The Minnesota Twins traded veteran right-handed starter Ricky Nolasco to a fellow last-place club, the Los Angeles Angels, shortly before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Minnesota received left-handed starter Hector Santiago and cash in return. The deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.
Source: #Twins acquire Hector Santiago from #Angels.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016
Twins Trade Ricky Nolasco, Cash to Angels for Santiago
Minnesota also included former top pitching prospect, 26-year-old righty Alex Meyer, and $4 million in the deal. Meyer was ranked as the No. 28 prospect in baseball in 2014, according to MLB Pipeline, but has suffered through shoulder woes since. He reached the major leagues last June, but has thrown just 6.1 big league innings over the last two seasons, putting up a 14.21 ERA in that limited work. He has not pitched this season since May 3 due to continued shoulder problems.
The Angels kicked in 25-year-old relief prospect Alan Busenitz. The right-hander had a 1.93 ERA in Double-A Arkansas this season, but has struggled since being promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake City. He has a 7.62 ERA in thirteen innings there.
The money the Twins included in the deal made the trade cash neutral, according to Rosenthal’s tweets. The Twins will pay the rest of Nolasco’s salary this year, as will the Angels with Santiago’s. Both starters are signed through 2017, but Nolasco has a $13 million club option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout.
Nolasco was having a rough season in his third year with the Twins. In twenty-one starts, he put up a 5.13 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Those stats are actually improvements upon his numbers from his first two years with the club, which still is not much cause for celebration.
Santiago likewise was having a tough 2016 campaign. His 4.25 ERA and 1.33 WHIP do not offer much of an improvement over Nolasco’s numbers for the Twins. However, he was a solid starter prior to this season, and could be that once again.
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