The Twins have been said to be on the hunt for bullpen help in recent days, and La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that right-hander Joe Blanton and left-hander Boone Logan are both on the the team’s radar. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN, meanwhile, tweets that Minnesota has had some talks with Jerry Blevins’ camp as well. While any of the three veterans would serve as an upgrade to a Twins relief corps that is rife with question marks, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press hears that the Twins aren’t likely to sign a reliever to a multi-year deal. If that’s the case, it may be difficult for the team to reel in any of the three listed targets from Neal and Wolfson. FOX’s Ken Rosenthal recently reported that both Logan and Blevins could very well land two-year deals worth $12MM+, and Blanton remains a candidate for a multi-year deal as well. Berardino does note that the Twins are intrigued by lefty Craig Breslow’s recent workout and new arm slot.
- While there’s been mutual interest reported between the Twins and former cornerstone Justin Morneau, Neal reports within his column that talks between Minnesota and Morneau’s camp weren’t especially productive, and the sides each came away feeling like there’s no current fit on the roster for the 35-year-old former MVP. Neal also suggests that while there’s been some interest in Mike Napoli, the bullpen might be a bigger priority right now. Berardino’s above-linked column, meanwhile, notes that Napoli is expected to sign elsewhere.
- Right-hander Trevor May has spent much of the past two seasons pitching in relief (including all of his injury-shortened 2016 campaign), but the new Twins front office would like to see the once-well-regarded pitching prospect move back to the rotation in 2017, writes Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. May says he feels “normal” again after dealing with significant back issues in 2016, and believes that “pitching with a set routine” on regular rest will help him keep it that way. “I’m not saying I have to have an amazing spring, by any means,” May said of earning a spot in the MLB rotation, “but I have to show I’m ready to go. I have a starter’s mind-set that I can throw all my pitches right away. … If the health is there, I feel like I can slide in there.”
- Berardino also provides details on the minor-league deal between the organization and veteran righty Ryan Vogelsong. He’ll earn at a $1MM base rate in the majors. And the 39-year-old could take home up to $2.5MM if he earns and keeps a rotation spot for most of the year (30 starts), or as much as $1MM if he’s a stalwart in the pen (55 appearances, available in $200K increments). Though Vogelsong can opt out just before the start of the season, he won’t have any later opt-out opportunities if he ends up opening the year in the minors.
Morneau was one of my favorite players when he was with the Twins, but as much as I’d like to see him here again, I just don’t think it makes sense from a roster standpoint.
why wood any mlb player sign with twin want to loose 100 games per year. pitchers who want to pitch in small park no likely.
Your English teacher failed you ☹️
You win the internet today, sir.
If they can get more $$$ per yr plus an extra yr, they can expect to be flipped to a contender. The Twins for 1/2 a yr salary get a prospect or 2.
I used Google’s gibberish to English translator and it comes out like this.
Why would a pitcher want to sign with the twins knowing they could lose 100 games. It is also unlikely that a pitcher would want to pitch in a small park.
I doesn’t no Minnesota small parks they had. Thawt they was a pitcher’s park.
Kinda like Bubba Gump speaking in the Minnesota mid winter ice fishin’ dialect.
larry48:
Gabby Johnson, is that you?
The Sheriff is near?
My friends I would have to I agree with what lesterdnightfly Johnson and bigun Johnson said about Larry48 Johnson sounding like gabby Johnson
This is going to sound funny, but let’s give the Twins slightly more credit. They’ve lost 100 or more games only once.
If you go by pythag, they should have won 6 more games. If you go by baseruns, they should have won 12 more games than they did. Either way it was clear that they were unlucky while also being bad.
I also wonder why players would sign here, but the young offensive core is mostly here so it’s not like they are a completely baron team. They need better pitching, which is not an easy fix, but things could take a big turn if they just get league average pitching like what happened in 2015.
barren*
the twins are a much better team than their record last year that they were not as good as their record in 2015
I’d agree with that statement. They probably won 7-8 more games than they should have.
Why not pick up two men from a winning program and they where a big part of that 1) Travis Wood
Jason Hammel is good
Once again I agree with you twins33. One good starter and a revamped pen and that team could be a surprise.
It’s definitely all dependent on pitching and staying healthy. If Santana is their only good starter again then they’ll be bad. That’s obvious.
This staff will never light the world on fire but if they could just be average instead of the worst it would be a huge difference. That being said, it’s hard to keep hoping year after year.
I feel like like this is either a 66 win team or a 74 win team. Time will tell I guess. Most of the young offensive core is now up and up for good. Hopefully Berrios figures it out too.
Because that’s why they call fans like you the infamous Armchair Quarterback.
it’s a good pitchers park so…
I’d only want the Twins to sign Blanton out of this group. Would prefer a one year deal too, but think he’ll have better options from better teams.
Hard to say… a little surprising he’s still available. They should probably two of those guys though.
Enjoy your nice ballpark in a lovely downtown Twins fans. Sincerely. Until someone like Mauer doesn’t start for you anymore, enjoy a team like the Indians. Or Marlins.
I keep hoping the Blue Jays sign Morneau on a healthy upswing and he gives them the contact, high on base lefty bat they need. I see him as a better bet than Smoak at first.
Where have you been? I needed this back up about 2 months ago. I completely agree with you, he would look great hitting behind Morales and in front of Tulo, or between Tulo and Martin.