A busy November
November 6, 2009
The Twins organization will definitely be busy in the next few weeks. At least one would think they would be.
The organization has until Monday to decide whether they will pick up right fielder Michael Cuddyer’s $10.5 million option for 2011 or exercise a $1 million buyout.
Twins GM Bill Smith
The Twins front office also has an exclusive negotiating window through November 19 with pending free agents Orlando Cabrera, Joe Crede, Ron Mahay, Carl Pavano and Mike Redmond. Crede, Mahay and Redmond have already filed for free agency.
Again, the JJ Hardy Twin likely means Orlando Cabrera is no longer a priority and many are skeptical that the Twins will re-sign Mike Redmond (even Redmond is doubtful but optimistic).
This means the Twins can focus on Crede, Mahay and Pavano before the November 19 deadline.
Questions still loom about Crede and minor league third base prospect Danny Valencia. Crede has continued to struggle with back injuries and although he gave Minnesota what they were looking for with his solid defense and occassional power, his health will remain a detractor. Valencia has been considered the number one prospect out of Rochester, but never got the nod last year and their are many who feel he is still not ready for the big leagues.
Mahay was picked up in late August and the left-handed reliever went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 16 relief appearances (nine innings). At 38 years of age, it is hard to know if the how bad the Twins want him in the bullpen. The Twins right now have Joe Nathan, Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch, Jose Mijares, Jesse Crain, Bobby Keppel and Armando Gabino. Francisco Liriano has likely moved his way to the bullpen as well. Barring further injury one would expect Pat Neshek and Boof Bonser back next year as well. If the Twins are looking to sign another starting pitcher this off season such as Carl Pavano, the bullpen should be shored up well with Liriano moving there and Neshek and Bonser back.
Carl Pavano was another great late season pick up. After signing with the Indians last off season for a one-year, $1.5 million contract, he saw his numbers jump after joining the Twins. It is very unlikely that he will sign for so low this next year simply because he avoided the injury bug for a full year. Signing Pavano will depend on what the market demands for him. If his stock goes up considerably and he is being offered $6 million a year, look for the Twins to pass on him and focus on some of the other pitchers Rich Harden, Erik Bedard, or Ben Sheets.
Rich Harden is in his late 20′s and is the Cubs top free-agent, but he has a history of shoulder problems and would come with a big price tag of around $7 million a year.
Erik Bedard will be 31 and is the type of strike out pitcher the Twins so desperately need. Erik Bedard will likely command about a $6 million a year contract.
Ben Sheets will also be 31 this season and is another overpowering strike out pitcher. He recently had elbow surgery to repair the torn flexor tendon. His salary could be as low as $7 million a year or as much as $10 million.
The Twins seem to have started the off season with a great head start, trading for Hardy. The infield is not solidified yet, but this is definitely a step in the right direction. These moves also clear up some early questions about the ball clubs infield and outfield as well as letting the organization focus on pitching issues.
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