CBRACKE
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Heading into this season, Twins set-up man Pat Neshek was a sought after commodity in many of my keeper leagues due to the assumption that veteran Joe Nathan would be allowed to walk into free agency after the 2008 season and Neshek would assume the closing duties. Then Nathan signed a contract extension and that reduced Neshek’s role for the foreseeable future.
Turns out it may be even more reduced than we anticipated.
Neshek felt a pop in his elbow after throwing a slider during Thursday’s game against the White Sox and had to leave immediately. On Friday, he was diagnosed with an acute partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is now faced with not throwing for at least three months, making a return this season highly unlikely. Given his unconventional whip-like pitching motion, it seemed like only a matter of time until the stress caused his arm to give out.
“We have a lot of confidence in our bullpen,” manager Ron Gardenhire told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “Neshek is pretty good at what he does, but we have other guys who can get people out, too.”
Fantasy owners in keeper leagues should turn their attention to Matt Guerrier, who figures to become the team’s most used middle reliever now that Neshek is out. Unfortunately though, now that the Twins have secured the services of Nathan, all the Twins middle relievers who might have once figured into the closer picture later this season won’t do so much. There is no disputing the advantage the Twins by having a productive bullpen–it clearly helps them stay competitive. It just doesn’t translate quite as well into keeper leagues anymore now that Nathan is inked long-term and Neshek is facing significant time on the shelf.
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