Twins trade ex-Bangor star Kinney to Brewers

MINNEAPOLIS – Catcher Javier Valentin and former Bangor High School star right-hander Matt Kinney were traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday for righthanders Gerard Oakes and Matt Yeatman.

Kinney, 25, was 2-7 with a 4.64 ERA in 12 starts and two relief appearances last season before straining a rotator cuff and going on the disabled list.

Valentin, 27, hit .286 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs for Triple-A Edmonton last season. He became expendable when A.J. Pierzynski emerged as an All-Star last season. In addition, the Twins used the top pick in June’s amateur draft on catcher Joe Mauer.

Yeatman, 20, was a 13th-round pick in the 2000 amateur draft and went 11-7 with a 2.48 ERA for Class A Beloit last season.

Oakes, 20, was a seventh-round pick in 2000 and was 5-14 with a 7.17 ERA in 20 starts at Beloit last year.