Twins acquire reliever Michael Fulmer from Tigers

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Michael Fulmer against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit. (Paul Sancya/AP)

The Minnesota Twins have acquired right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.

Fulmer becomes an unrestricted free agent following this season.

The 29-year-old Fulmer is 3-4 with a 4.20 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 20 walks this season.

As a starter, Fulmer was American League rookie of the year in 2016 and an All-Star in 2017.

Fulmer missed all of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then struggled badly in 2020, going 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA.

In 2021, Fulmer started pitching mostly out of the bullpen. The results were better as he was 5-6 with a 2.97 ERA.

Picked 44th overall by the New York Mets in the 2011 MLB Draft, Fulmer was traded to the Tigers as a prospect in a 2015 deadline deal for two-time All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

It’s been a busy deadline day for the Twins, who earlier acquired closer Jorge Lopez and starter Tyler Mahle.

The Tigers are in Minnesota already for a three-game series.

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