Matt

Capps

“I think it’s pretty clear,” Tracy said of his bullpen. “Mike Gonzalez is the closer and, as you have seen for the past couple of weeks, Capps has been leading up.” Capps has been outstanding lately and could earn some save chances if Gonzalez struggles.

This isn’t the best of signs. Rogers, for what it’s worth, had a .725 OPS in the Midwest League last year. Capps would seem to be, at best, Minnesota’s third most effective reliever behind lefties Glen Perkins and Brian Duensing. The closer’s role will be his initially, but he may not own it for long.

The Angels actually had the tying run on second base with two outs, but Capps was able to get Chris Iannetta to ground out to third base to end it. The 28-year-old right-hander was surprisingly brought back over the winter, despite posting a 4.25 ERA and a career-low 4.7 K/9 last season. He’s being trusted with the ninth-inning again this season, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Glen Perkins eventually grabs the job.

Capps figures to open the season as the Twins’ closer, but he doesn’t figure to be the team’s best or even second-best reliever. Maybe they’ll eventually give Glen Perkins a look in that role; he’s already locked up to a cheap deal and they have a quality second lefty in Brian Duensing.

Rather than his typical roller coaster ride, Capps set down the Rays in order on just nine pitches. While not the most dominant reliever in the league, Capps proved once again that he can still be a solid source of saves.

He yielded two singles sandwiched around a costly wild pitch. Capps had been nearly perfect in five May appearances and has yet to blow a save opportunity in seven chances.

Finishing last in the American League standings this season, Minnesota is eager to re-sign its 2011 offensive leader. Gardenhire also said Matt Capps and Jason Kubel are high priorities, but that the Twins might not be able to afford all of them. Cuddyer is coming off a four-year, $33.5 million contract.

The Twins are also expected to attempt to re-sign Capps. Kinzer suspects that the 28-year-old right-hander will be able to find a ninth-inning gig, but he failed in that role with Minnesota this past season and New York isn’t going to fork over closer-type money.

The Twins and Mets are also among the teams who have expressed interest in the free agent reliever. Capps, 28, posted a 4.25 ERA and blown nine saves this season, so Speier speculates that he could be willing to take a one-year deal in hopes to rebuilding his value and testing free agency again next winter. It’s not known if the Red Sox view him as a potential option at closer.

It’s only one guaranteed year, but the price is steep and the Twins forfeit the supplemental first-round pick they would have gotten had he signed elsewhere. If Capps bounces back as the Twins expect him to, he’ll probably be worth $4.5 million. The right-hander fell out of favor during a down 2011 season, posting a 4.25 ERA while blowing nine saves.