Rick Aguilera, one of the baseball's top closers the last six seasons, is close to rejoining the Minnesota Twins as a starter.
"It's not done, but we're close," Twins general manager Terry Ryan told the Star Tribune. "We've got a few things to iron out."The newspaper said the Twins were expected to announce a three-year deal worth about $9 million this afternoon.
Last summer, the Twins traded Aguilera to Boston for top pitching prospect Frank Rodriguez and outfield prospect Jermaine Johnson.
Aguilera, an alumnus of BYU, also has been wooed by Baltimore, Boston and Toronto. A deal with the Twins became a likelihood after the Red Sox chose not to offer Aguilera arbitration.
Before he was traded last July, Aguilera volunteered to join the starting rotation for 1996 if it would prevent the Twins from trading him.
Aguilera, who will be 34 on opening day, last started a game in the majors in 1989.