As soon as Joe Nathan announced that he would undergo Tommy John surgery, the back end of the Twins' bullpen became a lot less scary. Four months later, the Twins obtained one of the top relievers available, acquiring Matt Capps and $500K from the Nationals for left-hander Joe Testa and highly touted catching prospect Wilson Ramos.
Capps, 26, has 25 saves and a 2.80 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. He earns a base salary of $3.5MM this year ($1.3MM remains) and can be retained as an arbitration-eligible player for 2011. Capps will close games for the Twins and Jon Rauch will move to a set-up role.
Ramos, 23 in August, placed 58th among all MLB prospects on Baseball America's preseason list. The catcher has hit .241/.280/.345 at Triple A with five homers this season. His offense has fallen off since last year, but Ramos has thrown out 19 of 38 would-be base stealers. Joe Mauer's presence in Minnesota made Ramos expendable for the Twins.
Testa has a 5.50 ERA between high A and AA with a combined 8.3 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 in 36 relief appearances. The 24-year-old has yet to pitch above AA.
Yahoo's Tim Brown, Scott Miller of CBS Sports, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Kelsie Smith of the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports all contributed updates to the story as it broke.
Well Capps is under control for another couple of years and he’s under a decent salary, so he is obviously hard to get. I suppose if the Twins were willing to move Ben Revere or David Bromberg thats a place to start, but I’m not so sure that fixing the bullpen, much less the late innings relief, is what the Twins need to focus on…They need to acquire Brett Wallace. No that was a joke, but they really need to at least make an attempt to acquire maybe Brett Myers or Edwin Jackson (if he’s worth another shot in the AL Central much less the AL. But we’ll see what happens. Obviously, a Guerrier-Crain-Mijares-Capps-Rauch is better than Guerrier-Crain-Mijares-Rauch. So we’ll see.
He’s under control for 1 more season. I’m a Nats fan and want to trade him since I don’t think his value will get any higher. Do you think the Twins would give up anything good?
I agree with you. And that was my bad bro on the years he is under control for. Check out the post I wrote below. I’ll copy and paste.
I imagine they could get a lot for him. Some names to keep an eye on in the Twins organization…
David Bromberg
Max Kepler
Angel Morales
Ben Revere
Anthony Slama
Kyle Waldrop
Liam Hendricks
Maybe a combination of a couple of those or one of Revere or Morales could get it done.
Bromberg? he isnt worth much
I would disagree. As would a lot of people.
I’m a huge Nats fan and I hope they trade him. His value won’t be any higher than it is now. Could they get anything good from the Twins for him? He is under control for the 2011 season.
I imagine they could get a lot for him. Some names to keep an eye on in the Twins organization…
David Bromberg
Max Kepler
Angel Morales
Ben Revere
Anthony Slama
Kyle Waldrop
Liam Hendricks
Maybe a combination of a couple of those or one of Revere or Morales could get it done.
Cool thanks for the names. If they get a trade done you’ll have to let me know how you think we did.
You got it man. Will do. By the way, I do trust Rizzo. He hasn’t done anything that makes me think that he won’t bring a high level prospect(s) to the club. These “talks” are between two of the best managements in Baseball.
I will agree with you that the Twins are one of the best if not the best managed club in baseball. After 5 years of being in DC the Nationals front office looks to be finally putting something together. I trust that Rizzo will do the best he can, I don’t trust the owners as much.
I kind of like Lerner, but Amen. We’ll see what happens.
Yes indeed…Good trade on both sides.
Bromberg is a C prospect with fringy stuff
Kepler is only 16 and I highly doubt hes going anywhere
Revere is valued pretty high within the org.
The rest I could see being moved although its debatable how much value Slama and Waldrop have being relief prospects, especially Slama as hes a bit old
Bromberg is a pitcher not a a catcher
C as in grade not position
He means C-level prospect, not catcher
revere for capps. straight up.
You take Revere, Even though I agree somewhat, just to start a bet, I’ll say Waldrop and Bromberg.
matt capps is not a guy that has much value…he has a straight fastball that would get lit up in the american league. the guy was DFAd by the Pirates for crying out loud. If he fetched a lower level prospect and a bag of ball I would be surprised.
Matt Capps has been a much different pitcher since his Pirates days. He also wasn’t DFA’s because of his quality. It was because they didn’t want to give him a raise.
I’ve heard the “straight fastball” comment a few time in reference to Capps, and, as a Nats fan who’s watched a ton of games this year, I’m not sure where it comes from. His four-seemer often has nice swingback movement that gets a lot of hitters looking, and PitchFx seems to agree, noting above average horizontal break on his fastball. I’d be sad to see him go, but we need prospects, not closers.
Capps won the allstar game
Non-tendered, not DFA’d
Who’s going to be the closer after Capps gets traded? Clippard?
Storen.
Clippard has struggled lately, they have recently started using him in the earlier innings. The team in the has said that rookie Drew Storen is their future Closer. I would guess he would get his shot.
Drew Storen.
storen
the mad capper haha
Why? Seriously why? Last time I checked Capps wasn’t a SP. That’s the Twins need.
Ramos has been removed from the Twin’s Rochester Red Wing’s game tonight for unknown reasons…Could he be on his way to the Nationals? tl.gd/2qmdmg
Someone on the Twins website did say Ramos + Harris for Capps. I was hoping they were joking. I think we can get more for Ramos than that. Most teams don’t have a young catcher who is great defensively and at least good offensively. A lot of the stud catchers out there aren’t expected to stick at catcher because they can’t play D. Ramos can.
Just to let everyone know, C Wilson Ramos has just been taken out of the game at Triple-A Rochester. That would be a great trade on both sides!
i just let everyone know that buddy = )
Same timing…I didn’t see yours when I wrote mine but you would be a GREAT TWEETER.
thanks man
#2 prospect in the Minnesota system per BA before the season? I could live with that. He’s having a horrendous year this year but he did hit over .300 last year in the minors. Plus it’ll actually give Capps the chance to get some more saves.
Yep you bet. And anytime you have a catcher who can play average to above average defense and can hit like Ramos can, you are lucky. Plus, Ramos has tons of power and even more extra base power. He only has 5 home runs, but some of his tools as such are quite raw. Although I think he will be something like Miguel Olivo of 2010.
I’ve heard that Wilson Ramos was taken out of the lineup tonight in Rochester. Capps for Ramos deal potentially?
Watching the White Sox game right now, they just flashed that the twins traded Ramos for Capps, don’t know if its true or not
Would be a huge mistake.
Source says Capps is “close” to being traded to #Twins.
Source is Jon Morosi
Capps traded to Twins for Ramos so says Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
good trade for both teams
Capps for Ramos? I look forward to hearing the retraction on this one.
Signing Matt Capps in the off-season= HUGE win for the Nationals. They got a 1/2 season of a very productive closer who was worth well above his ~2m he made and now they’ve flipped him for a stud prospect.
Twins got fleeced
Rizzo is a great GM, what a steal. Capps is a nice player, but Ramos could be a great catcher for years to come. This is a more lopsided trade than Delmon Young for Garza/Bartlett.
That’s not so lopsided anymore, but this deal will likely always be a ripoff unless Ramos gets a career ending injury or falls off the face of the earth.
What are you talking about? Delmon young is crushing the ball, while jason barlett had two good years and garza pitched a no hitter this year. Great trade for both teams.
1.) Bartlett is a good defensive shortstop with great speed, and is a good contact hitter. He put up great numbers last year, and, while he’s not duplicating those numbers this year, he’s still very good, and will be a solid shortstop for years. He was part of the reason why the Rays made the World Series in ’08.
2.) Garza is a great pitcher who’s performed very well in the toughest division in baseball, and he just added a no-hitter to his resume. One of the main reasons the Rays made the WS in ’08, and one of the major factors why Tampa will likely be a playoff contender this year.
3.) Delmon Young is a young, talented outfielder with lots of personal baggage. Until this year, the trade for Minnesota was a terrible one. Thankfully, the mentoring he’s gotten from Twins veterans has paid off, and he’s finally starting to look like a real ballplayer. Will that continue? In that ballpark, I don’t think we’ll ever see Delmon top 30 home runs, and I personally don’t see him being a high average hitter, or a guy who takes tons of walks, or even a guy who plays great defense. He’ll be merely ‘pretty good’ for a few years before he moves on.
4.) I’d bet my bank account that Minnesota would trade Young back to Tampa for Bartlett and Garza.
Uh have you been watching baseball AT ALL this year…..yawn. Delmon Young is hitting .334 with 14 HR, 79 RBI, 366 OBP AND…..548 slugging percentage. Sure i’d take Garza back but he’s been much better then average and probably will hit 30 homeruns this year. He also hasn’t shown “lots of baggage,” thus this trade was not terrible for Minnesota.
*You just admitted you’d take Garza back. Thanks for proving my point.
*Yes, I’ve been watching baseball. And reading about it. Apparently, more than you: by his current pace, Delmon is projected to hit 23 home runs. 23, by my math, is less than 30. By 7. Delmon would have to get even hotter to reach 30. It’s not impossible, but it is unlikely.
*No, Delmon hasn’t had outbursts or personal problems – that we’ve seen. Remember that not everything that happens with a ballclub is televised – such as behind the scenes, in the locker room, etc. Additionally, you’ll notice I said “he had baggage”, I never said he acted out. The possibility of Delmon creating issues when he or the team struggles is always a possibility. But we’ll see.
*I never said the trade was terrible for Minnesota – just lopsided. The Twins acquired a decent outfielder with potential – but gave away a very talented pitcher and a solid shortstop. One very good player and one above average player > one player with potential to be ‘pretty good’.
Garza is an average pitcher (career ERA of 4 and 7 K/9 and don’t bring up the no hitter, Bud Smith threw one and hasn’t been heard from since). Bartlett is a below average hitter (career OPS+ of 95) and his great D you speak of (led the league in errors in ’07 and third in ’09 and doesn’t rank in the top 25 in fielding% for all shortstops).
“I personally don’t see him being a high average hitter”…………………………
really? a career .297 hitter….. sorry but you must have him confused with nick punto.
Dallas Braden just threw a PERFECT GAME! Dallas Braden sucks. It means jack sh^$
Ramos is an average catcher to me. That said, as an average catcher, Ramos will be so much more valuable than Capps. Nice deal Rizzo.
AA failed again. Could have had Revere (same player as Gose) for Gregg or Downs. Yuck.
Horrible trade for Twins. Ramos has more value than that… The Twins are usually more shrewd about trades, I wouldn’t have expected them to go head over heels for saves, the most worthless stat in baseball.
I understand that Mauer blocks Ramos, but MN still should have obtained a bigger haul when they traded him.
I thought Ramos was a good prospect, Capps has been good this season but is he really worth it? The Twins are just trying to attempt to match the Sox bullpen, but thats gonna be hard to do.
2 major fleecings in 1 day
DISLIKE.
this is an awful trade solely because Capps will get a hefty raise next season and will most likely not be closing with Nathan back, what it does do it probably ensure that Guerrier and Rauch wont be back with Twins next year
Pretty weird trade for the Twins… Yeah Ramos was expendable, but he could have been used to gun for someone better to shore up their rotation. This seems like a case of wasting ammunition simply because you have it. Best get the most value out of it rather than using it to get something you kind of need.
I guess now they have another key piece in the team of the future, it also solves Harper not playing catcher. Nationals based around Stratsburg, Harper, and Ramos will probably at least compete in the NL east.
And our top prospect, Derek Norris, is a catcher.
You really can never have enough pitching and catching depth.
There are enough defensive concerns surrounding Norris (and his bat looks like it may play well enough) so that there’s an excellent chance he moves out from behind the plate.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Wouldn’t be a bad pickup for the Twins, but we need starting pitching, and the Twins just aren’t willing to pay top dollar for an ace-type starter…which is smart…but if they hope to have any post season success, this is the year, go all out and build a team to win. Even if it’s only for this year.
why would the nats want Ramos? didnt they just draft bryce harper? isn’t he suppost to be their catcher of the future?
He isn’t a catcher.
Harper is going to be played in the OF, assuming he signs.
nope, harper is a projected RF
He’s supposed to be playing RF for the Nats of the future.
just for the record…if this was Omar Minaya trading their #2 prospect for Matt Capps…Met fans would have assassins lined up outside of Citifield waiting for him to enter the parking lot…
Wow…talk about a rip-off !
well its good to know when our starting pitcher struggles again we have more than matty to come in….huhh…
I wonder what this means for Downs.
That AA is justified in asking for an organizational top prospect for Downs.
Probably not much, since Downs isn’t a closer. It just means that there is one less team that will want him.
Rizzo earned his paycheck with this trade.
And then some. I love it!
What a heist by the Nationals, great job by their GM.
I do not care that Ramos would of been a back up in Minny, the Twins could of or should of got a lot more a future starting backstop. Bravo to the Nationals!
I still can’t believe that Rizzo the Nats GM just flipped a non-tendered free agent in Capps and turned him into a top 100 prospect in Ramos.
Maybe now people will take Rizzo’s “Dunn for Garza/Beckham/Joba/etc.” comments seriously, if he can pull a trade like this one off.
Still no.
Yeah. I’m interested to see what he could get in return for Dunn and Willingham now.
Dammit.. I was hoping that the Red Sox would work out a trade for Ramos 🙁
i’m assuming capps will close. if not, good news for my fantasy team. the saves leader in my league has rauch and the third guy has capps.
I don’t know how to feel on this one… I think Capps is a solid reliever and has a place as a closer. His xFIP numbers are good (better than Guerrier and Rauch, the best Twins relievers) and I think the Twins need that more than SP (based on what is available). Ramos is a Major Leaguer, I just don’t know about a starter as only time will tell. If we jettisoned Harris as well, it makes it a solid move.
Lmao what a deal for the Nats. Minnesota could have gotten a lot more in a package surrounded by Ramos.
Major fail.
It now would seem if the Dunn to the Chisox deal does go through, Tyler Flowers would most likely not be in the mix- most likely Hudson plus Morel.
I think the Twins liked the contract of Capps and hope he can become a future closer of the team after Nathan. The bottom line is that if our starters go out early, we need solid relief help, and Capps undoubtedly adds a punch to our relief staff. Ramos may have been worth more, but its not that bad of a trade for the Twins. Also, the Twins kept Revere and that is huge IMO.
I think Testa was the key piece here. No way Rizzo makes this trade without him in it.
I don’t mind this deal for the Twins. Yes Ramos’ has a lot of potential, but he’ll never play for the Twins because of Mauer, so they might as well use him to fill a need. Ramos will be an above average defensive catcher and has good power potential even though his swing is more designed for hitting line drives than deep flies. He has missed significant time over the past 2 seasons due to nagging injuries and too often looks like Pedro Cerrano swinging at breaking balls (he was batting about .210 in AAA until recently and I believe he went 0 for his last 11 during his big league stint this year).
I don’t know that much about Capps, but I can read he has a 2.80 ERA with a decent WHIP and K rate, and I do know that Rauch, Guerrier and Mijares have been shaky lately.
Terrific deal by Rizzo, who gets some vindication here. Everything he’s been supposedly asking for with Dunn has been balked at (both by front offices and their teams’ fans alike). This same rumor had the same effect a few nights ago when Rizzo had apparently asked for Ramos for Capps. He’s stuck to his guns, which can be a dangerous game to play. He hasn’t blinked, though, and has been patient enough to work what he wants out of a deal.
Outstanding haul for the Nats in this deal. The Twins get a really solid closer for this year, and probably some insurance for next season in Capps (yes… Nathan should be back, but there’s always a question when someone’s returning from TJ surgery) if they retain him through arbitration. Capps will get a significant raise, for sure.
The Nats get six years of club control of one of the Top 50-60 prospects in the game, depending upon whose beliefs you subscribe to. They get a starting catcher who they can work in as a platoon guy with Ivan Rodriguez under contract through next season (assuming they don’t deal Pudge).
They allow their top offensive prospect (Derek Norris) to possibly move to a position where both his glove would play better and his potential for injury would be lessened. In doing so, they could actually accelerate his timetable a bit (as catchers tend to develop more slowly).
There’s a probable short-term win for the Twins here and a probable long-term win for the Nats. Rizzo did better than he should have been able to do (I’d have been happy with a Revere, to be honest, though I’d have hoped for Ramos) here, though it’s far from a guarantee that Ramos will pan out in the majors.
Rizzo is a beast ! thank god !
How did this happen?
I guess I just don’t get the big fuss about Ramos. He’s a hacker at the plate. Makes contact, but doesn’t draw walks… will never be a high OBP guy. He doesn’t have much power either. He has 12 homers since the beginning of last year. Is that a huge difference maker? Not really. He’s overrated.
Guess that’s what a .240-hitting minor league catcher with no future in an organization gets you. Nice pick-up for the Twins, though.
and to think, some were shocked and appalled that Ramos didn’t land Cliff Lee. I just goes to show that most fans overvalue the prospects in their own organizations. It’s just human nature to do so.
But you’re forgetting that Twins fans were nice enough to offer Blackburn in a package for Lee as well.
But you’re forgetting that Twins fans were nice enough to offer Blackburn in a package for Lee as well.
Why are so many wonks on here spouting about the Nationals? You guys will never be good. Bad farm system, bad manager, you have what…three major leaguers and a few role players? Have Ramos, we have 4 other catching prospects that will not see time the next 5 years at least. Maybe we will see Strasburg in a St. Paul Saints uniform in two years because of Mark Prior itis.
have you guys seen ramos’ numbers this year? he has fallen off a cliff. .280 obp with limited power and good defense… sounds like another bengie molina/rod barajas.
he won’t be a top-100 prospect this year.
Twins fans, is he injured?
There were times where he was injured with like an oblique strain, but I don’t know if it lingered or what. His numbers sure did drop from the year before.
I don’t think he’s injured, though he has had those issues in the past. His problem is he has no patience and can’t hit breaking balls. He’s a big, strong kid, but if you can’t make contact…
yup! bengie molina.
Ramos is incredibly overrated as a prospect. He’s a career 284/331/427 hitter in the minors who strikes out 3X more than he walks and is currently struggling at AAA hitting a meagre 241/280/345. If things work out well for him he might become Miguel Olivo (who at a similar age put up much better minor league numbers and has a minor league line of 284/350/462. Players with this skill set are available for ~2 million dollars EVERY offseason (see: miguel olivo, yorvit torrealba…etc).
Ferrariman, yes he has been injured the past two years. He can hit, but has slid, and is kind of a head case. Glad we did not give up Revere in this deal. Revere could be dealt in the future because Hicks is more valued than him. Do not be surprised if a Revere and Slowey/Blackburn plus prospects goes through before next season for a starting pitcher.
What makes Ramos a head case? Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Worst. Trade. Ever. For the Twins. Capps will be adding to his career 26 blown saves in 2010.
This trade sucks for both teams. Capps will get torn apart in the AL and Ramos will fade into obscurity. Capps has had an amazing year but he’s not an amazing player and Ramos is a good defensive catcher but like most catchers will bat .260 with little power. I bet the Twins and Nats think they’re real clever. Bad trade that will have an insignificant impact on both organizations.
Hey Brah need a tampon !
it became less scary?
So is this insurance in case they do not sign Bryce Harper? It was obviously a steal for the Nats, but what if they do sign Harper and Ramos lives up to most expectations? Is Harper’s position not destined for C?
Harper is to be an outfielder for them in the future
Harper is to be an outfielder for them in the future
harper is going to right field.
Edit: squadwagon already said it. shoulda read the comment.
harper is going to right field.
Edit: squadwagon already said it. shoulda read the comment.
They have already made a statement publicly the day after he was drafted that he would play RF. They are going to give him a record breaking sign and you don’t risk that by throwing him behind the plate to get battered day in and day out on that type of investment
They have already made a statement publicly the day after he was drafted that he would play RF. They are going to give him a record breaking sign and you don’t risk that by throwing him behind the plate to get battered day in and day out on that type of investment
Harper is a outfielder (RF), Nats dont want him catching.
Oh my god, I have never seen these type of complete head scratching trades involving prospects like today. First Wallace and now Ramos for freakin Matt Capps? It’s like we’re in a time machine going back 20 years where prospects mean nothing. I know Ramos was blocked but they could have gotten much much more for him. Capps isn’t even a top 10 closer. This is really head scratching they could have gotten a front end starter like they really need if they were willing to include him. Blue Jays and Twins are by far biggest losers so far in this deadline and Texas is right there as well but atleast they got a top ace for the ripoff they pulled on themselves.
cant wait to watch Ramos fail in D.C.
Why you keep bringing them negative waves, Moriarity?
Why is Toronto performing so poorly at the deadline? Is it b/c they havent traded anyone yet b/c they r asking for too much in return? They havent done anything wrong yet, they have CHEAP type A and B players, who if they stay and become free agents at the end of the year, will receive first round and sandwich picks for. they have nothing to lose only gain, not to mention the best available lefty out of the they pen, there is a dozen teams interested in scott downs, t.o. should get what they want
Oh my god, I have never seen these type of complete head scratching trades involving prospects like today. First Wallace and now Ramos for freakin Matt Capps? It’s like we’re in a time machine going back 20 years where prospects mean nothing. I know Ramos was blocked but they could have gotten much much more for him. Capps isn’t even a top 10 closer. This is really head scratching they could have gotten a front end starter like they really need if they were willing to include him. Blue Jays and Twins are by far biggest losers so far in this deadline and Texas is right there as well but atleast they got a top ace for the ripoff they pulled on themselves.
Rauch won’t be closing? That really messes up my fantasy team.
sucks to be you :p
No, I think Rauch is still the Twinkies’ closer. Capps is an insurance plan.
No, I think Rauch is still the Twinkies’ closer. Capps is an insurance plan.
Rauch won’t be closing? That really messes up my fantasy team.
Neal Huntingdon and the Pirates look like geniuses now by getting nothing for him…
It seems like for every good move he’s made, he makes 5 bad ones
Neal Huntingdon and the Pirates look like geniuses now by getting nothing for him…
It seems like for every good move he’s made, he makes 5 bad ones
I’m sorry to see Ramos go but the Twins need bullpen help now. Since most of you don’t live in the Twin Cities, it was pretty evident that the Twins are really disappointed with Ramos and evidently don’t think he will be the big league catcher that some think he will. He doesn’t take coaching very well and was in a perpetual pout playing in Rochester. As for Capps, the Twins have been scouting him for some time and obviously like what he brings. It is foolish to make statements suggesting that he will get lit up pitching in the AL. He’s just as likely to dominate in the AL. Bert Blyleven (Twins broadcaster) know a lot about pitching in both leagues and says the only real difference is that you face a DH once every nine batters instead of a weak hitting, pitcher but that’s it.
Back this up…. with anything at all. I live in the Twin Cities and I read the Strib and Pioneer Press sports sections every day. The only “pouting” Ramos ever did was when he was sent down at the beginning of the year because he outplayed everyone else at spring training and Gardy went out of his way to tell him so. Gardy campaigned for weeks to have Ramos start the season as the backup catcher but Smith didn’t want to start his ML clock.
I never saw anything in the papers about Ramos not being coachable.
I think Ramos should do well working with Pudge for the next year.
Dan Gladden on the air, several times talked about Ramos needing to listen to coaches. Tim Laudner on the post-game show also said that Ramos can be an MLB catcher but he has to learn to trust the coaches and pay attention. Pat Reusse on Sunday Sports Show with Mike Max and Sid Hartman said that Ramos is “pouting” at Rochester and that Gardenhire and Vavra were frustrated with his unwillingness to make adjustments.
On the surface, that’s the only difference between the two leagues, but we all know that it’s a lot more than that. The pitcher’s SPOT in the lineup leads to the ability to pitch around some tough situations that cannot be avoided in the American League.
This is a very good point, especially since a late inning reliever wouldn’t see the pitcher hitting with a pinch hitter taking his place.
I’m sorry to see Ramos go but the Twins need bullpen help now. Since most of you don’t live in the Twin Cities, it was pretty evident that the Twins are really disappointed with Ramos and evidently don’t think he will be the big league catcher that some think he will. He doesn’t take coaching very well and was in a perpetual pout playing in Rochester. As for Capps, the Twins have been scouting him for some time and obviously like what he brings. It is foolish to make statements suggesting that he will get lit up pitching in the AL. He’s just as likely to dominate in the AL. Bert Blyleven (Twins broadcaster) know a lot about pitching in both leagues and says the only real difference is that you face a DH once every nine batters instead of a weak hitting, pitcher but that’s it.
Capps is the prototypical Twins pitcher: throws strikes and doesn’t give up walks (1 of 3 relievers with a BB/9 under 2.00 over the last 3 seasons). I think he will do well in the Twins system and could even improve given he is only 26 y/o.
He has a career xFIP of 4.06, which is better than Matt Guerrier (4.41) or Jon Rauch (4.44). If he can sustain an xFIP of ~3.60 he would be around the 25th-30th best releiver in baseball (based on xFIP).
Closers don’t face pitchers. They face Pinch Hitters. Capps has done well in DC for the most part. Let’s runners on the bases a little to much for a Closer but does get out of jams he creates pretty well. We are sorry to see him go, but we need a solid backup to Pudge.
Brutal deal. I mean who trades your top prospect for a reliever? Specially a stop-gap reliever, when you badly need another pitcher (and several are available) or a bat at 3B. Ugh. I think I’m over Bill Smith….
Valencia has been playing really well for them lately and there isn’t this impact starting pitcher out there that you seem to think they could have gotten. Ramos wasn’t this golden child you seem to think he was.
Valencia’s played well the last ten days, which I don’t think really qualifies him as the “answer”. Plus he’s a contact hitter with no power, so he’s never going to be an RBI guy or provide any protection in the lineup.
There are obviously plenty of starters that were/are on the market; Lilly, Oswalt, Edwin Jackson, Myers, any of whom would be an upgrade from Brian Deunsing…
And I’m not one of the flock that thinks Ramos walks on water. But there was an outcry a Ramos & Hicks for Lee offer, and less then a month later we trade him for Capps? The past few years have shown you can buy a quality reliever for $3-5 million in free agency, so why trade a prospect for one…
Why trade a prospect for a closer? Sure, you can buy a quality reliever in the offseason, but this isn’t the offseason. They clearly want to win now, thus their attempt to trade for Cliff Lee even though it fell short.And while I agree you can’t make any assumptions on Valencia based off his small sample so far, you also can’t use that small sample to say he’s “never” going to be this or that. Besides that, who are these great third base options out there? Cantu, Wigginton, Tejada? Please.Myers likely isn’t going to be traded and I don’t buy that Edwin Jackson is an upgrade over Duensing. Oswalt wasn’t coming here and while I wouldn’t mind Lilly, I don’t think the Cubs are in a hurry to trade him given the fact they will get two draft picks if he leaves this summer as a free agent. They definitely wouldn’t be seeking a catching prospect either.
I don’t think the Twins are looking at Capps as a stop-gap reliever. The reality is that Joe Nathan will not be back at 100% next year if at all. Capps is now the best Twins reliever and he is only 26 y/o. If Nathan is back or they find a better Closer option, Capps becomes a less expensive Matt Guerrier.
I don’t think the Twins are looking at Capps as a stop-gap reliever. The reality is that Joe Nathan will not be back at 100% next year if at all. Capps is now the best Twins reliever and he is only 26 y/o. If Nathan is back or they find a better Closer option, Capps becomes a less expensive Matt Guerrier.
Wow. Didn’t see that coming. Great move by the Nats.
What a joke of a trade, good lord. Rizzo just took Bill Smith to the woodshed.
hahaha rizzo just signed a closer who was cut on a bad team for a very affordable contract let his stock skyrocket capped with the AS game then flipped him for one of the best catching prospects in the game
pirates fans have 2 be wondering wth neal huntington was smoking 2 cut this guy and take nothing….
i cant wait for this offseason just to see what other young stars gets cut by these penny pinching teams so rizzo can work his magic
Don’t care about either team really, but this is a superb job by Rizzo. He moved a closer for a top 50 prospect (even before considering the value of Testa). You can make a damn good case he got a better deal for a formerly non-tendered closer that DiPoto did for Haren….
Yeah I was thinking the same thing. It is quite obvious that Arizona got the bad end of the Haren deal, and I was shocked when I saw that Ramos was the one heading to Washington for Capps. Well played Mr. Rizzo.
I guess I don’t get why everybody is saying the Twins could have gotten something better for Ramos, obviously they probably couldn’t or they would have. They traded him for somebody that’s going to have a positive impact on the ML roster, I like it as a Twins fan, I think this is a good trade for both teams
I feel sick.
2 months of a non-tendered closer for 6 years of a huge upside prospect.
Yes, Capps is coming back next year, but so is Nathan.
Umm, where is Ramos gonna play? The Nats have a prospect by the name of Derrick Norris who I think will be better…Ramos doesn’t call a good game really either.
Ummm… which 23-year old minor-league catcher DOES call a good game?
Ummm… which 23-year old minor-league catcher DOES call a good game?
I think that unfortunately Twins fan had been thinking too highly of Ramos. Sure, BA ranked him in at #58 to start the season, but there have been a lot of catchers ranked in the top 100 that don’t pan out: Towles, Saltalamacchia, Clement, Teagarden. We need to stop calling Ramos a “future all-star” and realize that you have to give up something to get something. He is only a prospect: he could end up a starter, be could be a backup, he could be out of the majors.
I think that unfortunately Twins fan had been thinking too highly of Ramos. Sure, BA ranked him in at #58 to start the season, but there have been a lot of catchers ranked in the top 100 that don’t pan out: Towles, Saltalamacchia, Clement, Teagarden. We need to stop calling Ramos a “future all-star” and realize that you have to give up something to get something. He is only a prospect: he could end up a starter, be could be a backup, he could be out of the majors.
It’s probably worth noting that this trade puts the Blue Jays in a terrific position of trading Scott Downs. Dude is superior to Capps in almost every way, and for Washington to reel in Ramos and Testa for Capps…yeah, Toronto is going to get a good haul.
Testa is a fringe prospect. He was signed as a free agent after every major league team passed on him for 45+ rounds! I hope he does it make it to the big leagues; I love to root for guys like him. But, no one ought to think that he’s an important part of this deal. He is the throw-in, fringe prospect who is a long, long shot to ever pitch in the majors – but you never know for sure.
The Twins want to win now. Capps helps them do that. His whole MLB career has been spent on bad National League teams and finally, he gets a chance to pitch for a team that has become used to winning and contending. Will he succeed or will he fail . . . we have to wait an see. Ramos meanwhile is a question mark. Obviously, he wasn’t well enough regarded to net the Twins the front line starter they sought (i.e. Cliff Lee). The Twins obviously know a lot more about Wilson Ramos than anyone posting on this board and clearly felt that he was expendable to obtain Matt Capps.
This instantaneous judging of trades “a fleecing” is just fan talk; the reality has always been that you have to wait a while to accurately assess. Prospects sometimes succeed, sometimes fail. Major league players who are traded sometimes play a lot better and sometimes don’t. FYI, the Twins players are apparently ecstatic about the move; they see management acquiring a player who instantly makes them better and helps them win for two guys who may or may not ever be big leaguers. That management is willing to take on extra salary and make this deal, makes for a very happy clubhouse.
oh hell no.