1:44pm: The Twins have announced the trade.
1:27pm: The Rays will be getting minor league righties Chih-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia from the Twins, tweets La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
12:59pm: The Twins and Rays are in agreement on a trade that will send right-hander Kevin Jepsen to Minnesota, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Bullpen help has been the Twins’ primary need for quite some time, as the team lacks quality setup options for Glen Perkins, with the possible exception of converted starter Trevor May, who has recently been handling the eighth inning in Minnesota. Blaine Boyer, Aaron Thompson, Brian Duensing and Casey Fien have all had struggles at various times this year, with Thompson already having been shipped to Triple-A.
Jepsen, 31, should provide some stability, though he isn’t necessarily an elite upgrade. He has a solid track record dating back to 2012 (3.12 ERA in 187 1/3 innings), but his strikeout rate and control have both taken a step back in 2015. Jepsen’s averaged 4.3 walks per nine against 7.3 strikeouts per nine, both of which are departures from his career marks and his rates in recent seasons. Even without a return to his previous strikeout levels, though, Jepsen will improve the strikeout rate in a Twins bullpen that handily ranks last in the Majors in strikeout.
Jepsen is earning $3.025MM in 2015 and is controllable through the 2016 season, so he’ll likely be ticketed for a raise into the mid-$4MM range or so this winter.
I was just beginning to wonder if the Twins were going to be silent… Haven’t heard anything about them during the deadline until now.
oh man almost forgot they were here haha
BLOCKBUSTER
They didn’t need to do much more. They need to give the young players time – they will be contending for years.
How many teams have 3 guys with these stats – let alone rookies…..
Rosario – .294 / .316 / .462
Hicks – .299 / .364 / .437
Sano – .296 / .427!!!! / .507
Hicks isn’t a rookie. But, yeah, the Twins have some nice young pieces to build around.
Forgot. Thanks.
They remind me so much of the Royals of 2013 – one can just see what’s coming. And it’s not just 3 players. The depth of the talent the Twins have with young players is simply scary.
Shoot, that list doesn’t include Buxton, likely the best of the whole bunch.
Looks like an overpay based on stats
It’s not based on stats though. It’s based on the market prices. Jepsen is a controllable pitcher after this season that is an upgrade in your bullpen. Your #20 prospect and another arm is not an overpay.
Vandals your crazy…we are in the wildcard right now! You make a move to compete. Just the same ole twins that refuse to make a splash and take on salaries. Thanks for nothing twins
Wow the Rays are so cheap