Jaime Garcia’s brief stint in Atlanta is over. After just 18 starts for the Braves, Garcia has been dealt to the Minnesota Twins, along with catcher Anthony Recker and Cash for pitcher Huascar Ynoa. The Braves have been better than expected in 2017, but they still face an extremely tall task to make the playoffs this season. The Twins, however, find themselves in an unexpectedly close battle for the AL Central.
Teams announce: #Twins get Jaime Garcia from #Braves – and C Anthony Recker and cash too – in exchange for RHP Huascar Ynoa, a 19-year-old.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2017
Minnesota Twins Acquire Jaime Garcia from Atlanta
The Twins sit just 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians for first place in the American League Central. Though they also sit a game behind the Kansas City Royals who are second in the division. In addition the Twins sit a game behind the Royals and Tampa Bay Rays, who are tied for the final wild card spot.
Garcia has been mostly effective this season. In 18 starts, he has logged 113 innings with a 4.30 ERA, 85 strikeouts, and a 4-7 record. Garcia did have a stretch of bad starts, but he remains a viable addition to the Twins rotation. He also hit a grand slam in his last start with the Braves.
Recker, 33, has played in just six games, with just seven at-bats for the Braves last year. The journeyman catcher played in 33 games last year. In 206 games, over seven MLB seasons, he has slashed .199/.283/.348 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs.
Atlanta’s Return
Ynoa is a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher. The Twins signed Ynoa as an international free agent in 2014. MLB.com ranks him as the 22nd-best prospect currently in the Twins system. He has started six games in rookie ball this year, with a 5.26 ERA.
Main Photo:
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 16: Jaime Garcia #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at SunTrust Park on July 16, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
