Twins Trade Aguilera To Cubs

May 21, 1999 / 7:18 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The Chicago Cubs on Friday acquired right-handed reliever Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Jason Ryan and Kyle Lohse. Aguilera will join the Cubs on Saturday.

Aguilera, 37, is a three-time All-Star and a four-time postseason participant. During his major league career, which began in 1985, he has gone 79-76 with 281 saves in 343 opportunities (81.9-percent success rate) and a 3.51 ERA. His saves total is the 12th-highest total in major league history (5th-highest among active pitchers).

Aguilera has pitched in 17 games for the Twins this year, going 3-1 with 6 saves in 8 opportunities and a 1.27 ERA. In 21.1 innings of work, he has allowed 10 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks while striking out 13 batters. He has worked more than 1.0 inning in 4 of his outings, including a season-best 3.0-inning stint April 20 at Kansas City (no hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts). Opponents have a .135 batting average against him (10-74).

During his big league career, Aguilera has recorded at least 30 saves six times -- including a career-high 42 in 1991 with the Twins. Last year, he picked up 38 saves for Minnesota to go with a 4-9 record and a 4.24 ERA.

Aguilera began his professional career in 1983 when he was selected by the New York Mets in the 3rd round of the June free agent amateur draft. He was utilized mostly as a starter in the Mets' organization, rising to the majors in 1985. He went 10-7 with a 3.88 ERA during the Mets' world championship campaign in 1986.

Aguilera was involved in a seven-player deal between the Mets and the Twins at the July trade deadline in 1989, in which pitcher Frank Viola was dealt to New York for five players - including Kevin Tapani. In 1990, Aguilera was moved to the bullpen full-time and picked up 32 saves. The next season, he had 42 saves en route to Minnesota winning the American League West Division race - and eventually the World Series.

He pitched for Minnesota until midway through the 1995 season, when he was traded to Boston. He returned to the Twins as a free agent following that campaign and was used as a starter in 1996, going 8-6 in 19 starts. He returned to the bullpen in 1997.

Aguilera is the Twins' career leader in saves (254) and games pitched (490). Along with earning World Series rings in 1986 and 1991, he has pitched in the postseason with the Mets in 1988 and with Boston in 1995.

Downs, 23, returns to the Cubs' organization after being traded to the Twins last November 3 as the player to be named later from an earlier deal for pitcher Mike Morgan. The Cubs' 3rd-round pick in the 1997 June draft, Downs has pitched this year or both Class-A Ft. Myers (0-1, 0.00 ERA in 2 starts) and Double-A New Britain (0-0, 8.69 ERA in 6 games/3 starts). He will join the Cubs' Daytona (A) affiliate.

Ryan, 23, was the Cubs' 9th-round selection in the 1994 June draft. The right-hander has been one of the Southern League's top pitchers this season at West Tenn (AA), going 5-0 with a 1.41 ERA in 8 games (7 starts). He has fanned 53 batters in 44.2 innings of work.

Lohse, 20, was selected by the Cubs in the 29th round of the 1996 draft. He was pitching for Daytona (A) this year and was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 9 starts (1 complete game).