Scott Miller of CBS Sports (click here for the article) is reporting that the Twins have acquired Nationals closer Matt Capps in exchange for minor league catcher Wilson Ramos. According to the Nationals Twitter feed, they will also receive LHP Joe Testa.
What the Twins Get
Capps has had a renaissance season, posting a 2.80 ERA and 1.33 WHIP while saving 25 games for the Nationals. Will he immediately assume the closing duties in Minnesota? It’s too early to tell, but it wouldn’t be a surprise.
Jon Rauch has been solid, posting a very similar line of 3.05 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 21 saves, though he has been shaky as of late. Things can really go either way, so we’ll just have to sit tight and see what happens. Don’t drop either player, because if one should falter the other would certainly step in immediately.
What the Nationals Get
Ramos gets to step out of Joe Mauer’s shadow and now is behind Ivan Rodriguez on the depth chart, certainly a much more promising place to be. At Triple-A he’s hit .241 with 5 HR and 30 RBI in 278 AB.
Prior to the year Baseball America ranked him as the Twins second-best prospect. At the time they said, “He is physical and strong, with plus raw power and the ability to get the barrel to the ball. He’s aggressive but covers the plate well, has natural hitting actions and shows power to all fields. He’s agile for his size, receives well and has a cannon for an arm, throwing out 42 percent of basestealers last year.”
He has never shown much power (career high is 13 HR), but he has always hit near .300 prior to this year. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the majors this season, learning from Rodriguez and sharing time. If that does happen, he will only have value in deep, two-catcher formats.
As for their closing duties, Tyler Clippard could see time, but chances are Drew Storen, dubbed the closer of the future, will get broken into the role. If Storen is available in your league, he’s certainly worth snatching up immediately if you are in need of saves.
Testa has posted a 5.50 ERA in relief across two levels at Single-A this season. Needless to say, he’s a non-factor right now.
What are your thoughts on the deal? Who will close in Minnesota? How about Washington?
Make sure to check out our trade deadline analysis:
- Yunel Escober for Alex Gonzalez
- Alberto Callaspo traded to the Angels
- Dan Haren traded to the Angels
- Jhonny Peralta to the Tigers
- Scott Podsednik to the Dodgers
- Roy Oswalt to the Phillies for J.A. Happ and 2 minor leaguers
- Jorge Cantu to the Rangers
- Miguel Tejada to the Padres
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