The Cleveland Indians have potentially added to their already strong bullpen by signing relief pitcher Matt Capps to a minor league contract.
Capps, 29, onws an eight-year career record of 29-33 with 138 saves. He has spent time in Pittsburgh, Washington and Minnesota, being named to the 2010 National League All-Star team in a season where he posted a career-best 42 saves and a 2.42 ERA.
Capps has posted 14 or more saves in each of his last six seasons and has a career walk rate of 1.7 per nine innings pitched. Capps reportedly throws four pitches: a four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball (91–95 mph), slider (85–89), and changeup (87–89).
He opened the 2012 season with the Twins, saving 14 of his first 15 opportunities before having two trips to the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. On October 24, the Twins announced they would decline their club option for Capps worth $6 million. Capps, instead, received a $250,000 buyout.
Indians pitchers and catchers are set to report to Goodyear, Arizona for Spring Training on February 10.
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