer and top catching prospect Wilson Ramos to the Washington Nationals in a trade that netted them All Star closer Matt Capps yesterday. What a terrific move by the Twins. In addition, the Nationals also get Class A left-handed pitcher Joe Testa, while the Twins receive $500,000 in cash considerations.
I, personally, am very excited about this.
The 26-year-old Capps is 3-3 with an ERA of 2.74 and 26 saves in 30 chances in his first season with the Nationals. With the addition of Capps as the Twins new closer, the over-used Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier will get some much needed help from Jon Rauch, who will move back into a setup position in the bullpen.
According to the Pioneer Press, manager Ron Gardenhire said that Rauch took it well. After all, he was only so-so in the closing position, with only five “clean” saves this season.
So, I couldn’t be more thrilled. Plus, the Twins will have control of Capps next year as they ease Joe Nathan back into play after his Tommy John surgery. And Capps will be even more important if Nathan isn’t as good when he comes back to the mound as he was when he left it.
According to the Star Tribune, Capps was 22-22 with an ERA of 3.48 and 93 saves in his previous five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last season was a troubling one for him: in 54 1/3 innings, Capps went 4-8 with an ERA of 5.80, allowing 73 hits and ten home runs with 27 saves (five blown).
Yeah, well, everybody has a tough year. This season for the Nationals, Capps has pitched 46 innings, allowing 51 hits, nine walks, and striking out 38. Not only has Capps been terrific this year, he’s an All Star. I’ll take it.
There’s been a little concern because Wilson Ramos is such a terrific prospect – and the Twins’ top trading option. Despite having a mediocre .241 batting average at Triple A this season, Ramos, 22, was stellar last year when he came in for Joe Mauer, who was troubled by a heel injury. Ramos batted .296 in seven games, including a four-hit game as his major league debut.
But let’s face it; the Twins just don’t need a catcher for the foreseeable future, do they? And they need a closer right now – plus, they’ll need a closer even more next year if Nathan needs more time to recover.
So, I’m much happier with letting Ramos go for a two-year closer than I am for a two-month starting pitcher.
I think the Twins made a terrific move adjusting the starting rotation (Duensing for Blackburn) and letting it settle down, because I think that the starting rotation will be fine now (other than an errant game here and there by Slowey). The bullpen, however, has been falling apart, and adding Capps and moving Rauch back will be extremely effective.
I could still see the Twins making a move for a lefty in the bullpen, since Mijares has been so woefully poor of late. The Twins could make good on their flirtations with the Toronto Blue Jays and acquire left-hander Scott Downs for the bullpen. It’s possible.
Plus, according to the Pioneer Press, Gardenhire says the Twins may pick up a starter after the trade deadline has passed. That’s how they acquired Carl Pavano from Cleveland last year. So, those of you clamoring for a starting pitcher, it’s not over yet.
Tonight, expect to see Capps in a Twins uniform, ready to go against the Seattle Mariners in his first game with the Twins at Target Field. I hope we get a chance to see him shine (especially with his tricky mid-90s fastball), because I’m pretty excited.
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[...] the nine games he was up for Mauer. For more on this particular deal and its benefits, you can read my piece on the Capps-Ramos trade. 3. What do you see as the Twins biggest weakness as the pennent run heats [...]
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[...] Lest you try and call this Twins win a fluke, Michael Cuddyer came in after Kubel and hit a line drive to left field, driving in Delmon Young to make it a two-run game. Matt Capps proved he was worth a million of Wilson Ramos yet again as he secured the save for the Tw… [...]
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