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Odds and Ends: Cook, Benoit, Griffey, Riske

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Some random tidbits that didn’t get their own posts today…

Twins Exercise Nathan’s Option

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An easy decision for Bill Smith – the Twins exercised Joe Nathan’s 2008 option for $6MM today.  Nathan will earn about half the salary he’s worth, but we haven’t heard any complaints from him.

The two sides have talked on and off about an extension for some time now.  I have to think 4/40 would be the bare minimum home team discount Nathan would accept.  Spending even that kind of money on a closer doesn’t seem to be the Twins’ style, so maybe they will explore a trade.  It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Nathan just play out his last season as Torii Hunter did.   

Twins Rumors: Hunter, Silva, Slowey

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A couple of Minnesota writers offered speculation today on the Twins’ plans.  Let’s discuss.

  • La Velle E. Neal III expects Torii Hunter to file for free agency today.  Meanwhile Ed Thoma sees the White Sox, Rangers, and Cubs as the top contenders.
  • Neal likes the idea of trading for Coco Crisp to play center for the Twins.  Personally I would search for a more offensive-minded guy, but as Neal says Crisp could work if big improvements are made at 3B and DH.  Thoma expects the Twins to fill this void by trading Boof Bonser or Kevin Slowey, with the Mets, Rays, Reds, and D’Backs as possibilities.  That seems to imply a deal for Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, Rocco Baldelli, Ken Griffey Jr., or Carlos Gonzalez.  Actually Griffey seems unlikely…Ryan Freel maybe?  You tell me.
  • Thoma also predicts that the Twins extend Johan Santana for 5/100.

More on Jason Bay to the Twins

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Yesterday, Joe Nathan said his re-signing was contingent on the Twins remaining competitive.  Today, Jake at Bucco Blog discusses a rumor to that fact:  The Twins’ interest in Jason Bay is real and hinges on whether or not they retain Torii Hunter.

Tim breaks it down here.  Hunter wants 5/75.  The Twins are offering 3/45.  If the they are serious about retaining him and Hunter in fact wants to stay then that discrepancy doesn’t seem insurmountable.  However, if Hunter leaves…

Jason Bay had a down year (.248/.328/.420) and yet almost certain to be dealt by new Pirates GM Neil Huntington this winter.  Shipping Bay is a launch pad for restructuring the Pirates’ system.  Tim notes the viability of a Bay for Matt Garza deal.  He’s signed for a mere $5.75MM in ’08 and an only slightly less mere $7.5MM in ’09, so the Twins would have no financial qualms if Hunter walks.

Posted by Nat Boyle

Carlos Silva Wants Four Years

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UPDATE, 10-26-07: Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune debunks Walters’ report of the offer.  No offer has been made to Silva, though 3/21 sounds like a reasonable starting point.  Christensen also has some Torii Hunter tidbits regarding a cryptic quote he made.

FROM 10-24-07:

Charley Walters notes today that the Twins offered Carlos Silva a three-year deal worth slightly more than $7MM per year.  That offer attempts to equate Silva with Miguel Batista, Adam Eaton, and Jason Marquis from last year’s free agent starting pitcher class.

However, Silva wants a four-year contract.  Rightfully so.  Last year Kei Igawa, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Ted Lilly, Gil Meche, and Jeff Suppan received four years or more.  We can toss out the unique situations of Igawa and Dice-K, leaving Lilly, Meche, and Suppan as Silva’s comparables.  Silva is younger than any of them and his fine 2007 sets the bar at four years, $40MM.  Stretching that to $42-44MM would not be ridiculous.  Silva shouldn’t be compared to the three-year group given his age, effectiveness, and health.

Silva’s supposed status as a Type B free agent should make him more attractive as well.  Last summer, teams such as the Phillies, Cubs, Braves, Diamondbacks, and Mets had trade interest in him. 

Twins Hot Stove: Hunter, Nathan

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It’ll be an interesting offseason for the Twins, who have a new GM and two coveted free agents in Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva.  Here’s the latest.

  • Charley Walters quotes Hunter as saying he hasn’t had any contract offers from the Twins since the end of the season.  In August, the Twins reportedly offered a three-year, $45MM contract to Hunter.  They’re apparently open to adding a fourth year, while Hunter would take 5/75 from the Twins.  There’s still a chance he’s re-signed, but Hunter says the chances decrease the longer the team waits.
  • According to Tom Powers, the Twins have contingency plans in place in the event they can’t sign Hunter or Silva.  The 2008 payroll is expected to increase.  It stood at $71.4MM on Opening Day ’07.  They’ll need to spend at least $4MM extra just from current escalating contracts.  Also in Powers’ article, GM Bill Smith notes the team’s continued focus on left-handed hitters who can use a short right field to their advantage.
  • Joe Nathan’s $6MM option for ’08 will be picked up, a no-brainer if there ever was one.  Nathan and the Twins will discuss a contract extension as well.

Odds and Ends

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How about some Odds and Ends to kick off Hump Day?

  • Peter Abraham doesn’t think it would make sense for the Twins to acquire Chien-Ming Wang (presumably in a Johan Santana trade).  His reasoning: Wang’s sinker would suffer on turf, and his salary is due to climb via arbitration.
  • The Indians have decisions due on Kenny Lofton, Trot Nixon, Paul Byrd, Joe Borowski, and Aaron Fultz.  The first two will probably be gone.
  • My projection for Jeremy Guthrie in 2008 is up over at RotoAuthority.
  • Say Anything’s new album came out yesterday.  Highly recommended.
  • We sold our condo!  Literally in less than one week after hiring a real estate agent, we had a contract. Maybe they’re not so bad after all.   

Santana for Melky, Hughes, and Prospect?

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Tim recently posted about the Yanks inquiries into the Twins organization for Johan Santana.  Peter Abraham shares what he’s heard of the rumors for the lefty ace.

Melky Cabrera would give Minnesota a center fielder to replace Torii Hunter if he bolts. The Yankees could then offer the Twins Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy along with a second prospect.

If Melky and Kennedy plus a prospect can land Santana, I can’t see why the Yankees wouldn’t do that, even if only for the opportunity to get a leg up on signing baseball’s best pitcher to a long term deal.  But I would assume it would take a lot more.  Lots of names are being tossed around along with Philip Hughes, particularly Robinson Cano, names that are most likely the premium the Twins would demand and perhaps a deal-breaker for the Yankees.

Posted by Nat Boyle

Yanks To Pursue Rowand?

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A source of mine with Yankee connections had some good info for me today.  Much was discussed yesterday in Tampa.

For starters, the Yanks are expected to make "eye-popping" offers to retain Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera before the World Series ends.  The team does not want the pair to file for free agency.

Additionally, the Yankees may make a big play for Aaron Rowand.  They believe a package of Melky Cabrera, Chien-Ming Wang, and Ian Kennedy would entice the Twins for Johan Santana.  That’s a huge price, but doesn’t seem out of line to me for the best pitcher in baseball.

My source didn’t have anything about Andy Pettitte, who hated seeing Joe Torre go and will take a month to decide if he’s even going to play next year.

Latest Silva, Hunter Rumors

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Aaron Gleeman and La Velle E. Neal III have combined for some good Twins rumorage in recent days.  Let’s catch up.

Neal had an interesting post yesterday with plenty of Twins hot stove banter.  The Twins have talked to Torii Hunter’s agent since he rejected their 3/45 offer, but have yet to tender a better offer.  The club is also talking to Carlos Silva’s agent as they’d like to retain him.  Neal feels that both players will at least test the open market.

Hunter has seemingly been connected to half the teams in baseball; you can see all posts involving him here.  Today Gleeman added another club to the mix: the Reds.  Gleeman’s source talks to Dusty Baker, who has suggested the Reds might be interested.  That’d create a definite outfielder surplus in Cincy.

Gleeman also weighed in on Silva’s asking price, which he expects to be in the $40MM range (I imagine over four years).  I agree…it’s a bleak market when Silva is one of the best available, but that’s just how it is this year. 

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