Twins CEO: “We’re Not Done”
Twins CEO Jim Pohlad shared some thoughts with a group of reporters, including MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier, on Friday afternoon. It sounds like the club still has a few transactions in mind.
"We’re not done. The season hasn’t started yet," Pohlad said. "Frequently, transactions do occur during Spring Training, so it still could happen. There is nothing from us saying, ‘Don’t go get anyone. We’re done. Go into the season and keep your fingers crossed.’ … We still have room in our payroll, and if there are opportunities [to add a player], we’ll pursue them.
The Twins’ No. 1 target at this point seems to be third baseman Joe Crede. They reached agreement with reliever Luis Ayala earlier today and have also been linked to Jarrod Washburn, though those talks have reportedly fallen through.
Twins, Luis Ayala Reach Agreement
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins reached an agreement with reliever Luis Ayala today on a one-year, $1.3MM deal. He can earn another $575K in incentives. If met, he’d exceed his ’08 salary of $1.7MM. Ayala was ranked as a Type B free agent after the season, but the Mets did not offer him arbitration.
Ayala, 31, posted a 5.71 ERA in 75.6 innings for the Nationals and Mets last year. He stuck out just 5.95 per nine innings, but showed good control with a 2.85 BB/9. He showed an elevated groundball rate in his short stint with the Mets. FanGraphs valued last year’s performance at $100K.
Odds and Ends: Hudson, Twins, Sisco, Dunn
Links for Friday…
- Tim Hudson wants the Braves to pick up his 2010 option for $12MM, though he has the right to void it if they do.
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro has no regrets about signing Kerry Wood for $20.5MM in early December.
- Twins CEO Jim Pohlad says the team is not done, in talking to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He believes signing Joe Crede makes sense, but his baseball people have the final decision.
- Michael Fleming of Variety says Brad Pitt continues to "circle" the Moneyball movie, in which he could play Billy Beane.
- Athletics Nation takes a good look at free agent lefty Andy Sisco.
- Austin Kearns commented on his friend Adam Dunn, in talking with Chico Harlan of the Washington Post.
- An amusing "25 facts about 25 random Yankees" from Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
- The Rays signed pitcher Winston Abreu to a minor league deal; he spent last year in Japan.
- RotoAuthority ranks the shortstops for fantasy baseball.
- Deals for Jason Varitek, Brad Wilkerson, and Ken Takahashi were finalized today. Jeff Bailey was shuffled to Triple A to make room for Varitek, says Dan Barbarisi.
How’s Joe Crede Doing?
4:53pm: Scott Boras told Christensen Crede is healthy and playing surface is not an issue. He implied that Crede will sign somewhere within the next two weeks.
1:54pm: Joe Crede‘s workout for scouts took place on January 28th, with the Giants and Twins the teams known to have attended. SI.com’s Jon Heyman heard the workout was "impressive," while Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said he "looked good." La Velle E. Neal III of the Star-Tribune heard on January 22nd that Crede "thinks he’s finally licked the back problems that have limited him to 144 games over the previous two seasons" after minor offseason surgery.
Christensen’s outlook today is less rosy – he’s heard Crede is at 75 percent. The Twins won’t guarantee the $5MM Crede and Scott Boras desire at this point. Christensen adds that Twins officials "seem about 90 percent certain there won’t be any notable changes to the roster before spring training." That means a reliever signing is unlikely.
Twins, Matt Guerrier Avoid Arbitration
According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins avoided arbitration with reliever Matt Guerrier by signing him for $1.475MM for ’09 (the midpoint of their submissions).
Just a few days ago, the Twins and Guerrier appeared headed to a hearing.
Heyman On Andruw, Pedro, Crede, Grudz
The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…
- The Yankees offered a minor league deal to Andruw Jones, which he turned down. Other teams "thought to have interest": the Rangers, Phillies, Braves, and Mets.
- Heyman thinks Pedro Martinez makes a lot of sense for the Dodgers. However, Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times learned from Ned Colletti on January 6th that the Dodgers weren’t among the teams pursuing Pedro.
- Jason Varitek‘s camp (ie, Scott Boras) apparently has no regrets about rejecting arbitration since it wouldn’t have been a guaranteed contract.
- Chad Cordero‘s next showcase is scheduled for February 19th.
- Heyman has the Twins as favorites over the Giants to sign Joe Crede. More on Crede here.
- Heyman says the Yankees feel they’re more likely to find a deal for Nick Swisher than Xavier Nady.
- Add Mark Grudzielanek to the list of right-handed hitters the Phillies are considering (Nomar Garciaparra, Rich Aurilia, and Moises Alou being the others).
Odds and Ends: Crede, Jays, Howard
Links for Wednesday…
- Here’s the transcript of WEEI’s interview with Theo Epstein. Epstein says "nothing is hot or active right now" for the Red Sox.
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote yesterday that "a Joe Crede signing remains a real possibility for the Twins."
- Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press writes about the Blue Jays’ attempts to break into the Japanese market.
- Will the players union organize a training camp for unsigned players? Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times discusses the slow-moving market.
- Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News had two baseball officials and an agent explain how they’d approach Ryan Howard‘s arbitration case.
- RotoAuthority ranks the second baseman for fantasy baseball.
Twins Looking To Avoid Arb With Guerrier
Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins have made multi-year offers to reliever Matt Guerrier, but have made little progress.
The Twins are hoping to avoid an arbitration hearing with the 30-year-old right-hander. Guerrier and his representatives asked for $1.75MM while the Twins submitted a $1.2MM bid. He was great from 2005-2007, but struggled last season under a heavy workload once Pat Neshek hit the disabled list. Christensen writes that the Twins "appear detemined to take this all the way" to a hearing.
Twins Showing Interest In Jarrod Washburn
TUESDAY, 7:37pm: Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that the Twins have "lost their appetite for a Jarrod Washburn trade." It probably had something to do with his $10.35MM ’09 salary.
MONDAY, 8:49pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellegencer, the Twins have "some interest" in dealing for left-hander Jarrod Washburn.
Hickey writes that the Mariners and Twins discussed a deal last week that would have sent Washburn and catcher Jeff Clement to Minnesota for 23-year-old outfielder Delmon Young. It’s not known whether that particular deal fell through, but it’s likely. The pieces just don’t seem to fit. Washburn, 34, went 5-14 last season with a 4.69 ERA and the Twins already have a young, All-Star catcher.
The M’s are trying to dump some cash in order to make a play for one of the remaining free agent outfielders and would accomplish the feat if they can move Washburn, who’s set to rake in $10.35MM this year. They’ve shown interest in Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey Jr. so far this offseason.
Baker Open To Long-Term Deal
Twins right-hander Scott Baker said recently that he would be open to signing a long-term deal to stay in Minnesota. Kelly Thesier has the report over at MLB.com.
"I have definitely entertained the idea of it." Baker said. "I like this place. I like playing here. I like the coaching staff and obviously we have a great clubhouse. It’s kind of up to them, but I definitely have thought about it."
Multiyear deals for pitchers can be risky, but Baker has shown the kind of consistency over the past two seasons that would warrant long-term consideration by most teams. He is 20-13 with a 3.81 ERA in 381 innings since the start of 2007 and is still only 27 years of age.