Twins agree to terms with closer Matt Capps on one-year deal
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DALLAS -- Matt Capps was greeted with perhaps more boos at Target Field than any other player last season, but the Minnesota Twins will bring him back for a shot at redemption.
According to a baseball source, the Twins have agreed to a one-year deal plus an option with Capps, who figures to be slotted back in as the closer. The Associated Press reported the deal includes a salary of $4.5 million in 2012 and a $6 million option for 2013 with a $250,000 buyout.
The Twins will bank on several players returning to their 2010 form next season, and Capps is certainly high on that list. The right-hander grinded through forearm and wrist discomfort en route to posting a 4.25 ERA with nine blown saves and only 34 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings last season.
This after posting a 2.47 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 73 innings in 2010 for the Washington Nationals and Twins, who completed a swap involving Wilson Ramos after the All-Star break.
Had the Twins let Capps walk and sign elsewhere, they would have received compensation in the form of a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of the 2012 draft.
When asked how much the Twins consider draft-pick compensation when deciding whether or not to re-sign their own free agents -- Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel included -- general manager Terry Ryan said, "Not that much. We'll take it. But we'd rather have the player."
Capps earned over $7 million in 2011 and the Twins declined to offer him salary arbitration, instead electing to negotiate at a lower price point.
