Kevin Chapman, a lefthanded relief specialist with 58 games of major league experience, was acquired by the Twins from Atlanta in exchange for utility player Danny Santana, the team announced Monday night.
Chapman, 29, owns a career 4.09 ERA in parts of four seasons with Houston, including a strong rookie season in 2013 when he posted a 1.77 ERA in 25 appearances. The Braves claimed the Florida native off waivers in March but sent him to Class AAA at the end of spring training. Chapman, a fourth-round draft pick of Kansas City 2010 who has been plagued by control problems, was off to a subpar start at Class AAA Gwinnett, giving up 10 runs in 11 ⅔ innings.
Chapman has held lefthanders to a .263 average over his major league career, compared to .250 against righthanders, but he never has given up a home run to a lefthander. He will be assigned to Class AAA Rochester.
The Twins designated the 26-year-old Santana for assignment on Friday, after he went 5-for-25 (.200) over the first month of the season. The switch hitter was placed on the Braves' active roster and will supplement their bench. Santana batted .319 with seven homers and 20 stolen bases as a rookie in 2014, but he hit only .225 with three homers in the three seasons since.
The Twins also have yet to make a move with righthanded reliever Michael Tonkin, who was designated for assignment Saturday.
PHIL MILLER
