Twins Trade Hamburger for Everyday Eddie

The Minnesota Twins have traded minor league pitcher Mark Hamburger to the Texas Rangers, bringing back former closer and fan favorite Eddie Guardado.

The 37-year-old lefty went 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA over 49.1 innings for the Rangers this season, with opponents batting just .220 against him. Everyday Eddie has 187 career saves, 116 of them coming in Minnesota where he played from 1993-2003, earning his nickname by being an over-sized workhorse.

The only issue I see with this trade is the fact that there may not be enough food in the clubhouse for Guardado and  Denys Reyes.

Welcome back, big guy!

[MLB] | [Twins Insider] | [Rangers Fans]

Everyday Eddie Signs With Rangers

Less than two years since undergoing elbow ligament-replacement surgery, Eddie Guardado has agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with the Texas Rangers, with an opportunity to make an extra $4 million in performance bonuses.

The two-time All-Star, who earned his nickname by his willingness to pitch whenever the Minnesota Twins needed him from 1993-2003, spent part of the 2006 season as the Seattle Mariners' closer before losing his job, getting traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and eventually hurting his elbow. He attempted a comeback for the remaining two months of last season, but finished with a sloppy 7.24 ERA over 15 appearances.

But Eddie's feelin' good these days. The 37-year-old lefty, who led the American League with 45 saves in his first full season as the Twins' closer in 2002, has a career 4.31 ERA with 183 saves, ranked 11th among active pitchers and second among active lefties behind the New York Mets' Billy Wagner.

Even if Guardado doesn't land the closer role, he's okay with playing the veteran presence to tutor a budding relief corps, which includes righties Joaquin Benoit and Frank Francisco.

"I'll help out the best I can," Guardado said. "I love doing that."

[AP]

Eddie Guardado Gets Minor League Deal

Cincinnati Reds reliever Eddie Guardado agreed to a minor league contract with the club while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament and tendon in his throwing arm.

The 36-year-old lefty was invited to the Reds' major league training camp after taking over the closer role when the Reds acquired him from the Seattle Mariners in July of last year. He had 10 saves in 12 opportunities before joining the disabled list in late August.

[Calgary Sun]