Fortifying their bullpen for the stretch drive, the Twins acquired veteran left-handed reliever Neal Cotts from the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Brewers entering the season, so the team acquiring him would be on the hook for roughly $1 million in salary. If Milwaukee isn’t offered a player they like, they can always just tack additional cash on to the deal and call it a day.
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Rosenthal reports that Cotts is likely headed to a National League team, as several contenders in the NL would have use for a solid lefty out of the bullpen and get first crack at players waived in their own league.
Situational lefties have been inconsistent for the Twins this year. Cotts has limited left-handed hitters to a. 185 (15-for-81) batting average with five extra-base hits in 2015. He’s only made three appearances with the big league club this season but has been having a solid campaign in AAA, posting a 3.61 ERA, 3.62 FIP, and four saves in 57.1 innings, striking out 40 batters versus 18 walks. He’s 21-24 over 10 seasons, including stints with the White Sox, Cubs and Rangers.
Cotts doesn’t have to go far-the Twins are playing a series this weekend in Baltimore, about an hour from D.C.
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Reliever A.J. Achter was optioned to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Cotts.
