Crede signs with Twins
February 24, 2009
Joe Crede
Twins fans everywhere have been waiting all winter for the team to address the issues at third base. Names of potential free agents or trade possibilities have popped up on the radar over the past few months but the front office had been reluctant to make a move on any of them. With spring training under way, the wait is finally over as the club has signed Joe Crede to a one-year incentive laden contract.
Crede has had an unfortunate string of back problems and hasn’t played a full season of ball over the past couple years, however, I wouldn’t be too quick to add his name to the list of offseason bargain bin busts that the Twins have picked up in recent years. Looking at the numbers, Crede has played less than 100 games in each of the past two seasons, but he still has been productive, including hitting 17 home runs and driving in 55 while only being in 97 games last year.
In his best year with Chicago in 2006, Crede hit 30 home runs and knocked in 94 RBI’s, which are offensive numbers that the Twins haven’t seen at the hot corner since the days of Gary Gaetti in the late 80’s. Of course, those numbers probably won’t happen again but with Crede at third, the Twins will have that everyday power hitting third baseman in their line up that they and the fans have been looking for. Plus, he has a great glove in the field as well.
There is a huge potential downside to signing Crede, and that is his past history of back problems. Crede has stated that his back have been taken care of, however, it is yet to be seen how well it can hold up while playing on the field turf for 81 games. His contract bonuses come from the number of at bats he has with the team, which holds the club to very little risk and if what he says about his back is true, Crede could have a tremendous upside for the team.
It remains to be seen how well Joe Crede pans out but it gives Twins fans yet one more reason to be excited for the upcoming baseball season.
Twins 2009 Outlook
February 17, 2009
With Spring Training finally underway, it is time to look at the upcoming 2009 season for the Minnesota Twins.
After losing Torii Hunter and Johan Santana to the Angels and Mets respectively, 2008 and 2009 were to be rebuilding years for the Twins. The youth prevailed and proved the critics wrong, however, as the team won 88 games and lost a one-game playoff against the White Sox to come within one game of winning their fifth American League Central titles in seven years.
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