Eddie Guardado Traded For a Hamburger

No, no ... this isn't a case of a minor leaguer being traded for maple bats. Nope, the hamburger is question is righty pitcher Mark Hamburger. So yes, Eddie Guardado is worth more than ground beef patties. He's certainly worth more than that to the Twins, who have brought him back for the minor leaguer.

Guardado has had a nice bounce back season for Texas after two injury plagued seasons for the Reds, going 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, 23 holds and four saves. Key is that hitters are batting .220 off of Guardado, while the Twins bullpen is in the lower half of baseball with a .262 BAA. Guardado had recently returned to closing for Texas after the injury to C.J. Wilson, but its obvious that at the age of 37, his value is greater as a set-up guy for a contender than as a closer for a .500 team ... especially at this point, where the only lefty the Twins could bring out of the 'pen these days was Craig Breslow (edit: and Dennys Reyes). So to the Twins, Guardado isn't exactly chopped liver (or chopped steak.)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-25-2008 @ 8:36PM

dma said...

the Twins have lefty Dennys Reyes as well as Breslow and now Guardardo.

8-26-2008 @ 6:58AM

Ron said...

Not exactly a blockbuster trade but that figures given the Twins' frugality. Gardenhire really knows his bullpen though. That's why Jesse Crain blew two games in a row. I wonder if Rick Aguilera is still available? Face it folks........they still have a very questionable bullpen and are making way too many errors to be considered a legitimate contender. They've made absolutely no significant acquisitions and that's more than likely due to their frugality (unlike the White Sox). You usually get what you pay for and nothing from nothing leaves nothing. Losing to Seattle last night is and was inexcuseable.

9-01-2008 @ 9:13PM

Doug said...

I saw Guardado earlier this summer when I was visiting a friend in Kansas City and the Royals were playing the Rangers. He still had some pop on his pitches and had two very solid innings. He's better than what we've got in the pen now. Yeah, the Twins are cheap but bleating about it won't help anything. For the money they've spent this year (or lack thereof), the Twins have put together one helluva season.

9-03-2008 @ 11:07PM

Another loss to Toronto and yet another failure by the bullpen. Leave it to Gardenhire to use both Bonser and Guardado to lose a another game. I think Pohlard should take a long hard look at both his Manager and General Manager. This Guardado acquisition was a lousy move and cost the Twins a prospect.