TUESDAY, 8:34pm: According to MLB.com's Kelly Thesier, Ayala requested a trade from the Twins three weeks ago.
"He asked for this, and when you ask out of here, you will get out of here," said manager Ron Gardenhire. "It's simple." The right-hander apparently wanted a setup role, but "wasn't pitching well enough to be an eighth-inning guy," according to Gardenhire, the Twins' ultimate decision-maker.
MONDAY, 4:22pm: ESPN relays an AP report that says the Twins designated reliever Luis Ayala for assignment to make room for right-hander Bobby Keppel.
Ayala signed with Minnesota for $1.3MM this winter, but he didn't pitch as well as the Twins had hoped. He allowed eight walks and 38 hits in just over 32 innings, striking out 21. He allowed four home runs this season, most recently to Lance Berkman on Saturday during the Astros' come-from-behind win.
