Minnesota Twins News

Carl Pavano wants to pitch deeper into games for Twins this season
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March 19
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"When Carl Pavano arrived at spring training last season with Cleveland, the right-hander admitted that, after missing most of the previous four seasons with injuries, he was starting over. "It was like I was kind of feeling through my body again," Pavano said. "I hadn't thrown a lot, so it was just learning my mechanics all over again, learning my routine, what routine would help me stay strong and (learning) not to do too much." Now, though, Pavano's goals are more focused. After throwing 199 1/3 innings and averaging six innings a start in 2009, Pavano said he wants more in 2010. "Around 80, 85, 90 (pitches) my stuff suffered, which forces your manager to take you out of there," he said. ..."
Guerrier keeps his cool
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March 19
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Matt Guerrier knows pressure. He dealt with it on the mound, in his mind, every day for weeks in 2008, when he tumbled from manager Ron Gardenhire's most-used reliever to barely touched down the stretch. He knows what it's like to doubt your ability, have trouble forgetting and stand in front of your locker with a cascade of microphones, recorders and questions coming at you. He knows, as do the Twins, that his results last season were a complete and convincing turnaround from an '08 season lost in earned runs and ineffectiveness, that he was one of the American Leagues' best setup men in 2009. He doesn't know whether, if necessary, he would make an effective closer. And as one of Joe ..."
Hughes starts to win over his manager
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March 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire criticized prospect Luke Hughes last season for his approach to the game. Hughes had started the season as a third base prospect at Class AAA Rochester but struggled, was injured and ended up at Class AA New Britain. Gardenhire has noticed a different Hughes in camp so far this season. Hughes smacked a walk-off double to left on Thursday that enabled Juan Portes to score the winning run in the Twins' 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh that broke a five-game losing streak. Hughes is batting .350 with a homer and two RBI. With Danny Valencia having the inside track as the top prospect at third base, Hughes could land at second base."
Nathan's session won't be open
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March 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"It's a safe bet that, sometime in the next few days, Joe Nathan will pick up a baseball and play catch to test his right elbow, which has a torn ulnar ligament. The Twins just aren't saying exactly when. The club is mum about where and when any throwing session will take place. There are indications that it could happen Saturday, but the club could sneak Nathan out to any field at the Lee County Sports Complex -- or anywhere in Lee County, for that matter -- to test his arm. Both the Twins and Nathan have concerns about a media horde showing up for the session, so they aren't saying when it will take place. "We're going to get him out there when [pitching coach Rick Anderson] wants to get ..."
Jim Thome hits first homer of spring, helping Twins to 5-4 victory over Pirates
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March 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau and Jim Thome returned to the lineup for the Minnesota Twins, each following four days of rest. Thome didn't take long to shake off the rust. He went 2 for 2 with his first home run in a Twins uniform and Minnesota defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Thursday. Morneau, who like Thome was resting a sore back, went 0 for 3 with a strikeout, while Joe Mauer went 0 for 3, lowering his spring training batting average to .462. Delwyn Young further solidified his chances at a bench role for the Pirates, hitting his fourth home run in five games with a two-run shot off Twins reliever Clay Condrey in the sixth inning. Condrey, whose spring ERA inflated to 10.80, also gave up a ..."
A comfort zone behind the plate
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March 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"For the Twins to feel comfortable with bringing Drew Butera north to start the season, the young catcher must prove this spring that he can handle himself behind plate and handle the Twins' staff. ¶ Righthander Kevin Slowey offered some evidence that Butera is doing just that. ¶ "I love throwing to Drew,'' Slowey said after his most recent outing on Sunday. "I think he's done a tremendous job back there. I threw to him last spring training and was impressed. He calls a great game and receives really well. It makes us feel at ease out there.'' ¶ Even Twins manager Ron Gardenhire noted how Butera worked with Slowey. ¶ "I thought [Slowey] and Butera really worked well together,'' he said. ..."
Perkins roughed up, but shoulder feels good
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March 18
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Twins left-hander Glen Perkins, trying to prove he's past the shoulder problems that jumbled his 2009 season and tarnished his relationship with the Twins, summed up his 2 1/3-inning outing in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay simply. "Frustrating, is the way I'd put the outing in one word," Perkins said after giving up two runs on five hits and a walk during his fourth appearance and first start this spring. "I felt good and didn't get good results." The Twins have said Perkins is vying for the fifth spot in Minnesota's starting rotation. On Sunday, he threw about 40 pitches, he said, then on two days' rest threw about 50 more Wednesday. He said he believes it was the first time he's ..."
Mauer is gambling he won't get injured
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March 18
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Sid Hartman
"In Major League Baseball, the players get paid regardless of their injury. If they get hit by a truck or suffer a non-baseball injury, they still get paid. Should Twins closer Joe Nathan need Tommy John surgery and not play this season, he will receive 100 percent of his $11.25 million salary. So you wonder if reigning American League MVP Joe Mauer and his agent, Ron Shapiro, are concerned about the consequences of Mauer suffering a serious injury should the former Cretin-Derham Hall all-around athlete choose to not re-sign with the Twins this year and become a free agent at the end of this season. If Mauer did suffer a serious injury, the market certainly wouldn't be what it is today. ..."
Jones a long shot but playing well
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March 18
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Jacque Jones might be a long shot to make the Twins' Opening Day roster, but the outfielder is showing he can still hit. Jones is batting .312 (5-for-16) with three walks, three strikeouts and an on-base percentage of .421 in Grapefruit League games. "I feel good," Jones said Wednesday. "I feel like I can help this team." Since the Twins plan to keep 12 pitchers on their 25-man roster, that leaves four bench players. Those will be Jim Thome, a backup catcher, either Brendan Harris or Nick Punto (whoever doesn't get the starting third base job) and one other utility spot, which will likely go to Alexi Casilla or Matt Tolbert. That means Jones could be heading to Class AAA Rochester, but ..."
Some good in Perkins' first start
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March 18
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"After four outings this spring, Twins lefthander Glen Perkins has a 10.50 ERA and opponents are batting .464 against him. These aren't the numbers Perkins or the Twins hoped to see, but they tried looking for positives after he made his first start Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay. In two innings, Perkins allowed two runs on five hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. It could have been worse, but Jesse Crain replaced Perkins with runners at second and third in the third inning and pitched out of the jam. Perkins threw 40 pitches in a relief appearance Sunday, giving him just two days of rest before throwing 47 pitches in this start. He noted how he had trouble pitching on five days' ..."
Where's Nick playing now? Twins keep infielder on move
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March 18
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Patrick Reusse
"Corey Koskie, Cristian Guzman and Luis Rivas filled the infield, third to second, for the Twins from 2001 through 2003. They would return in 2004, meaning the Twins were looking strictly for a backup when they acquired Nick Punto from Philadelphia as part of the Eric Milton trade. Punto had two long stretches on the disabled list and played in 38 games. Koskie and Guzman left as free agents. Rivas' early promise proved to be a mirage. There were openings all over the infield for 2005. Manager Ron Gardenhire didn't react as if Punto were seizing the opportunity in spring training. One memorable day, Punto was scratched from the lineup with "general soreness." The temperature on the ..."
Twins reliever Jesse Crain would welcome chance to take closer role
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March 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Jesse Crain would welcome the opportunity to be the Twins' closer. "I've tried not to think about it too much," Crain said. "Obviously, it's always been my goal. I did it throughout the minor leagues. Even in high school and Little League, I'd play shortstop and then come in the ninth inning and close. "In the grand scheme of things, (Joe) Nathan will be able to pitch. But if something were to happen that he couldn't, it's something I'd love." Nathan, who has an elbow injury, will test his arm as early as Sunday. The odds appear to be against him pitching anytime soon. A tear in the ulnar collateral ligament often requires Tommy John surgery. At the least, it usually requires roughly three ..."
Twins fans want Joe Mauer to sign anytime, as long as it's now
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March 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Tom Powers
"Hey, Joe, when are you going to sign? Hey, Joe, we want you to stay in Minnesota. Hey, Mauer, ya bum, what the heck are you waiting for? Joe Mauer has heard it all during his contract negotiations with the Twins. Frankly, he's embarrassed that personal business is out there in front of the public, but there's no getting around it. "I try to be private," Mauer said. "Only three people on our side know what's going on: my agents and me. We want to keep it as private as possible." Fat chance. In Minnesota, there would be a better possibility of keeping the start of World War III a secret. Yeah, it's Twins territory. More specifically, it's Mauer territory. Minnesotans like nothing better than ..."
Gardenhire: What next, the flu bug?
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March 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire tried making light of the team's injury situation Tuesday. He was updating the status of first baseman Justin Morneau (general soreness) and J.J. Hardy (strained quadriceps). Neither has played since Saturday, and Gardenhire said the team plans to "see where everybody's at on Thursday." Then Gardenhire looked at his schedule, noting the long trip to play the Mets on Friday in Port St. Lucie. "Once we get past St. Lucie -- which is about a 3-hour, 15-minute drive -- guys are going to get well real quick," Gardenhire said. "And then they'll probably come down with the flu bug about the time we go back to Jupiter [March 29]." Still, any Morneau injury was bound to ..."
Twins have high hopes for a healthy Baker
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March 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Twins are confident Scott Baker can avoid the slow start he had last season, and their projected Opening Day starter only strengthened their belief with four scoreless innings in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Orioles at Hammond Stadium. Baker held the Orioles to three hits and one walk and notched three strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.00. "If he's healthy, that's a good start because last year he wasn't healthy," manager Ron Gardenhire said. After signing a four-year, $15.25 million contract, Baker opened last season on the disabled list because of right shoulder stiffness. He was 2-6 with a 6.32 ERA on June 1, but went 13-3 with a 3.67 ERA the rest of the way."
Guerrier's got the closer's fire
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March 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Patrick Reusse
"Eddie Guardado was warming up in the right-field bullpen inside Oakland's Coliseum. A.J. Pierzynski blasted a two-run homer to give the underdog Twins a 4-1 lead in the ninth inning over the A's in a decisive Game 5 of a 2002 division series. Joe Mays stretched and started throwing on the adjoining mound. Guardado glared and then said to bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek: "Sit him down." Stelmaszek offered this explanation: "We need a starter for Tuesday. Joe has to get in his throwing." Everyday Eddie was not impressed. "I don't care," he said. "Sit him down. This is my game." Stelmaszek was recalling the scene Tuesday morning, as the Twins worked out on various fields before an exhibition ..."
Big swing puts Portes on radar
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March 17
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Few Twins followers had heard of Juan Portes when he arrived at spring training as a non- roster invitee wearing No. 86. It didn't take long for his big righthanded swing to make people curious. He smashed a grand slam and a two-run homer against the Yankees on March 7. He had seven hits, including three home runs, in his first 10 at-bats. "When you get invited to major league camp, this is what you try to do," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You try to open eyes and impress people." But is Portes a legitimate prospect? Will he ever help the Twins? The answer is maybe someday. Not that spring training stats matter, but Portes is hitless in his past eight at-bats. He went 0-for-4 with two ..."
Yankees keep eye on Minnesota's contract talks with catcher Joe Mauer
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March 17
New York Daily News
 columnist Bill Madden
"Like everyone else in baseball, the Yankee high command is watching with keen interest how the Joe Mauer negotiations with the Minnesota Twins play out this spring. Unlike most other teams, however, the Yankees have both the financial resources to afford the MVP catcher as well as the surplus of talent it would take to acquire him should the contract talks reach an impasse and the Twins elect to put him on the trade market. Indeed, if there is one area where the Yankees are rich in prospects it is catching where Jesus Montero and Austin Romine are rated by most scouts as can't-miss major leaguers. The question is, which of them - if either - will be the one to succeed Jorge Posada. A bunch ..."
Orlando Hudson brings heart, volume to Twins ... and life
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March 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Tom Powers
"Throw away the clubhouse coffee pot. Orlando Hudson serves as the Twins' morning jolt. Hudson, 32, provides the boost of a triple espresso but without the brewing time. He's usually the first one in the clubhouse each morning, and he's always ready to go. He pings around the room, seemingly happy only when in motion. When the Hammond Stadium radar gun malfunctioned the other day and clocked a Kevin Slowey fastball at 111 mph, Ron Gardenhire insisted it really was measuring Hudson's decibel level. "Some guys need a little jump now and then," Hudson said. "And I like to have fun." Signed to a one-year contract as a free agent, Hudson has earned four Gold Gloves as a second baseman. He also ..."
Twins relief pitcher Jose Mijares just wings it, and it works
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March 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"A few days ago, Jose Mijares sat in front of his locker, swaying to the music on his headphones. He made small talk with Nick Blackburn, wore a wide grin, snuck up behind Twins media relations man Dustin Morse and lifted him off the ground in a bear hug. The left-hander has had multiple ups and downs with the Twins in his short tenure, but if those issues linger he doesn't show it. Mijares has been charged on the field by one of his own teammates and required an in-game trip to the emergency room for what amounted to mild dehydration. He showed up late to spring training this year, out of shape the year before, and makes more appearances in manager Ron Gardenhire's comedic repertoire than ..."
Twins closer Joe Nathan to test his injured right arm Saturday
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March 16
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Twins closer Joe Nathan, who got over the flu and was feeling well enough to head to Hammond Stadium on Monday, will test his pitching arm during a throwing session on Saturday, the team said. The team announced March 9 that the all-star right-hander has a "significant" tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that almost always requires months of rehab, if not Tommy John surgery and a year of recovery to follow. But instead of making a decision on treatment then, the team sent Nathan's test results to renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews for a second opinion and said Nathan would decide on a course of treatment in one to two weeks. Nathan, for his part, said last week that he ..."
Liriano's outing mix of good, bad
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March 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano has enough on his mind while trying to prepare for the season as a starter. Thinking about closing would be just another challenge for him. Liriano pitched a 1-2-3 first inning Monday before giving up three runs over the next two innings of the Twins 5-4 loss to the Marlins. While his slider was as sharp as it has been in camp, Liriano broke down mechanically over the last two innings. In the third inning, he tried to throw a changeup to outfielder Mike Stanton, one of the top prospects in baseball, but left it up and watched it sail over the fence for a two-run homer. Still, Liriano struck out six in three innings and has 12 strikeouts in seven innings ..."
Being in a ballpark is Ryan's chosen spot
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March 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Jim Souhan
"Terry Ryan has become the ghost in the Twins' machine, a quiet but omnipresent figure who influences the team's biggest decisions and analyzes their most obscure prospects. Despite his popularity in Minnesota as the man who transformed a dying franchise, Ryan these days works in the shadows of men who rose to authority under his tutelage. While he left the general manager position to spend more time at home and shed some of his least favorite aspects of public life, he remains a strong voice and maniacal worker whose presence is felt every day in the organization. "He's a great asset to the Twins organization, and especially me," said Twins General Manager Bill Smith, Ryan's successor and ..."
Twins to skip Blackburn, hoping to solve knee woes
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March 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins righthander Nick Blackburn has had problems with his right knee going back to his days at Seminole State (Okla.) College. He had a synthetic lubricant injected into knee while in the minors because 90 percent of his cartilage had been removed through surgery. He still has to watch out for both knees. The right one is so sore, in fact, that he probably will be held out of his next scheduled start Wednesday. "We have to take care of this now.'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gardenhire said he wasn't sure who would start in Blackburn's place. He said Blackburn would not miss the game if it were a regular-season start, an indication the injury isn't serious. The Twins are confident ..."
Nathan hopes to dodge surgery
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March 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins closer Joe Nathan was bedridden because of a virus last weekend, but he was back in the training room Monday, clinging to hope that he won't need reconstructive elbow surgery. Nathan plans to play catch Saturday and give the elbow a vigorous test. "This is going to be something where there shouldn't be a gray area," he said. "On Day 1, I'll definitely know if there will be a Day 2. And the only way there won't be a Day 2, is if I need to get this thing repaired." Nathan's sore throat was still sore Monday. He said he probably has lost five to seven pounds, but he viewed the illness as a message from his body that it was time to get some rest. The Twins have sent the results of ..."
Nathan plans to test elbow Saturday
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March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins closer Joe Nathan was bedridden Saturday and Sunday with a virus and still had a sore throat Monday, but he was in the training room, clinging to hope that he won't need reconstructive elbow surgery. Nathan said he plans to play catch Saturday and give the elbow a vigorous test. "When I feel loose -- if I do get loose -- I definitely want to test this thing as much as I can for Day 1 and see how it feels," Nathan said. "This is going to be something where there shouldn't be a gray area. It's going to be I feel great, or this just isn't me, this doesn't feel right." The sore throat has made it difficult for Nathan to eat, and he said he's probably lost five to seven pounds. But he ..."
With Nathan's injury, Twins need shot in arm from Liriano
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March 15
USA Today
 
"Ron Gardenhire was trying to temper his excitement over a spring training performance by Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano."There's going to be some good times and some bad times," said the Twins manager, probably an accurate assessment of the once-promising career Liriano is trying to resurrect. Now the left-hander's resurgence could go a long way toward salvaging a promising season suddenly in jeopardy. The consternation in Twins camp revolves around closer Joe Nathan and the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that forced him out of a spring game a little more than a week ago. That injury usually means ligament replacement surgery and 12 to 18 months on the ..."
Twins pitcher Kevin Slowey's wrist looks sound after surgery
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March 15
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Kevin Slowey continues to prove that he is fully recovered from wrist surgery. He had another good outing Sunday and again showed no lingering effects from having bone chips removed from his pitching wrist. "I don't feel like there's any limitations at all," he said after three scoreless innings against the Boston Red Sox. "Each outing I'm more confident that I'm going to be ready. "I was able to command the fastball down in the zone. There's still some work to do on the breaking ball. I commanded about half of them." But command of the breaking ball is a normal spring training concern. Physically, Slowey has full range of motion in his wrist. The pitches feel like they used to when coming ..."
Young diamond gems attracted to the way Twins play the game
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March 15
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Tom Powers
"You know the Twins have some very young prospects when they hand out uniforms, spikes, nooks and blankies on the first day of minor league camp. Among the 150 or so hopefuls working out at the far end of the Lee County Sports Complex are three crown jewels of the farm system: two 16-year-olds and one just-turned 17-year-old. All three received big bonuses, but all three still can eat off the kids' menu. Plus, the organization saves plenty on razor blades. Their respective paths to Fort Myers differed greatly. The Twins gave a whopping $3.1 million to Miguel Sano, the most coveted young player in the Dominican Republic. Sano's countryman, Jorge Polanco, asked to play for the Twins, even ..."
Remember Ron Davis? Twins need a legit closer
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March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Jim Souhan
"In a few weeks, the Twins will open their $500 million ballpark with a $100 million roster. This is no time to employ a 25-cent solution -- a flip of the coin -- to finding a closer. A contender without a closer is like a yacht without a life buoy. The Twins have spent too much on their roster to entrust the ninth inning to a committee or a crapshoot. Two springs ago, the Twins signed Joe Nathan to a four-year, $47 million contract, calling the deal a worthwhile risk because Nathan's presence would give them not only an All-Star closer but a deep, settled bullpen. Sometime this week, Nathan is expected to announce that he will undergo surgery that will cost him this year and jeopardize ..."
Nathan misses another day as an illness joins his injury
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March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Joe Nathan on Sunday missed a second consecutive day of camp because of an illness, which comes during a time in which he's trying to decide between trying to pitch with a torn ligament in his right elbow or have season-ending surgery. "He's not doing too well,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "[We'll] just keep him away from the ballpark and try not to spread it.'' Nathan said on Friday that he would like to decide by the end of this week. Copies of his MRI exam have been sent to two specialists. Nathan was supposed to have completed several days of rehab work to strengthen the areas around the ligament by the end of this week. Then he was going to weigh his options and see if trying ..."
Radar gun is faulty, but Slowey isn't
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March 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wrist surgery has done wonders for Kevin Slowey, whose fastball has picked up considerably. According to the radar gun at Hammond Stadium on Sunday, Slowey hit 111 miles per hour a few times, topping out at 112. No wonder he retired all nine Red Sox hitters he faced before the Twins fell apart late and lost 6-4. O.K., the gun was faulty. But there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with Slowey's right wrist, which needed surgery last August to remove bone chips. Slowey came to camp wondering how his wrist would respond and if he could regain a familiar feel for his pitches. So far, he has. "I felt good,'' said Slowey, who was 10-3 with a 4.86 ERA before his season ended. "I was able to ..."
Source: Mauer talks still progressing
Comment
March 15
Foxsports.com
 (scroll down)
"The absence of news in the Twins' negotiations with catcher Joe Mauer should not be misinterpreted. The talks, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions, "are not stalled by any means." The sides continue to talk and negotiate, the source said. Opening Day — the likely deadline for Mauer, who is a free agent at the end of the season — is still three weeks away."
At Randolph and Hamline, it's the same story: Waiting for Joe
Comment
March 14
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"There was one guy in a chair at Schmidty's Sports Barbers at the corner of Randolph and Hamline in St. Paul. This was the other morning. It was raining and gloomy, and a wispy curtain of fog drifted over the ball field across the street where Joe Mauer played for Cretin-Derham Hall. Troy Ritter was cutting the hair of the guy in the chair, and then another guy came in and sat down. Matt Rudd took care of that customer. That left Josh Boedigheimer without a client, and when I came in, I said I didn't need a haircut. Schmidty's is the kind of place where you need hair to get a haircut. "I'm just trying to get a feel for what you guys think about Joe Mauer signing with the Twins,'' I said. ..."
Span shows he's a keeper: Five-year contract caps his campaign to win over Twins
Comment
March 14
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"That conversation two springs ago, when a bleary-eyed Denard Span sat in Twins manager Ron Gardenhire's office and became, perhaps right at that moment, the "angry man" the skipper has since labeled him, hasn't faded. Span remembers being cut from camp that day, general manager Bill Smith remembers the outfielder's reaction, and Saturday, after the Twins' leadoff hitter signed a five-year, $16.5 million contract that includes a sixth-year, $9 million team option, those memories were especially vivid. "He was upset about it," Smith said of the team's decision to give Carlos Gomez the center-field job in the spring of 2008. "He got a little more animated, and then he said, 'I have to get ..."
Jason Kubel's stats cry for attention
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March 14
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Tom Powers
"Jason Kubel could walk into a PETA meeting while wearing a fur coat and eating a steak sandwich and not cause a stir. He could hand out Hooters calendars at a feminist convention and get no attention. He could. ... He could. ... Why, he could bat .300, drive in 103 runs and sock 28 homers and remain unnoticed. That last one is the most amazing of all. In a statistic-propelled sport, those are high-quality numbers that, when taken together, add up to an utterly fantastic season. Yet Kubel hasn't received the slightest bit of recognition for his outstanding 2009 efforts. Media types trudge past his locker each day on their way to interviews with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer. ..."
Mauer scenario puts a twinkle in your eye
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March 14
Boston Globe
 
"For all we know, a lifetime deal for Joe Mauer with the Minnesota Twins is close to being done. But here we are on March 14 and nothing has been announced. If it happens before the opening of Target Field, no surprise. Few have even suggested that the Twins won't be able to sign the face of their franchise. But if Mauer (above) doesn't agree to something by Opening Day and this thing hangs over the team all season, that would spell trouble for the Twins, who then run the risk of having to compete for Mauer in free agency. Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Jim Souhan began raising the possibility of holes in the once iron-clad deal last week, indicating that if the Twins can't tie up ..."
Tolbert hurts his chances to make Twins with infield adventures
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March 14
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Carl Pavano pitched three perfect innings, Jim Thome had his first hit and first RBI with Minnesota and the Twins grabbed a three-run, sixth-inning lead against the Phillies on Saturday. Then things went haywire for Twins utility infielder Matt Tolbert, who is competing with Alexi Casilla for the 25th and final spot on the Opening Day roster. After replacing Orlando Hudson at second base, Tolbert made four shaky plays in a span of two innings, as the Phillies came back for a 5-4 victory at Bright House Field. First, Tolbert booted an infield chopper. He dropped a fly ball but was bailed out by the infield fly rule. He lost another ball in the sun, before Casilla rescued him from shortstop ..."
Span joins growing list of Twins with new deals: A five-year contract worth $16.5 million
Comment
March 14
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Joe Mauer's contract situation remains unresolved, but that hasn't stopped the Twins from locking up other young players to long-term deals. On Saturday, they signed center fielder Denard Span to a five-year, $16.5 million contract with a club option for 2015. The move came less than a week after the Twins signed pitcher Nick Blackburn to a four-year, $14 million deal with an option for 2014. In Blackburn's case, the deal mirrored the four-year, $15 million contract the Twins gave pitcher Scott Baker last spring. The Span move was even more aggressive. Blackburn and Baker were one year from salary arbitration when they signed their deals, but Span wouldn't have been arbitration eligible ..."
Twins, Span Agree To Long-Term Deal
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March 13
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Twins and Denard Span have agreed to a five-year contract, tweets Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune. The deal buys out the rest of Span's team controlled seasons, but no free agent years. The 26-year-old Span has hit .305/.390/.422 with 41 stolen bases during his two seasons in the big leagues, a considerable improvement over his .287/.357/.358 minor league performance. UZR rates his defense as below average in centerfield, where he'll presumably play for the next five years, but above average in the corners."
Cuddyer's timing was right on the money
Comment
March 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Tom Powers
"Just a few years ago, Michael Cuddyer would have had as much chance of the Twins picking up his $10.5 million option as Jon Rauch has of playing Peter Pan at the Ordway. Or of Joe Mauer ordering rot-gut whiskey in a dirty glass. Or of Jose Mijares signing an endorsement contract with Speedo. Ten point five million! Somewhere, Carl Pohlad is rattling his leg irons. "It's hard to comprehend something like that," Cuddyer said. "So I don't even try to. I put it out of my mind. I'm going to play as hard as I can. The minute you start thinking about it, that's when you become complacent. And that's the biggest fear of an athlete — complacency." Just what does one say when the boss calls and says ..."
Jacque Jones defends former Minnesota Twins teammate Torii Hunter
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March 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Jacque Jones isn't worried about his good friend and old teammate Torii Hunter, even if Minnesota's former center fielder is taking heat for comments he made recently during a USA Today roundtable on diversity in baseball. Hunter was quoted in the USA Today article as saying: "People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors." And: "It's like, 'Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?' " Jones said he spoke with Hunter on Thursday evening and said the Angels center fielder is handling the ..."
Greg Olson makes pitch for John Smoltz to join Twins
Comment
March 13
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Will John Smoltz be closing games for the Minnesota Twins, the team that beat the Braves, and the longtime Brave righthander, in a grueling Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Maybe. At least if Smoltz's friend and former battery mate in Atlanta has his wish. Former Braves catcher Greg Olson, who now lives in Minnesota, text messaged Smoltz after learning Twins closer Joe Nathan would undergo surgery to repair an elbow ligament, according to an article posted on the Pioneer Press Web site. "Perfect. Closer in Minny. Here comes Johnny," Olson messaged Smoltz. Olson meant it in a lighthearted way, according to the article. Olson has not heard back from the Atlanta resident, who, at 42, is an ..."
Fransisco Liriano may replace Joe Nathan as Twins Closer
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March 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Asked this week what he would look for in a closer if Joe Nathan ends up out for the season, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire mentioned two things: the ability to get strikeouts in big situations and the mental fortitude to handle the pressures that come with protecting slim leads and quickly forgetting blown saves. Among Minnesota's in-house candidates, there is one pitcher who has excelled in one of those areas as much as he's faltered in the other. Francisco Liriano is pitching for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, but the Twins have a bevy of starters to choose from, and the left-hander's wicked slider is seemingly restored to its 2006 glory. So, could Liriano be an enticing ..."
Speculation about Mauer trade premature
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March 12
MLB.com
 
"As the start of the 2010 season draws closer, and Joe Mauer remains unsigned beyond this season, the concern from Twins fans over the catcher's future will likely continue to grow. The expectation all winter has been that the Twins will re-sign Mauer to a long-term contract extension. Yet there has been little news regarding the catcher's contract status in recent weeks. Neither side is speaking publicly about the negotiations, so not much is known about the status of those talks or what the Twins may be offering Mauer in either years or dollars. There still appears to be a sense of optimism that a deal between the two sides will get done. But as Opening Day approaches and no deal is in ..."
Could Minnesota Twins turn to John Smoltz?
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March 12
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Greg Olson, a former Minnesota Twins and Gophers catcher from Edina, caught for John Smoltz for four seasons with the Atlanta Braves. Following Twins closer Joe Nathan's debilitating elbow ligament injury this week, Olson text-messaged Smoltz. "Perfect. Closer in Minny. Here comes Johnny," Olson messaged Smoltz. Olson meant it in a lighthearted way. As of this morning, Olson hasn't heard back from Smoltz, who is 42 and an unsigned free agent following a split season between the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals last year. Olson and Smoltz are pals. Olson figures Smoltz still can get hitters out. "He's still able to throw hard with real good command," Olson said. "He's still got pop on ..."
This is a bad time to audition closers
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March 12
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"While his teammates took infield and batting practice, headed out in spikes to throw bullpens and prep for Thursday night's game against Baltimore, Joe Nathan left the Twins' clubhouse alone. Dressed in basketball shorts, a Twins T-shirt and a sweatband, he ran toward the minor league side of the complex, where he likely did what little work his torn elbow ligament can handle. Few answers are available at Hammond Stadium right now, and some Twins don't even want to be asked questions. Approached for an interview Thursday, reliever Jon Rauch started with a disclaimer: "If you want to talk to me about closing, I have nothing to say." Maybe that's because there isn't much for this ballclub to ..."
Francisco Liriano shows serious stuff
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March 12
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"This is what the Twins hoped for when they saw Francisco Liriano's winter ball reports — a fastball with command, a tight slider and a solid changeup to mix in. During his two scoreless innings Thursday night in the Twins' 8-3 win over Baltimore, Liriano struck out three hitters and had Baltimore batters whiffing with ugly swings at every turn. The left-hander, vying for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, has six strikeouts in four innings and, manager Ron Gardenhire said, a heap of confidence. "Last year he just had lost his confidence," Gardenhire said. "He was questioning himself on trying to figure out what pitch to throw and all those things, and when your stuff gets to a ..."