MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins acquired right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi from the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night for minor league infielder Jermaine Palacios, securing some depth for their rotation after missing out on several free agents.
The 27-year-old Odorizzi will join his third major league team in the Twins, who won't have right-hander Ervin Santana for the first several weeks of the regular season while he recovers from surgery on his middle finger. Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Adalberto Mejia are the only other returning pitchers who made more than 10 starts for the Twins in 2017.
For the Rays in 2017, Odorizzi went 10-8 with a 4.14 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 1431/3 innings in 28 starts. He pitched a career-best 1872/3 innings in 33 starts in 2016, posting a 3.69 ERA. Odorizzi was drafted by Milwaukee 32nd overall in 2008.
He made his debut with Kansas City in 2012 before being dealt to Tampa Bay the next season. He's 40-38 with a 3.83 ERA in 7051/3 major league innings.
The 21-year-old Palacios has a .290 career average in four minor league seasons.