Minnesota Twins acquire RHP Matt Capps from Nationals for #2 prospect C Wilson Ramos and pitcher

Just a few minutes ago, the Minnesotra Twins and Washington Nationals agreed on a trade that would send Nationals' closer Matt Capps to the Twins for top catching prospect and #2 prospect Wilson Ramos and pitcher Joe Testa.

Capps, 26, has spent six seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Nationals. At age 23, Capps burst upon the scene in 2007 (he came up in 2005), posting a 2.28 ERA with 18 saves for the Pirates in 76 games. He was named closer after the season and rightfully so, as he sported a 3.02 ERA with 21 saves for the 2008 Pirates. He struggled in 2009, giving up 10 home runs and 73 hits in 54.1 innings, resulting in a 5.80 ERA, however he still saved 27 games.

After the 2009 season, the Pirates non-tendered Capps a contract, a questionable move around baseball. Many teams, including the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees, were interested in signing the young right-hander to bolster their bullpens. Instead, Capps ended up signing a one-year contract for $3.5 million with the Nationals, who guaranteed him a chance to close - a major factor in his decision. Capps's performance this season has made the Pirates look foolish for making such a decision, as he has a 2.80 ERA in 46 games this year for the Nationals while saving 25 games, ranking 4th in the National League and making the NL All-Star team. Capps will fill the closing position for the Twins that Jon Rauch held down while long-time closer Joe Nathan rehabs from Tommy John surgery.

In return, the Nationals acquire the game's 58th best prospect (according to BaseballAmerica) in Wilson Ramos, a young catcher who is blocked by some guy named Joe Mauer who won the AL MVP last year. Ramos, 22, saw big league action this season after Mauer spent time nursing an injury, going 3-4 in his first ever major league game. In 7 games, (28 PA) Ramos hit .296 with 8 hits, 3 doubles, and 1 RBI. He was later sent back down to Triple-AAA, where he has posted a .241/.280/.345 average with 5 home runs and 30 RBIs in 71 games. Ramos put himself on the prospect map after a 2008 outbreak season in which he hit .288 with 13 home runs an 78 RBIs. He responded in 2009 hitting .317 with 7 home runs and 35 RBIs. This season, Ramos has thrown out 19 of 38 base stealers, a 20% rate. Joe Mauer's fixture in Minnesota for the next eight years at catcher (he signed an 8-year, $184 million contract before the season) allowed Ramos to become expendable. It's good to see the Twins found a place for a young player with that much talent to play and thrive. Ramos will be a big part of the Nationals' rebuilding effort and will join Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and eventually Bryce Harper as the future of the Nationals.

Testa, 25, is a relief pitcher who has spent three-plus seasons in the Twins organization. His best season came in 2009, when he sported a 1.96 ERA in 46 games for A-A+. This season Testa has struggled, posting a 5.50 ERA in 36 games for A+ and AA.

While I'm not a fan of giving up a top prospect for a reliever who has never experienced the American League before, the Twins needed to make this trade. Rauch has been inconsistent as a closer and Capps is under team control and young. It's a great move for both teams, a trending topic with the trades today, but I think the Nationals really won this trade by acquiring a young catcher with tremendous talent for their rebuilding effort.

The Latest on Cliff Lee, Updates

With only a few weeks to go until the July 31st trading deadline, trade talk is poised to heat up. Cliff Lee, the most prized and sought after trade target, is on the block and has been coveted by every team. The rumors about a Lee trade are starting to heat up. We'll be monitoring how it goes today and we'll provide all rumors heard.

• Yesterday, the Twins offered the Mariners a package of prized catching prospect Wilson Ramos and 2008 first-rounder, outfielder Aaron Hicks. Ramos, who debuted this year and was hitting .296 in the majors, is hitting .208 with 4 home runs and 19 RBI at Triple-AAA Rochester through 52 games. Hicks is hitting .260 with 5 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases at Single-A Beloit. Both Hicks and Ramos were ranked one and two respectively, on Baseball America's Twins' Top 10 Prospects List. Various reports have said that both sides are still far from a deal. It's very unorthodox for the Twins to trade their top prospects, especially since their team is made up of homegrown players. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Reds are among other teams interested in acquiring the ace left-hander.

• Via MLBTradeRumors and Twitter, Peter Gammons is reporting that rumors of a B.J. Upton - Cliff Lee deal are going around and that a third team could be involved with the Tampa Bay Rays and Mariners.

• More from MLBTradeRumors: Olney hears that the Mariners "really like" Brewers prospect Brett Lawrie (Twitter link). The 20-year-old second baseman recently made Baseball America's mid-season All-Star team. Lawrie "still strikes out too often and is a work in progress at second base," but is among the offensive leaders at AA. The Mariners have 2009 first rounder Dustin Ackley, also a second baseman, hitting well in AA, though Ackley's presence doesn't mean they can't pursue Lawrie.

• Morosi hears that talks between the Mets and Mariners have not progressed much (Twitter)
  

• B.J. Upton, now involved in the Lee rumors, tells Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times that he doesn't want the Rays to trade him (Twitter link). Joe Maddon also talks to Topkin about the Upton rumors, saying there's "nothing from our end regarding that being true."

• The Yankees believe they could trade for Lee if they wanted to, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter).

• The Yankees are “kicking the tires” on Lee, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The source estimates that the Yanks have less than a 50% chance of obtaining Lee and suggests the Yankees could flip Javier Vazquez to another team if they do acquire Lee.

• The Rays are on the periphery of the Lee sweepstakes, according to Rosenthal’s sources, who confirm that B.J. Upton-Cliff Lee trade talk surfaced amoung scouts last night.

• The Tigers like Lee, but aren't optimistic about acquiring him, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).