The Twins announced today they've re-signed reliever Matt Capps to a one-year deal with a club option for 2013. According to an AP report, the deal will pay Capps $4.5MM in 2012 and includes a $6MM option for 2013. With a $250K buyout on the option, Capps is guaranteed $4.75MM. He's represented by Wasserman Media Group.
Capps was acquired by the Twins in July of 2010 at the high price of Wilson Ramos, and enjoyed a successful final two months of the season, posting a 2.00 ERA and saving 16 games. He was less effective in 2011, with a 4.25 ERA and by far the lowest K/9 mark of his career (4.7). For fantasy analysis on the signing, check out Bryan Grosnick's latest at CloserNews.
In late November as part of the collective bargaining agreement, Capps was downgraded from a Type A free agent to Type B, and it was decided the Twins would not have to offer him arbitration to receive a supplemental draft pick in return. So, re-signing him comes at an extra cost, since they would have gotten a free, unexpected draft pick by letting him leave.
Jon Heyman and Steve Popper originally broke news of the agreement Monday. Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.
Yay Twins! MEDIOCRITY FOR EVERYONE!
Yay! One more step to the same team as last year!
I’m scared to see the $$$
As long as Capps isn’t the closer, he’s OK. I don’t entirely trust him pitching at all, but he did have a 2.47 ERA in 2010.
As a Tigers fan, I’m sorry for you. The only way you should be okay with this deal is if Capps doesn’t pitch next season and the Twins pick up his option to not pitch again in 2013.
He was injured most of 2011, so we’ll see what he does next year.
Unfortunately, he’s payed too well for a middle-reliever….
Pretty excited for when they sign Jon Rauch as the setup man tomorrow…
I wouldn’t mind seeing Jon Rouch or Frank Fransisco as middle inning guys for the right price. But I’m pretty certain the setup position is Perkins’s, that is if he doesn’t replace Capps as closer half way through the season.
This is a good signing as long as his annual salary isn’t over 3 million, but my guess it’s about 5 or 6 million.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Just wait until they sign Ryan Franklin
oh god no, don’t give them any ideas.
If he was pitching hurt last year like as been reported, this might not be too bad especially if it is around $3m. If worse comes to worse they could shop him at the deadline. I am sure someone will give something for him.
And the curse of the Wilson Ramos deal lives on.
Bring up Anthony Slama.
I saw this coming since the day that Nathan left. I hope it’s not for too much money, and that he’s not automatically given the closer role. Let him and Perkins compete for it.
Is it in the Twins handbook to blame a injury when you suck on the mound? Capps is garbage. When you add old man Mike back to the outfield, 2012 season is over in December.
if he is the seventh inning guy I don’t mind this, but the pricee is way too high for him. We could have gotten several other better closer options for same or less money
would’ve prefered the money went to Dotel & Francisco
99 losses and they pick the lesser of two closers because he’s cheaper. You’re welcome for the ballpark a#@holes!
And so Terry Ryan reveals his grand strategy of recreating the Twins’ glory days of the mid-nineties.
i think this is gonna work out well..call me a fool but i trust terry ryan
You fool!
Strange to see this much hate for the man. Not a horrible deal, not that big of an investment. Plus they’ve got a reasonable option if he has a great year (not saying that will happen).
more good news! they just signed kirby puckett to play CF.
Frank F went for only 2/12 and Rauch went foor 1/3.5 to the mets – would rather have both of them than Capps
Lots of guys do that. But point taken. It’s always a gamble with relievers.
exactly. it’s not like matt capps is difficult to replace. silly move here
Yes. The Cardinals are going to do the same thing with Dotel. MLB tries to give them a gift draft pick and they’re going to pass it up.
Those improvements would be nice, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The safer bet would be to prepare ourselves to see guys swinging out of their shoes at laser straight fastballs next year.
Sure, and if he can develop a killer changeup, locate his fastball consistently, and develop an intimate relationship with the corners of the strike zone, he’ll be Greg Maddux. It’s just about as likely.
That won’t happen. They have already shown they aren’t willing to sign a legit starter because they aren’t willing to spend the money (Buehrle). They’d rather spend the money on Cuddy.
True, true. I hope for the best for Matt Capps and the Twins, I really do. I love the guys attitude, but those blown saves last year, a few which I saw from my seats, really drained my confidence in him. Now every time I think of Matt Capps, I think of the one pitch walk-off to Carlos Santana in Cleveland at the end of the year. With my friends who like baseball, I call him The Spicy Meatball, because his meatballs do have nice velocity(spice), but he wasn’t fooling anybody last year. haha