The Nationals have traded closer Matt Capps to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for 22-year-old catcher Wilson Ramos and minor-league left-hander Joe Testa.
Ramos is a highly touted catcher who was rated by Baseball America as the Twins' second-best prospect and baseball's 58th-best prospect entering the season and was among the players being discussed when Minnesota was trying to acquire pitcher Cliff Lee from the Mariners. A native of Venezuela, he is a career .284 hitter in parts of five minor-league seasons who appeared in eight big-league games earlier this season and went 8-for-27 with three doubles. He'll report to Class AAA Syracuse but figures to be a strong candidate for a September call-up.Testa, a 24-year-old reliever, owns a career 3.33 ERA in three minor-league seasons. In 36 games between Class A and Class AA this year, he's a combined 2-5 with a 5.50 ERA. He'll report to Class A Potomac.
Capps' departure comes after the 26-year-old resurrected his career to earn 26 saves and an All-Star berth after getting nontendered by the Pirates in December. The Nationals signed him later that month to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. He would still have been under their control in 2011 but stands to earn a sizable raise.
As part of the deal, the Nationals sent the Twins $500,000 to help cover the remainder of Capps' prorated salary.
In Minnesota, Capps will be used as closer, with Jon Rauch (a former National himself) sliding back into a setup role.
The Nationals already have a closer-in-waiting in Drew Storen, though manager Jim Riggleman said tonight he won't thrust the rookie into that role full-time right off the bat. Storen, along with Tyler Clippard and Joel Peralta, will get shots at closing as Riggleman uses his "hot hand" for the remainder of the season.
23 comments:
Good job. No one else mentioning Testa.
Phenomenal work by Mike Rizzo... he waited for the right deal, and sold Capps at the highest value he'll ever have.
who's the new closer for the nats
NICE!
Agreed with everyone above, and especially the Testa inclusion -- MLBTR didn't even have that as of 3 minutes ago.
My guess is Storen steps in to closers' role, although that disappoints me some -- he should be pitching during the highest leverage moment of the game. Clip could hold down the 9th if Storen had to come in during the, say, 7th and extinguish a 1 out 2nd and 3rd type deal. Would this suggest too that Clippard won't be moved?
What about Peralta? He was closing in AAA, and at 34, he's been around the block.
What a deal by Rizzo. If he can get that for Capps, I'm wondering what he could get for Dunn...
I definitely like this deal. Relievers, even closers, are expendable. Catcher is a real weakness for us right now. Pudge needs to be rested more to have anything left at the end of the season.
Riggs should let Peralta and Clippard fight for the closer job and give Storen a little more time to get ready for that pressure.
What a great deal for Rizzo. Just phenomenal.
I hope Charlie and Dave danced extra hard to Tony Vega this afternoon, because this is probably it for Wil Nieves in Washington.
LOVE THIS DEAL!
Let's just hope he can get something good in return for Dunn. White Sox apparently balked at two top prospects for him.
Great trade and it also puts pressure on the White Sox to up the ante for Dunn.
RIP Jesus. (Flores, not Stras)
Does this make Pudge expendable at trade deadline? (I don't really expect that, but there are a number of contenders who should want him.)
Yep, good good good. I want to thank Capps. I stayed up at midnight xmas eve to see if we signed this guy as I knew he'd be a big part of any success we were going to have this year. Good dude all around and I'm sure he's pleased to be on a better team and helping his pay rate even more next year. Thanks Matt.
Yeah, this is probably the nail in the coffin for Flores. Mark, any word from Olsen about Jesus? Scott's comments about Viera being such a drag makes me wonder if the Nats should have brought Flores north a few times just to keep him motivated. I'm sure this trade's a good move but I'll miss come-back Capps.
Very happy with this deal. I appreciate all that Matt Capps has done for us this season, but this will help us long-term. A potential everyday catcher who isn't inept offensively? Very happy...
Those that doubted Rizzo's demands as being crazy owe him an apology getting that deal done. Still surprised that Justin Maxwell wasn't part of the deal ;-)
Good job Mike. This is what you call trading up!
Pudge isn't going anywhere, but Wil Nieves and Jesus Flores should be looking in their rear view mirrors.
This is a great deal ... since this is his first year in AAA have to wonder if Ramos doesn't need more seasoning in Syracuse this year?
I think Clippard as middle/long relief before the eight inning is the perfect spot for him. He got moved up when Bruney failed to perform. I think Peralta is the best guy for the closers job at this point. He saved 20 in Syracuse before getting promoted. But who knows what Riggleman will do?
Wonder what the active roster will look like tomorrow?
Reported that the Nationals also kicked in $500,000 to complete the deal.
Mark - Will Ramos be with the big club to learn from Pudge or will he spend some time in the minors to start?
Really like this, although I hate to see Capps go. I am hoping they give Peralta the first shot and keep Storen and Clippard right where they are for the rest of this year. Can't see why we don't bring Ramos right up. What do we wait for??
No reason Flores can't learn to play first and if his throwing was the issue, this might help him as well.
Nice to see a General Manager that sticks to his guns.
Sign Dunn, move Morse to left and trade Willingham.
Great deal. Great deal signing Capps and putting the faith in him so he could succeed, and way to sell high.
I don't think this means Flores is necessarily gone, you cant have to many good young catchers after all, but now the Nats wont be concerned if he never heals and they wont need to rush Norris.
Mark whats the deal on Testa? Can you ask Riz for us? Thanks for representing the fans Mark, their is something very refreshing about interacting with a journalist without an editor or board of directors in the way
As much as my head knows this is a great trade, my heart will miss Matt. He's been a great part of this team as well as a classy, likable guy. I wish him all the best with the Twins.
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