The Minnesota Twins nearly struck a deal for left-hander Jaime
Garcia last week with the Atlanta Braves.
New Twins pitcher Jaime Garcia
On Monday, the Twins got their man after acquiring the 31-year-old
along with catcher Anthony Recker and cash considerations from
Atlanta in exchange for minor league right-hander Huascar Ynoa.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the Twins assumed the
remainder of Garcia’s salary (approximately $4.55 million) and
$200,000 of Recker’s $300,000 salary. The Braves are sending
$100,000 to the Twins.
Garcia, who is making $11.5 million this year, will be a free agent
after the season.
He owns a 4-7 mark with a 4.30 ERA in 18 starts with Atlanta in
2017. Garcia has posted a 66-52 record with a 3.65 ERA in 176
career appearances (165 starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals and
Braves.
The Braves acquired Garcia in December from the Cardinals for
right-hander John Gant and two minor-leaguers.
Recker is batting .223 with four homers in 41 games this season for
Triple-A Gwinnett. The 33-year-old is hitting .199 with 18 homers
and 70 RBIs in 206 career contests with the Oakland Athletics,
Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Braves.
Ynoa, 19, has recorded a 5-11 mark with a 3.05 ERA in 30 starts
with rookie-level Elizabethon and the Gulf Coast League Twins.
Other moves in the American League yesterday included the The Red Sox
giving top prospect Rafael Devers a chance to fill a void at third base.
The 20-year-old has had his contract purchased by the AL East leaders and
is expected to be in the team’s lineup Tuesday at Seattle. Devers received
the call-up despite having just nine games of experience at the Triple-A
level, though he hit .400 with two homers in 35 at-bats following a promotion
from Double-A Portland. Devers is rated the No. 12 overall prospect by MLB.com.
Also, The Royals obtained right-handers Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer
and left-hander Ryan Buchter from the Padres in exchange for
left-handers Matt Strahm and Travis Wood, minor league infielder
Esteury Ruiz and cash considerations. Kansas City is trying to
catch the Indians in the AL Central and is also in the mix in the
wild-card race.