Twins send All-Star closer Brandon Kintzler to the Nationals
The Minnesota Twins found their old trading partner the Washington Nationals and sent Brandon Kintzler to the nation’s capital.
For a moment, Minnesota Twins fans thought that the team was going to be buyers at this deadline. The Twins traded for Jaime Garcia and then traded him away in the course of a week. In the final moments before the 3:00 Central trade deadline struck, the Twins struck a deal to send All-Star closer Brandon Kintzler to the Washington Nationals.
Sources confirm: #Nationals get Kintzler. First reported: @chelsea_janes.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
Kintzler made his first All-Star Game appearance earlier in July. The six-foot right hander had pitched in 45 games for Minnesota this season. Kintzler notched 28 saves with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.147 WHIP. The All-Star joined the Twins in 2016, before that he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers appearing in games from 2010-2015.
Kintzler joins the Washington Nationals who are in the middle of a pennant chase. He turns 33-years-old on Tuesday (August 1).
How did Kintzler find out that he had been dealt? He was feeding a rhino when he got the news. Naturally.
Brandon Kintzler found out he was traded to the #Nationals while on a safari in San Diego "I was feeding a rhino"
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 31, 2017
So what did the Twins get in return?
Tyler Watson going from #Nationals to #Twins for Kintzler, per source.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
Tyler Watson looks to be at least a decent prospect. He was decently ranked on Nationals’ prospect lists.
#Nats send LHP Tyler Watson to #MNTwins for Brandon Kintzler. No. 17 on @Nationals Top 30 list: https://t.co/5QEdPmwsJ2 pic.twitter.com/6Ejj8jiiG1
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 31, 2017
Watson now heads to Single-A Cedar Rapids.
LHP Tyler Watson assigned to @CRKernels . Dom Carlini to DL (shoulder inflammation).
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) July 31, 2017
The Twins also got some cold hard cash.
#MNTwins make it official, they trade Brandon Kintzler to the Nats for prospect Tyler Watson and $500,000 in international bonus pool money
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 31, 2017
Watson had been 6-4 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.247 WHIP in 18 games with Single-A Hagerstown this season. Watson had been in the Nationals farm system since 2015. Last season, Watson had a 2.64 ERA and a 1.052 WHIP in 12 games.
It has been rumored that Kintzler might re-sign with the Twins once the season is over. It’s nice in theory, Kintzler is a decent bullpen arm, but LaVelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune is reporting the following:
Kintzler is willing to re-sign with the Twins, but the Twins made ZERO attempts to address his contract situation this season. Zero.
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) July 31, 2017
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The Minnesota Twins showed that they are looking towards the future with their deals at the deadline. The team got prospects back from the New York Yankees for Jaime Garcia and now got another prospect from the Nationals in exchange for Kintzler.
The last time a closer was traded between the two teams resulted in the Twins getting Matt Capps. The Twins sent catching prospect Wilson Ramos which is a move that Twins fans have agonized over for years since. For the sake of Twins fans, let’s hope this time that the Twins win the deal as they sent off their middle-of-the-road closer for a prospect.
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