RHP Kevin Slowey traded to Colorado Rockies for Player to Be Named Later

Kevin Slowey‘s career as a Minnesota Twin is over.  Earlier this morning he was traded to the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Slowey signed out of Winthrop University in the 2nd round of the 2005 Amateur Player Draft.  Slowey debuted for the Twins in 2007 and went 4-1 with a 4.73 ERA in 11 starts.  Since then he has been a regular fixture in the Twins starting rotation, but has only managed 27 or more starts twice, including just 16 starts in 2009 and only 8 starts in 2011 to go along with an 0-8 record and a 6.67 ERA.

Slowey’s best year was arguably 2008 when we was 12-11 with a sub-4 ERA including two shutouts.  Slowey had a career high in innings pitched and strike outs that year, and recorded three complete games (the only three in his career).

In 2011 Kevin Slowey fell out of favor with the Twins Front Office after being asked to pitch out of the bullpen.  Slowey sulked, and never adjusted to life in the bullpen, unable to warm up quickly or pitch on back to back days.  Eventually Slowey found himself on the disabled list and pitched a couple of games in Triple-A Rochester before returning to the Minnesota Twins.  He had a couple of late season starts but pitched poorly and failed to pick up a victory.

His trade to the Colorado Rockies will likely bring trouble for Kevin Slowey as the thin air in Denver and Slowey’s high fly ball rate will likely result in a spike in the number of home runs he gives up.  For the Twins, Slowey’s trade clears a space on the 40-man roster and gives them an extra $3 million to work with.  Slowey’s departure signals that the Twins are actively seeking an outside arm to help solidify their starting rotation.

In other hot stove news, Jon Heyman tweeted earlier this morning that the Twins had offered Michael Cuddyer a 3 year $25 million dollar deal, that has not been accepted.  If the Twins are unable to sign Cuddyer they will likely shift their efforts to free agent outfielder Josh Willingham.

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