In Memoriam
Was reading Kelly Thesier’s mail bag today and got to thinking about those Twins from last year who are not projected at this time to be with the club.
OF Carlos Gomez: Carlos Gomez was an exciting young center fielder who always had a smile on his face. When he arrived in 2008, he was a welcome sight in the injury prone out field of 2008. His addition along with that of Denard Span in 2008 gave Twins fans a lot to be excited about going into 2009.
Gomez came into the organization and swung the bat well to begin with, but towards the end of the year as pitchers got to know him, his numbers dropped. Unfortunately, Gomez continued to struggle in 2009 and was relegated to being the 8th-9th inning defensive substitution through most of 2009.
Two days after the World Series, the Twins announced that Gomez had been traded to the Brewers in exchange for shortstop JJ Hardy. Any true Gomez fan knows this was a great opportunity for the young out fielder as he will get a chance to be the everyday center fielder with the Brewers organization.
SS Orlando Cabrera: There was a lot of buzz before the 2009 season began about the Twins landing Cabrera. The organization tried to whew the almost 34 year-old shortstop to play with them. Cabrera chose to play with the Oakland Athletics, but late in the season the Twins made another offer to obtain Cabrera to help them close the gap with Detroit.
Picked up late in 2009, Cabrera brought the spark that the Twins needed to catch up to the division leading Tigers. His enthusiasm and presence in the club house was infectious and he is given much of the credit for the Twins winning the AL Central title.
With the off season acquisition of JJ Hardy, the Twins did not have a role for the 35 year-old shortstop and his service were not sought after by the Twins. Cabrera recently signed a contract to play with the Cincinnati Reds.
Mike Redmond
3B Joe Crede: Crede was a gamble that didn’t really payoff for the Twins. Skeptical that he had really resolved previous back issues, the Twins signed the former White Sox to a heavy incentive laden one-year deal. He wasn’t a bust, but he wasn’t a boom either, going .225/.289/.414 with 15 home runs in 367 plate apperances. He was unable to shake the injury bug and underwent his third back surgery in three years just before the end of the season. Crede says he is healthy but still remains an unsigned free agent.
LHP Ron Mahay: Mahay was picked up late August 2009 from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named later. Mahay pitched a total of 9 innings of relief in 16 games. He racked up 8 SO/3BB and ended the season with a 2.00 ERA. The Twins had expressed interest in re-signing the reliever before the end of the year, but the left-hander remains unsigned.
RHP Bobby Keppel: Who could forget Bobby Keppel’s last game for the Twins. In one of the most thrilling games ever played in baseball, Keppel was called in to relief during extra innings of game 163 against the Tigers. His efforts in that game were rewared as he left the game with his first and so far only Major League win. Keppel requested a release from his contract after the 2009 season to pursue a pitching career in Japan.
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