| 27 August 2010
Per Ken Rosenthal, and La Velle confirms.
Minnesota will give up a player to be named later. Fuentes is owed about $1.89 million for the rest of this season, and has a vesting option of $9 million for next season if the left-hander finishes 55 games in 2010. Currently at 33, the Twins likely nabbed him from the Angels because they knew it was unlikely he would reach that expensive plateau.
Brian Fuentes, 34, has been an elite reliever for quite a few years. While he is now living on past reputation and accumulated saves, he is still a viable relief option for a contending team.
The Twins hope Fuentes continues to annihilate left-handed pitching for the remainder of this season. Through just under 40 innings, Fuentes has a 2.24 xFIP against southpaws, and has held lefties to a triple-slash line of just .132/.209/.158. Fuentes is also one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game, averaging 9.2 third-strike-calls per nine innings.
The veteran spent 15 days on the disabled list earlier this season with a mid back strain. His back has been a troublesome spot for the lefty in the past, so complete health this month and next is not a guarantee. Fuentes has remained healthy and effective since his April injury, though, and will join the Minnesota bullpen soon.
Hours after the White Sox were rumored to have won the waiver claim on Manny Ramirez, the Twins responded with this acquisition. Ramirez certainly helps Chicago and gives them a better chance at taking down the Twins, so Minnesota GM Bill Smith may have felt the need to respond.
An aging reliever won't have anywhere near the impact Ramirez will have on the White Sox, but even a marginal upgrade is significant in this AL Central race. Fuentes will join Matt Capps and Jon Rauch to form a relief corps filled with three potential closers. Bullpen depth is never a bad thing, especially if it doesn't come at a great expense.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
