What happened: The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence to the Minnesota Twins, according to Yahoo MLB. The move came on the heels of a recent series between the two clubs at PNC Park.
Why it matters: The deal reshapes the back end of Minnesota's bullpen at a point when run prevention has been an issue for the club. Adding a veteran arm gives the Twins another late-inning option as they work to climb the standings.
By the numbers: Minnesota enters at 4-6 this season, scoring 5.0 runs per game while allowing 6.9 — a gap that helps explain the appetite for relief help. The trade follows a recent Pirates–Twins series at PNC Park.
What to watch: Watch how Minnesota deploys Lawrence and whether he settles into a high-leverage role out of the gate.
Sources
- Yahoo MLB