Eddie Guardado traded to Twins

** UPDATE – It’s official. Frank Francisco has been named the Rangers new closer. **

The Minnesota Twins have acquired “Every Day” Eddie Guardado from the Texas Rangers for minor league right handed pitcher Mark Hamburger. Guardado pitched for the Twins for a decade, closing from 2001 to 2003. He has been closing out games for the Rangers this year and will probably set up for Joe Nathon with Minnesota. Although he doesn’t have the kind of strikeout numbers you look for in a late inning reliever, he is a good option in holds leagues with his 3.98 tRA and only 3 home runs in 49 innings. The biggest question though is who is going to close in Texas.

The first, and best, choice is probably Frank Francisco. With 11.2 K/9, 3 times as many strikeouts as walks, and a tRA of 3.50, this trade must have been pretty easy for the Rangers to make. I would suggest picking him up in any league where you might need another reliever as even if he doesn’t close at first, he’s the only option I see in their bullpen holding the job long term.

In keeper leagues the question becomes, when CJ Wilson comes back next season does he get his job back? Francisco has the obvious strikeout upside to take the job and run with it and if he does that I really believe he could open 2009 as the Rangers closer.