THE SIDELINES : Twins’ Aguilera Rated Fit for ’91
From Times Wire Services
MINNEAPOLIS — Shoulder problems that have kept Minnesota Twins pitcher Rick Aguilera sidelined the past two weeks should not keep him from being the team’s closer next season, the Twins say.
The recurring tendinitis in Aguilera’s right shoulder is not “a great concern for next season,” Twins General Manager Andy MacPhail said Thursday.
Aguilera probably would have been used to protect late-inning leads recently if the team had been in a pennant race, MacPhail added. But he said the club’s policy is to be “prudent” and “conservative” with injured players.
Aguilera moved from the rotation to the bullpen this spring and has 28 saves. But he has only seven since July 6 and has been unavailable to pitch during three stretches.