The Twins and Guardians have swung an inter-division trade, with Minnesota picking up catcher Sandy Leon. Right-hander Ian Hamilton is headed to Cleveland on the other end of the swap. The two players have been respectively assigned to their new teams’ Triple-A affiliates.
Ryan Jeffers suffered a thumb fracture in mid-July that will keep him out of action for another 4-6 weeks, leaving the Twins short at catcher behind Gary Sanchez. The veteran Leon will provide some defense-first depth behind Sanchez, with rookie Caleb Hamilton and the more experienced Chance Sisco (on the Triple-A roster) also in the mix.
Leon’s second stint in Cleveland didn’t last long, as the Guardians only acquired him from the Reds in cash deal in late June, and then outrighted him off the 40-man roster two weeks ago. For the season, Leon has appeared in only eight MLB games and posted a .514 OPS over 21 plate appearances. Other than an offensive outburst over 78 games with the Red Sox in 2016, Leon has been a defensive specialist for much of his career, well-regarded as a pitch-framer and for his ability to manage pitchers and call games.
Hamilton has amassed 14 2/3 innings over parts of three MLB seasons, including 2 2/3 frames with the Twins this year. An 11th-round pick for the White Sox in 2016, Hamilton had some excellent numbers at Triple-A this year, with a 1.88 ERA, 32.1% strikeout rate, and 7.1% walk rate in 28 2/3 relief innings.
World series here we come!
still cant get over how bad a team name the Guardians is.
sounds like an XFL team name.. infact I think it was one.
There are teams named after clothing that you place over your feet. I could care less what my teams nickname is.
You’re correct; Blue Sox would have been better.
Actually I thought Blue Sox should have been considered before the team chose Guardians last year. One of the team’s colors is blue and would have given the American League the Red Sox, the White Sox, and the Blue Sox. It also would have been somewhat of a connection to a prior team name, the Blues. Oh well, missed opportunity here.
Team name selected by committee. Blahhh.
Still, if you slurr it just right you can still call them the indians: “Guard-indians”
The reason they chose the name Guardians is so they could save money on the sign by only changing the “In” to “Guar”
Bye Gary?
redsox legend
The trade we’ve been waiting for!
Twins are active as hell this year, love to see it.
Big if true!
Why? He has not carried a BA above .200 in how many years?
Depth.
This is a minor league trade. This can be done after the deadline, right?
Yes, unless Leon was on the 40-man roster. But I think he was outrighted.
Hopefully making room for the Guards to send down Maile and trade for Contreras
I think this is just about getting an experienced catcher until Jeffers comes back. Isn’t Leon at least good defensively? Can he handle a pitching staff? What is his rep when he’s not holding a bat?
Who said we are not going to make moves? Take that Padres #ClevelandRocks
Who said we are not going to make moves? Take that Padres Cleveland Rocks
Intra
And not just an intra-division trade, but between the first and second place teams, separated by just a game at that! I wonder if that’s ever happened at the deadline?
Even as small a trade as it is, it is kind of wild. I mean, Sandy knows Cleveland’s staff!
Im guessing he’s a really good defender cuz he can’t hit, at all. One of those weird AAA moves that get thrown into the trade headline mix.
You’re giving him way too much credit on that.
Guardians will get Murphy I’m sure. Makes a lot of sense for them.
I wonder the longer Contreras goes on, could Cleveland sneak and get him? I’m not saying they will or pushing it. Just interesting.
The twins just picked up a lot of weight.
“Good numbers” and a “7% walk rate” are two phrases that just don’t line up.
Someone should ask Chernoff and Antonetti how they justify their paychecks when this is their big move since last TDL.