The Minnesota Twins improved their chances of winning vs. the online gambling odds as they traded for All-Star closer Matt Capps on Thursday. The Twins will be sending top prospect Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa to the Nationals in exchange for Capps. The Twins are very much in a pennant race and the addition of Capps could put them over the top vs. odds at Internet gambling companies.
Online gambling odds list the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox almost as co-favorites in the American League Central division. The Twins addition of Capps will really strengthen their bullpen. The Twins got a lot out of Jon Rauch as he filled in for the injured Joe Nathan but in recent weeks Rauch has seem to hit the wall. Capps is 3-3 with a 2.74 ERA this season. He has 26 saves in 30 chances for the Nationals. Capps takes over the closer role for the Twins with Rauch moving into the setup role. Rauch was 21 for 25 in save chances but he has just one save since July 11th and his ERA is 5.40 in his last nine appearances.
Minnesota is making a big push to make the playoffs this season. They have made it out of the first round of the playoffs only once this decade but they seem determined this year to go farther and make some real noise vs. baseball odds at Internet gambling companies. Last year the team added Carl Pavano, Rauch and Orlando Cabrera. Earlier this year they added Orlando Hudson, Jim Thome and J.J. Hardy.
The Twins are not afraid to make moves in an attempt to improve their team and they found a trading partner in the Washington Nationals. Ramos was considered the top catching prospect in the league but he simply wasn’t going to get time in Minnesota since the Twins have Joe Mauer. It would have been a long time before Ramos got into the lineup since Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension. Ramos hit .241 with five homers and 30 RBIs for Triple-A Rochester this season. The Nationals are thrilled to get Ramos because they can now move number one pick Bryce Harper from catcher to the outfield.