12:30pm: In addition to Arroyo, Pelfrey and Matt Garza, the Twins are monitoring left-hander Paul Maholm, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
10:33am: The Twins are "working hard" to add one more starting pitcher to the club after signing Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Bronson Arroyo and Mike Pelfrey are definitely among the names the Twins are pursuing. Earlier this morning, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tweeted that while some teams and agents are packing up and heading home, Twins GM Terry Ryan isn't leaving Orlando yet. Said Ryan, "I'm open for business."
Minnesota has also been linked to Matt Garza recently, though it's unclear how serious their interest is, as the Angels and Diamondbacks are said to be the favorites in that race. The Twins know his asking price, however, and they know Garza himself better than many of his suitors. Minnesota drafted Garza in the first round of the 2005 draft but traded him in 2007.
Benjamin Rush
Where exactly does Angelos spend all of his money while small market teams make us look foolish?
acottonshirt
Calm down Minnesota, you are taking all the pitching. 🙂
rct 2
To be fair, their SP was atrocious last year. They essentially needed five SP.
sonofkenny
Not quite…starting pitching was atrocious…however, Correia and Deduno I think did pretty well and will probably be part o fthe rotation this year
gil4
Correia’s ceiling is adequate 5th starter, which is about where he pitched at last year. Deduno finished the year on the DL. If the only spots in the rotation you have filled are #5 and DL, you need 5.
rct 2
I agree. I was being sort of facetious. I was taken aback this morning when I was looking at their collective stats. . .yikes.
Spencer James
Thank Goodness Pelfrey and Arroyo are still out there for teams like my Yanks hurting for pitching.
Sky14
I am really hoping for Garza. Out of those three he seems the most reliable and they already took upside risks in Hughes and Nolasco.
haplito
I doubt they’re serious about Garza. Based on their signings this winter, I’m pretty sure Ryan’s not angling for competitiveness in in 2014 or even 2015, but rather is building a bridge to 2016-17, when the Twins’ elite prospects have adjusted to the big leagues.
A rotation of Nolasco, Arroyo/Garza, Hughes, Correia, and whatever AAAA scrub comes next just doesn’t get you to the playoffs—but it does buy you enough innings that you can be deliberate about the development of your younger players. With that in mind, Garza’s pricetag just doesn’t make sense.
Shane P.
I see 2015 as a more realistic year where the Twins top prospects will be ready to compete. Given the 4 and 3 year signings of Nolasco and Hughes, I think another 3 year contract could be on the way for a guy like Garza. I just don’t see any sense in adding a guy like Arroyo who will likely be only a 1-2 year guy.
twins33
I’m guessing Garza isn’t taking anything less than 4 years, could even get 5.
haplito
I hope you’re right… But it often takes even top-flight prospects a year or two to settle into the league.
Sky14
Going after Garza doesn’t mean world series or bust next year it’s just bringing stability to the rotation. Garza would fit in very nicely once the prospects start coming up. Besides they don’t have any players that are worthy of major salary commitments for many years so Garza’s pricetag isn’t as detrimental as it may be for other teams.
camerondatzker
Minnesota Twins signed 3 pitchers so far, Phil Hughes Ex-Yankees, Ricky Nolasco Ex-Dodgers and Marlins, If they sign Matt Garza, it would be a great move for The Twinkies.
haplito
Thanks?
ugotrpk3113
Haha… who was mentioning building the most boring rotation ever? Someone mentioned Maholm.
Larry Gardner
Pelfrey and Maholm? C’mon TR, trying really hard ain’t cutting it, DO SOMETHING that doesn’t include those two names.
James F
Maybe Jason Hammel to the Twins.