The Minnesota Twins have made a move to upgrade their pitching staff, signing free agent starter Ricky Nolasco to a 4-year contract. The deal is said to be worth $49 million, and continues a club option for a 5th season. The contract is the richest free agent deal in club history.
Nolasco will earn $12 million per year from 2014-17, and the 2018 option is worth $13 million with a $1 million team buyout. It also has a vesting option based on the number of innings pitched by Nolasco from 2016-17.
The 30-year-Nolasco was 13-11 and put up 3.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 165/46 K/BB ratio in 199 1/3 innings this past season. He spent half the year with the Miami Marlins before being acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a trade just prior to the non-waiver trade deadline.
During the course of his eight-year career, Nolasco is 89-75 with a 4.37 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
The Twins needed this upgrade as their team had the worst ERA in the majors in 2013 with a 5.26, while the starters were 29th with a 4.81 ERA on the season. The staff also allowed a league worst .280 batting average against.
They may not be done, as the Twins are also rumored to be after Matt Garza and Bronson Arroyo. As it stands, they have Nolasco, Sam Deduno, Kevin Correia and Vance Worley as projected starters for next season.
The Dodgers recently signed Dan Haren to take Nolasco’s spot in their rotation.
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