Twins Announce Signing Of FA Pitcher Ricky Nolasco
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Minnesota Twins announced Tuesday the signing of free agent pitcher Ricky Nolasco.
The right-handed starting pitcher signed a four-year deal with a club option for a fifth year. Nolasco will earn a guaranteed $12 million per year through each guaranteed year of the contract. That makes it the biggest contract the Twins have ever offered a free agent outside the organization. The Twins previously signed Josh Willingham to a three-year, $21 million deal.
Nolasco immediately jumps to the top of a Twins pitching rotation that's in desperate need of rebuilding. It's a group that's been among the worst in baseball and has been a key factor as the team has lost at least 93 games in three straight seasons.
He went 13-11 last season in 34 appearances with the Marlins and Dodgers. In just under 200 innings pitched, he had a 3.70 earned run average with 165 strikeouts and 46 walks. He recorded an 8-3 record with a 3.52 earned run average in 16 regular season appearances after being traded to the Dodgers on July 6.
