MLB Rumors: 10 Players the Minnesota Twins Would Love To Land This Offseason
With most of the big name free agents signed, sealed and delivered to their respective teams, it's time to look at what is still out there for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins still have plenty of questions at the major league level with the departure of Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, J.J. Hardy, and Orlando Hudson. Will GM Bill Smith promote from within as is widely speculated to patch the bull pen together or will be go out and be aggressive as he were last January landing Hudson and Jim Thome? Let's take a look at the ten players the Twins would still love to land this offseason.
Carl Pavano
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The Twins are still in need of not only an innings eater, but also veteran pitcher at the top of the rotation. When the Twins brought in Pavano in 2009, he was coming off injuries and some bad luck with the New York Yankees. After signing with the Indians, Pavano started to look like the pitcher he was early in his career with the Florida Marlins. The Twins were able to obtain him in a waiver wire deal in August and he's been nothing but fantastic not only on the mound but also in the clubhouse. With Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn both coming off minor elbow surgeries, the Twins will need Pavano more than ever.
Brian Fuentes
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Brian Fuentes was another waiver line deal in 2010 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. His primary role for the Twins was a set-up man for Matt Capps but proved to be a shut down lefty in the late innings. His past history shows, although his stats are not what you would think of in a closer, he's capable of nailing down saves in the late innings.This may be vital as the Twins are in rebuilding mode with their bullpen, the return of Joe Nathan from Tommy John surgery, the health issues of Jose Mijares and the questions that still circle Matt Capps. Fuentes would be a nice insurance policy for the Twins.
Scot Shields
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Keeping with the theme of pitching, Scot Shields would be a nice addition to the Twins bullpen. After an off year with the Angels (0-3 with a 5.28 ERA) Shields will look to return to form that made him one of the best set up men in the game bridging the gap to Frankie Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes with the Angels during their incredible run in the American League West. He has a 46-44 career record with a very good 3.18 ERA. With Mijares and Perkins as the penciled in lefties in the bull pen, Shields would be a nice option for Ron Gardenhire and Rick Anderson.
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Jon Rauch
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Jon Rauch had quite an eventful 2010 season. Going into the 2010 spring training, Rauch was penciled in as a set up man to closer Joe Nathan. By the end of spring training, he was announced the closer by manager Ron Gardenhire. In July, Rauch was replaced by Matt Capps and was used sparingly the rest of the way. Unfortunately, his most infamous moment of the season was being brought in for Kevin Slowey after Slowey was well on his way to a no-hitter and the rest is history. With all those things in mind, Rauch did exactly what the Twins hoped he would do. He held down the closer's job for the first three or four months of the season and did it with class. He isn't going to overpower anybody with his stuff but he would be a formidable option out of the bull-pen in 2011.
Frank Francisco
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Frank Francisco had an up and down season with the American League champion Rangers in 2010. Slotted in as the team's closer, he struggled with control which led to the emergence of Naftali Feliz as not only the Rangers closer but also Rookie of the Year. Francisco was left off the post season roster with a rib injury but before that he put numbers up that would fit nicely into the Twins bullpen: 6-4 record, 18 walks and a 3.76 ERA. A change of scenery may be what Francisco needs and the Twins are in need of immediate bullpen help. Sounds like a good match.
Jim Thome
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We've gone through the pitching side of things in the first five slides and now it's time to address the offensive side of things. Jim Thome is 40 years old. Jim Thome is a one position player. Jim Thome also put up numbers that nobody expected and almost single handily held the Twins together immediately after Justin Morneau's concussion.
His 25 home runs led the team and provided key hit after key hit in the stretch drive of the season. Thome was signed in 2010 to come off the bench and provide some pop when needed. Luckily for the Twins, he provided much more. His presence in the locker room and on the field can't be overstated and the Twins again are in need of left handed power off the bench.
Vladimir Guerrero
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Vladimir Guerrero could be the right-handed Jim Thome. He is still a productive DH as his 2010 numbers show, but is a non-factor in the field. The Twins have always taken the approach, when it comes to their bench, as subsistence overproduction (see Nick Punto and Brendan Harris). Vlad could serve in the same role as Thome.
Thome, because of his age and chronic back issues, was limited down the stretch to preserve him for the playoffs. Vlad would be the type of player who could give Thome a break for a couple games or serve as the regular full time DH (he is five years younger than Thome). Regardless of how they would use him, his offense and base running would be a huge asset to the Twins in 2011.
Orlando Cabera
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Orlando Cabera's one time with the Twins led to a division championship. Cabera's last team, the Reds, won a division championship. Coincidence? Maybe. But this guy is a proven winner. Although at 36, he may be considered old for a middle infielder (Jeter will be 37 this upcoming year), he is still very productive and steady in the infield.
The Twins had the opportunity last year to bring him back but his asking price seemed to high for GM Bill Smith so they passed and traded for J.J. Hardy. With Hardy traded to Baltimore and Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Alexi Casilla penciled in either at shortstop or 2B. Cabera would be a good insurance policy to have considering Casilla's inconsistencies when give the everyday job.
Jorge Cantu
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Jorge Cantu would fit in nicely for the Twins in 2011. With Danny Valencia taking hold of third base and, to be honest, first base still up in the air (IF Morneau has any set backs from the post concussion syndrome), Cantu would provide the Twins some flexibility at the corner positions. Cantu got off to a hot start in Florida last year before being traded to the Rangers. He saw his hitting numbers decline dramatically once he got to Texas but served as a serviceable bench player. If Morneau is healthy enough to play first base again in 2011, Cantu would be ideal as a player coming off the bench.
Adam LaRoche
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The last player the Twins should be interested in is Adam LaRoche. Although a notorious slow starter, LaRoche came on last year for the Diamondbacks hitting 25 homeruns while driving in 100. He is a left handed stick which the Twins desperately need and provides some stability at first base if Justin Morneau is deemed unfit to play. Signing a first baseman like LaRoche allows the Twins to keep Cuddyer in right, Kubel as DH and Thome (if signed) as the bench player they had him penciled in for last year. LaRoche is being looked at currently by the Nationals and the Padres but would be a good fit in Minneapolis in the event Morneau is out.
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