Off Season Talk & Rumors

[Durango53]

Man it sucks to be starting this thread now....... :(

But here it is the off season thread.....

[Durango53]

Twins center fielder Torii Hunter has a limited trade clause in his contract, but part of the reason the Twins are expected to pick up his $12 million contract for next year is that they might be able to trade him to a high payroll team if they did not get off to a good start.

[Durango53]

Some people believe the Twins should try to trade with the New York Yankees for disenchanted third baseman Alex Rodriguez, trade second baseman Luis Castillo and move Nick Punto from third base to second base. The Texas Rangers still are paying a good share of Rodriguez' $25 million-a-year contract, and if the Twins could get the Yankees to also absorb a share, too, the Twins might be able to get the future hall of famer for less than $10 million a year.
And the pipe dreams start.............................:hmm:

[Durango53]

Some number to mull: Minnesota right fielder Michael Cuddyer finished the season with 109 RBI despite driving in only four runs in April.

[Durango53]

The Twins have until Wednesday to pick up the 2007 option on Torii Hunter's contract, valued at $12 million, or pay him a $2 million buyout. Indications are that the Twins will pick up the option. Hunter prefers to negotiate a long-term deal. The Twins could pick up the option now and explore a long-term deal later.

[Durango53]

The Twins on Monday outrighted lefthanded pitchers Dave Gassner and Justin Jones and third baseman Terry Tiffee from their 40-man roster. Tiffee becomes a free agent because he's played six years in the minors, but still could re-sign with the Twins.

[Durango53]

Twins GM Terry Ryan also is in the process of finalizing contracts for manager Ron Gardenhire's coaching staff, something Ryan hopes to have done in a month. There's no word if Gardenhire, signed through 2007, will receive an extension.

[Durango53]

Carlos Silva has a $4.35 million option on his 2007 contract, with a $100,000 buyout. Unlike Torii Hunter's option, the Twins have until five days after the World Series to make a decision on Silva.

[Durango53]

The Twins exercised their $12 million option on popular center fielder Torii Hunter for next season, but that doesn't mean the club is changing its spending policy regarding player salaries. The Twins will continue to operate within revenues derived from playing in the Metrodome. And when the club moves into its new ballpark in 2010, the Twins plan to operate within revenues generated by that ballpark.

[Durango53]

Twins 1B Justin Morneau said he will wait to see what kind of offer he gets. For the first time, he has salary arbitration as an option, and that could result in a one-year deal for as much as $3.5 million. He was paid $385,000 this year, when he hit .321 with 34 home runs and 129 runs batted in. Morneau, 25, said he is open to the possibility of a multiyear contract, which the Twins are expected to offer. Morneau's market value for a four-year deal could be in the $32 million to $34 million range. "I'm open to what makes sense," he said.

[Durango53]

Twins GM Terry Ryan seems to want to bring back righthander Carlos Silva, who had an up-and-down season (11-15, 5.94 ERA), but since the Twins have a shortage of starting pitchers, Ryan might be able to renegotiate the $4.25 million option they have on Silva for next season.

[Durango53]

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said after pitcher Francisco Liriano spends some time rehabilitating his injured left arm in Fort Myers, Fla., the hope is that he will pitch some winter ball and come back sound for spring training.

[Durango53]

It would seem prudent for the Twins this winter to sign Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer to multiyear contracts. It also would seem prudent to lock up Nick Punto for more than one season. "They have other things to worry about now, but obviously I would prefer a multiyear deal," Punto, 28, said Thursday. "We've got a good ballclub. I'm excited for next year."

[Durango53]

The Twins will go into the 2007 season with $37 million of their likely $65 million to $70 million payroll spent. Torii Hunter and Johan Santana both are due $12 million next year, Luis Castillo $5.75 million, Joe Nathan $5.25 million and Mike Redmond and Dennys Reyes each $1 million. So once contracts are negotiated for arbitration-eligible Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, you wonder if there will be any money to sign the starting pitcher and designated hitter that might be needed if the team is to contend next year.

[Durango53]

There are only 243 regular-season Twins games remaining in the Metrodome before the new ballpark opens in 2010.

[Durango53]

Look for the Twins, highlighting assorted pitching styles on their staff, to air a fun TV spot next March that already has been filmed. It features starter Johan Santana driving a Dodge Durango with closer Joe Nathan as passenger. Santana accelerates fast, then brakes fast, then accelerates fast, then brakes fast, and so on, and Nathan, who is getting motion sickness, asks if he can drive. Santana refuses to allow him behind the wheel. "This is how you win Cy Young Awards, baby, you change speeds," Santana tells Nathan. "All you do is fast." Suddenly, teammate Francisco Liriano zooms up in a sports car and slides into a parking spot beside them. "Who's that?" Nathan asks. "That's Liriano," Santana says. "He's all about the slider." The ad was filmed on a street in northeast Minneapolis and in the Metrodome parking lot.

[Durango53]

A sports memorabilia agency in New York is hawking autographed photographs ($69.99), baseballs ($89.99) and bats ($129.99) signed by Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who could win the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

[Durango53]

Latest word is that Twins players Joe Mauer, Johan Santana and Joe Nathan will be paid $100,000 apiece for training one day in Florida next month, then playing a week's worth of games with a major league all-star team in Japan.

[Durango53]

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the Twins will exercise the $4.325 million option on pitcher Carlos Silva.

[Durango53]

Twins GM Terry Ryan asked if he is concerned about the depth of his starting rotation: "We need to monitor what's going on with Francisco Liriano. He's a big piece to our future. He was a big piece to what we had going this year, and we lost him. He'll be a key ingredient to a starting rotation."

[Durango53]

Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Twins pitcher Johan Santana had been pulled from its upcoming all-star series in Japan because of shoulder tendinitis, but Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson wasn't alarmed. Anderson said Santana had other nagging injuries at season's end, with pain in his back, rib cage and hip, but there were no concerns about his left arm.

[redsfan]

If I were them, I would be petrified. They already have a question mark above Liriano. They can not afford to lose Santana.

Shut him down for the year.

[Durango53]

Joe Nathan is definitely locked up to be a Twin for the 2007 season. The pitcher signed a contract extension in March of 2005 that paid him $5.25 million in '07 and gave the Twins a $6 million option for the 2008 season. That means Nathan should be here for the next two seasons. But what the Twins need to do if they are to keep Nathan around for a while longer is to sign the closer to a multi-year deal now. Nathan clearly has shown that he is one of the elite closers in the league, and if he gets near the free-agent market, then the Twins likely would have a difficult time retaining him.

[Durango53]

Hennepin County filed a condemnation notice Wednesday to begin acquiring property for the Minnesota Twins stadium, but it emphasized that the move is largely procedural and stated that it still expects to negotiate a sale with the property's owners. But the 26-page document, filed in Hennepin County District Court, began a process that could give the county title to the property within 90 days.

[Durango53]

Twins President Dave St. Peter said the policy of Carl Pohlad and his family, which owns the Twins, "is to allow us to spend all the money we earn. And when we make more money, we can spend more." And with the Twins expected to get their normal $20 million in revenue sharing this year to go with a good profit from ticket sales, the payroll is likely to go up from $63 million. The team will budget for an attendance of 2.1 million for 2007.

[Durango53]

Ron Gardenhire said all his coaches have signed contracts and will be back. And former Twins player and coach Paul Molitor and ex-manager Tom Kelly will be back in their same roles working with minor leaguers.

[Durango53]

There have been no rumblings of a Twins offer to any free agent. They seem to be focused on the trade market, holding discussions with the Rockies about Jason Jennings, for example.
Having my Twins fan cap on this would be a great deal for the Twins if they can do it!

[Durango53]

Considering baseball's ever-escalating salary market, Justin Morneau's Most Valuable Player Award on Tuesday, coupled with Joe Mauer's batting title, could make retaining Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana a major challenge for the Twins in two years. Based on the current market, retaining Morneau, Mauer and Santana after 2008, when Santana can become a free agent, could cost the Twins nearly $50 million in 2009. That's when, by the way, the free-spending New York Yankees open their new stadium. Of course, Morneau (age 25), Mauer (23) and Santana (27) would have to continue at their current pace of production and remain healthy. Santana could be making $20 million a season in 2009 and Morneau and Mauer nearly $15 million each.

[Durango53]

With Jesse Crain, Pat Neshek and Dennys Reyes in the bullpen with closer Joe Nathan, look for the Twins to dangle reliever Juan Rincon with a position player for a starting pitcher rather than pay him the $3 million he could win in arbitration.

[Durango53]

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan doesn't like to publicly speculate on anything in baseball, but he gave a frame for how American League MVP Justin Morneau's salary will jump up from the $385,000 he earned this past year. "I'm not going to give you a figure, but it's certainly going to be over $3 million," Ryan said. "Just to give you a neighborhood figure. So he's going to jump up, and that's the way it is in this industry." Morneau, Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer are all eligible for salary arbitration.

[Durango53]

The Milwaukee Brewers are working on a one-year deal with free agent outfielder Shannon Stewart, according to baseball moles. Stewart hit .293 with 2 HR's and 21 RBI's in only 44 games for the Twins in 2006.

[Durango53]

Considering baseball's dramatically increasing free-agent market, had the Twins not picked up their $12 million option on Torii Hunter after the season, the Gold Glove center fielder probably could have signed a deal in the $50 million, four-year range with any of several teams, a top industry insider said.

[Durango53]

The Twins say they haven't decided whether to re-sign free-agent outfielder Rondell White. White said Tuesday he wants to return to Minnesota. "If they have me back, they'll get the real Rondell, not the 'Undell,' " White said from his home in Gray, Ga. White, 34, who was tremendously popular among teammates as well as within the organization last season, said he has been working out daily to prepare for 2007.

[Durango53]

Third baseman Terry Tiffee has left the Twins as a six-year minor league free agent to sign with the Baltimore Orioles.

[>TC<]

The Twins were apparently interested in FA pitchers, Jason Jennings (Col) and Gil Meche (Sea). With the outlandish contracts signed by FA's so far, both are now considered out of the Twins price range.


TC

[Durango53]

The Twins were apparently interested in FA pitchers, Jason Jennings (Col) and Gil Meche (Sea). With the outlandish contracts signed by FA's so far, both are now considered out of the Twins price range.


TC

If the Rockies would trade Jennings it would be a great deal for the Twins. He is a young pitcher that has a great head and a great sinker. It would be a great deal for the Twins and would make me hope the Rockies never win a game again while Dan O'Dowd is Gm of the Rockies. :D

[Durango53]

The agents for free-agent pitchers Steve Trachsel and Jason Marquis have tried to sell their players to Twins GM Terry Ryan, but he's not interested. Though the best chance for the Twins to land a quality pitcher appears to be through a trade, Ryan still might look into low-risk free agents.

[Durango53]

The Twins have spoken to Colorado about a deal for righthander Jason Jennings, but nothing is expected to be resolved this week. Or perhaps even next week. Or the next. And as far as signing free-agent pitchers or a designated hitter is concerned, the Twins are shopping for low-priced talent that might not fall to them until January.

[Durango53]

One player who could be a DH option for the Twins is Richard Hildago. who once hit 44 homers and drove in 122 runs in a season. Hildago, 31, took off all of 2006, is in excellent shape and is playing well in Venezuelan winter league action. Scouts are noticing.

[Durango53]

The Twins have made progress in trying to lock up some arbitration-eligible players. It's known they made contact Tuesday with the agents for Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer, beginning a process that could take weeks.

[Durango53]

The Red Sox, looking for bullpen help, have mentioned third baseman Mike Lowell to the Twins as an enticement. Lowell will make $9 million next season, which the Twins can't afford. It doesn't appear that talks will progress any farther than that.

[Durango53]

The Twins have spoken with the agents for righthander Sidney Ponson, a career 80-96 pitcher who was 4-5 with a 6.25 ERA last season in stints with the Yankees and Cardinals, both of whom released him. He was 17-12, 3.75 in 2003 with Baltimore and San Francisco. The Twins likely would sign him to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. The Twins also might be interested in lefthander Bruce Chen and righthander Paul Wilson.

[Durango53]

Peter Greenberg, the agent for outfielder Richard Hidalgo, spoke with the Twins on Wednesday. Indications are that the Twins will look into Hidalgo, but he would be a bench player at most, if not an insurance policy in the minors.

[Durango53]

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, during the annual managers' news conferences, said Rondell White is at the top of an apparently small list of free-agent options for hitters. And, because he hits better when he's an outfielder instead of a designated hitter, White likely would start in left field. "We're talking to him," Gardenhire said. "We are going to talk to him and throw something out at him and see what happens. He had a great second half for us." White, who will be 35 by Opening Day, batted .246 with seven homers and 38 RBI in 99 games. He struggled early because his left shoulder was tight following surgery. He hit .182 before the All-Star break but went on the disabled list, rehabbed his shoulder and hit .321 -- and all of his homers -- after the break. He hit .194 as a DH but .328 as an outfielder.

[Durango53]

Contract talks between representatives for veteran Minnesota Twins outfielder Rondell White and the team have reached a stalemate, despite the former all-star's willingness to re-sign on the cheap and indications that he will turn things around after a rough 2006 season.

Still, Twins general manager Terry Ryan acknowledged Wednesday that he is significantly interested in re-signing White and seemed optimistic that a deal could get done soon.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

[Durango53]

Rockies pitcher Jason Jennings is the Twins best-known option at this time. Colorado will continue to try to sign him, but might move him if talks break down. The Rockies need bullpen help, a young starting pitcher and a center fielder. The Twins prefer to hold on to reliever Juan Rincon and starters Matt Garza, Boof Bonser and Glen Perkins. Nothing is expected to develop soon, and the Twins could wait until spring training to make a harder push for Jennings.

[Durango53]

The Twins were expected to offer Jeff Cirillo a contract Thursday night, according to agent Ken Felder. Felder didn't disclose details, but the deal is expected to be for around $1 million and probably include incentives. The Brewers and Reds also are expected to make offers.
Rockies fan coming out on this one but I hope like heck the Twins dont sign him.

[Durango53]

The Twins will have a new radio home next season but the voices on the broadcasts will be familiar. The team, which will handle the production of its games as it moves to KSTP (1500 AM), is set to announce it has reached contract agreements to retain John Gordon, Herb Carneal and Dan Gladden. There also will be one new addition. Kris Atteberry has been selected by the club to serve as the studio host for its half-hour pre- and postgame shows, as well as do live in-game cut-ins. Atteberry, who spent the past five seasons calling St. Paul Saints games on television and radio, was chosen from a list of applicants that began at about 180 and was narrowed to a handful of finalists. "He sold me with his passion and want to have a job with a big-league team," said Andy Price, the Twins' director of broadcasting.

[>TC<]

Word here is that the Rockies asked for Jessie Crain ($400,000 vs. Ricon's $3,000,000) and Matt Garza. Rumor says the Twins offered Rincon and Baker, and a minor leaguer.

The Twins did sign Ken Harvey, formerly of the KC Royals. He signed a minor league deal with an invite to ST. A low risk, high reward singing.


TC


TC

[Durango53]

An agent for American League MVP Justin Morneau and the Twins chatted during baseball's winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., last week, but no offers of a long-term contract were made. An offer is expected to be coming, however.

[Durango53]

Lew Ford has seen his offensive production drop considerably, but the Twins still plan to keep him today, at the deadline for teams to offer their players 2007 contracts. Ford, 30, is arbitration eligible for the first time, so his salary could easily double from the $425,000 he made last season. For that reason, there was speculation the Twins might cut him loose as a non-tender. "I wouldn't anticipate any big surprises," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said about today's tender deadline.

[Durango53]

Billy Martin Jr., the agent for Joe Nathan, said the Twins closer wants to finish his career in Minnesota and plans to talk about a contract extension this summer.

[Durango53]

The Twins' "This is Twins Territory" advertising campaign won the best radio and print awards for 2006 in the National Sports Forum's ADchievement Awards. The campaign was created by Minneapolis-based Periscope.

[Panzram]

Twins | Choate agrees to terms
Tue, 9 Jan 2007 18:32:58 -0800

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the Minnesota Twins have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with RP Randy Choate (Diamondbacks).

[Durango53]

First-time salary arbitration figures for Twins Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau will be filed next week. Both players are expected to submit offers in the $4 million range for next season, while the Twins are expected to counter at about $3.5 million for each. Negotiations will continue after figures are submitted. Mauer, 23, the major leagues' leading hitter last season, was paid $400,000 and was not eligible for salary arbitration. Morneau, 25, was the American League's MVP last season and was paid $385,000. The average salary for starting catchers in the American League last season was $5.7 million, the same as for starting first basemen. The Twins and Mauer's agent have had what was termed one "nice" conversation about a multiyear contract but nothing substantive.

[Durango53]

The Minnesota Twins won't unveil the design for the new downtown ballpark until February, but the debate about whether it should look modern or retro has already begun. The ballpark is envisioned to combine native Minnesota limestone, large expanses of glass, exposed structural steel and ironwork. "The design will be about our time," said Bruce Miller, the project's lead architect with the Kansas City firm HOK Sport. "We're not thinking about brick arches."It's important that you be clear that you're building a more modern building than [Baltimore's] Camden Yards, so people won't be surprised," said Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman at Wednesday's meeting of the Ballpark Implementation Committee.

I guess I dont give a crap to much it is just a new park!!!!

[Durango53]

Designated hitter Matt LeCroy, a former first-round pick of the Twins and clubhouse favorite, has reunited with his original team after agreeing this week to a minor league contract worth $500,000 if he makes the big-league club.

[Durango53]

With the start of the construction season fast approaching, the push to begin building a stadium for the Minnesota Twins now heads into the courtroom. Hennepin County's move to condemn land for the 40,000-seat stadium in downtown Minneapolis will go before a judge today for the first time. With preliminary work to begin in mid-March, and with the stadium projected to open in three years, the county has asked to be given title to the land as early as Jan. 30.

[Durango53]

The resourceful Minnesota Twins led the majors with 224 manufactured runs. No other team had more than 198 (Colorado). Detroit ranked last with 124. A "manufactured run" is a run at least one-half created by the offense doing something other than playing station-to-station baseball (bunting, stealing, infield hits, advancing on outs and throws, etc.).

[Durango53]

Friends who attended the retirement party for longtime Twins starter Brad Radke on Saturday at a Marriott Hotel in Tampa, Fla., still were raving Monday about the extravagant affair that included more than 250 well-wishers. Former major league and minor league teammates included A.J. Pierzynski, Eddie Guardado, Doug Mientkiewicz, Denny Hocking, Eric Milton, Joe Mays and Jamie Ogden, current Twins Michael Cuddyer, Mike Redmond, Jesse Crain, Boof Bonser and Matt Guerrier, and Twins front-office officials. Twins pitchers Johan Santana and Carlos Silva starred in hilarious video salutes to Radke, as did Twins TV analyst Bert Blyleven. Radke's longtime agent, Minneapolis lawyer Ron Simon, received a moving video tribute. Mays, by the way, remains a free-agent pitcher while Hocking has taken a radio analyst job with Fox Sports.

[Durango53]

While the Twins will approach Johan Santana and Joe Nathan about contract extensions in the near future, there's no guarantee that things will work out. Especially in Santana's case, because the lefthanded ace might command a $20 million annual salary. Ryan is cautious. Getting Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Santana and Nathan signed to long-term deals would be one the highlights of Ryan's long career -- but would take many things to fall in place.

[Durango53]

Twins right-handed pitcher Joe Nathan, 32, who might be baseball's best closer, said this weekend he would like to finish his career in Minnesota. Nathan is signed for this season for $5.25 million, and the Twins have an option for $6 million for 2008. "I know Terry Ryan has the arbitration guys on his plate right now, but later, I definitely would like to get something started," Nathan said.

[Durango53]

Twins general manager Terry Ryan is trying to negotiate contracts that would lock up young stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau past at least the early years of their free-agency eligibility, when their annual salaries presumably would surpass $10 million. Considering the incredible escalation of player contracts since last season, it's unclear whether deals for Mauer and Morneau will get done before the season.

[Durango53]

Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano, out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, is rehabbing in Florida and is expected to join the team when pitchers and catchers report.

[Durango53]

Free-agent pitcher Sidney Ponson pulled out of TwinsFest one day before it started because he needed to take care of some unexpected business. That left Twins General Manager Terry Ryan a little disappointed, but he said Ponson had a good reason to stay home.

[Durango53]

Sidney Ponson, the righthanded pitcher with a rather long history with the police blotter, is a lot better person than his résumé suggests, according to Joe Nathan, the Twins relief pitcher who was a teammate of Ponson's with the Giants in 2003. "I think this organization for sure can get him back to form, and he's a guy that wants the ball, he's never going to say he doesn't want the ball, and he's going to go out there and battle, and you're going to have to rip the ball out of his hand," said Nathan, whose family lived in the Twin Cities this offseason. "He had a great year [in 2003]," Nathan said. " You get him excited, he's going to want the ball, it's going to be fun to watch. I know when he was with the Giants he was a 93-94 [miles per hour] guy, so he can bring it up there."

[Durango53]

Brad Radke will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Twins on Opening Day, April 2 against the Orioles. The righthander retired this offseason after 12 major league seasons, all with the Twins.

[Durango53]

Twins President Dave St. Peter said 35,835 fans attended TwinsFest, breaking the record of about 33,000 from 1992. St. Peter also said that single-game ticket sales were 37 percent higher than at last year's TwinsFest.

[Panzram]

Twins | Ponson will have to earn a spot in the rotation
Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:14:05 -0800

Kelly Thesier, of MLB.com, reports Minnesota Twins SP Sidney Ponson will have to earn a spot in the team's starting rotation during spring training. Manager Ron Gardenhire said, "Ponson is the unknown. If he can come in healthy and can get his act together to be focused on how to win baseball games at the Major League level instead of all the [problems] that have been surrounding him, we feel like we've got a chance to kind of steal a pitcher here. He can be very successful at this level; we've seen it. We're excited about him. We just don't know exactly where we're at yet, until we see him out there."

[Durango53]

With spring training just 16 days away, the Twins have nearly 30 unsigned players on their 40-man roster. But most are not salary arbitration eligible and therefore have little bargaining power.

[Panzram]

Twins | Twins ink Morneau to one-year deal
Fri, 2 Feb 2007 12:45:59 -0800

The Associated Press reports that Minnesota Twins 1B Justin Morneau signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the team, thereby avoiding arbitration.

[Panzram]

Twins | Twins ink Punto to two-year deal
Fri, 2 Feb 2007 12:47:50 -0800

The Associated Press reports that Minnesota Twins 3B Nick Punto signed a two-year, $4.2 million contract with the team, thereby avoiding arbitration.

[Panzram]

Twins | Twins ink Ford to one-year deal
Fri, 2 Feb 2007 12:48:26 -0800

The Associated Press reports that Minnesota Twins OF Lew Ford signed a one-year, $985,000 contract with the team, thereby avoiding arbitration.

[Panzram]

Twins | Rincon signs deal with club
Fri, 2 Feb 2007 15:35:17 -0800

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a contract with RP Juan Rincon Friday, Feb. 2, avoiding arbitration. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.

[Durango53]

The Twins are believed to be talking about a four-year contract offer worth about $33 million for catcher Joe Mauer, whose .347 average led the major leagues in hitting last season. The fourth year of the guaranteed deal would bind Mauer, who doesn't turn 24 until April, past his first season of free-agent eligibility. The Twins have offered Mauer $3.3 million in salary arbitration; Mauer has requested $4.5 million. Usually, the Twins and arbitration players agree to a midpoint figure. But this case could be headed for a hearing.

[Durango53]

The Twins have every player from their 1987 World Series championship team committed to attend their 20-year reunion Aug. 17-19 except pitcher Les Straker, whom they have been unable to locate, and designated hitter Don Baylor.

[Durango53]

Former Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew, a hall of famer, said he thought pitcher Herb Score threw harder than hall of famer Nolan Ryan.

[Durango53]

Among the Twins' 175 minor leaguers who will report to spring training next month are players from the United States, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Cuba, Czech Republic, Mexico, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands.

[Panzram]

Twins | Mauer looking at four-year deal
Mon, 5 Feb 2007 08:51:10 -0800

Charley Walters, of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reports the Minnesota Twins are discussing a four-year, $33 million deal with C Joe Mauer. Mauer is currently arbitration-eligible and has been offered $3.3 million. Mauer countered that offer with one for $4.5 million. If he signs this long-term deal with the club, it would take him past his first year of free-agent eligibility.

[Panzram]

Shannon Stewart (OF)
2/8: The A's and Shannon Stewart have reached agreement on a one-year contract, according to ESPN.com. He's expected to make $2.5 million plus incentives, assuming he passes his physical. Plantar fasciitis has dogged him the past three seasons, and he only played 44 games for the Twins last season.

[Durango53]

Look for the Twins to discuss contract extensions for Johan Santana and Joe Nathan during spring training.

[Panzram]

Twins | Liriano will report to spring training
Wed, 14 Feb 2007 09:53:45 -0800

Charley Waters, of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reports Minnesota Twins SP Francisco Liriano (elbow) will report to spring training with pitchers and catchers even though he is still recovering from elbow surgery.

[Panzram]

Twins | Kubel has competition
Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:39:40 -0800

Kelly Thesier, of Minnesota.Twins.MLB.com, reports while Minnesota Twins OF Jason Kubel is the leading candidate to be the team's designated hitter heading into spring training, he is not a lock to leave camp with the position. Kubel will battle 1B Ken Harvey and C Matthew LeCroy for the position.

[Panzram]

Michael Cuddyer (OF)
2/15: Michael Cuddyer and the Twins agreed to a one-year deal Thursday, according to Sports Network. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Cuddyer had a breakout season last year, hitting .284 with 24 dingers and 109 RBI.

[Durango53]

The Twins remain interested in extending the contracts of Johan Santana and closer Joe Nathan into 2010, the year the new stadium is scheduled to open. Each could be a budget-buster down the road, but the Twins are willing to explore deals because of the increased revenue a new stadium will bring.
http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1005225.html

[Panzram]

Twins | Club looking for power-hitting designated hitter
Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:26:11 -0800

Kelly Thesier, of Minnesota.Twins.MLB.com, reports after having only nine home runs hit by designated hitters in 2006, the Minnesota Twins are in the market for a power-hitting designated hitter. The early favorite for the job heading into spring training is OF Jason Kubel, provided he can stay healthy this season. Kubel's biggest challengers will likely be 1B Ken Harvey and C Matthew LeCroy.

[Panzram]

Twins | Ortiz having visa issues
Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:02:17 -0800

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports Minnesota Twins SP Ramon Ortiz is having problems obtaining a visa from his native Dominican Republic and could miss the first couple of days of camp. "I'm not worried about it," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "Based on the people I've talked to, he does a pretty good job of keeping in shape."