The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired left-handed pitcher Tyler Watson and $500,000 in international bonus pool money from the Washington Nationals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brandon Kintzler.
Watson, 20, is 6-4 with a 4.35 ERA (93.0 IP, 45 ER), 24 walks and 98 strikeouts in 18 appearances (17 starts) for Single-A Hagerstown this season. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound left-hander has a career record of 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA (164.1 IP, 62 ER), 43 walks and 178 strikeouts in 35 minor league appearances (33 starts). MLB.com's 17th best Nationals prospect, Watson was originally selected by Washington in the 34th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft and earned South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star honors in 2017.
Kintzler, 32, ranks second in the American League with 28 saves in 32 opportunities. He was signed by the Twins as a minor league free agent prior to the 2016 season and is 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA (45.1 IP, 14 ER), 11 walks and 27 strikeouts in 45 appearances this season.
The Twins will make a corresponding 25-man roster move at a later date.