Minnesota Twins’ talks fail with Scott Baker as he signs for the Chicago Cubs - MLB Update
Matters between the Minnesota Twins and pitcher Scott Baker could not be sorted out and as a result, the right-handed pitcher has signed a single year deal with the Chicago Cubs worth $5.5 million plus $1.5 million in incentives.
The Twins had earlier declined a $9.25 million club option on Baker but both sides were positive that new terms can be negotiated and the 31-year-old would remain with the Minnesota ballclub. This will mark an end to a seven year long association between
the pitcher and Twins, the only Major League team Baker has represented thus far.
Earlier in the season, Scott had Tommy John Surgery on his right elbow. The eventual deadlock, which saw the pitcher sign with Cubs, is said to be caused by the pitcher’s desire for a single year deal while the Twins’ insistence of having a club option for
2014.
After the announcement, Terry Ryan, the Twins’ general manager did not express much surprise on the event and the club did not have a bad heart for the player. "It doesn't matter," he said. "He decided to sign with the Cubs and we wish him well. There's
no sense getting into anything deeper than that. Given the right situation, we would've liked him back but he chose the Cubs. So we wish him well."
The Chicago Cubs on the other hand are quite confident of the pitcher’s recovery from Tommy John surgery which has a predictable rehabilitation process. Baker was operated upon about seven months back in April.
Cubs’ President Theo Epstein was confident that the pitcher is recovering well and will be available for the start of the season in 2013. He also acknowledged that there were not many options in the pitchers market and they had to take what was on offer,
even if it involves some risk.
"You don’t set out looking for Tommy John guys," Epstein said. "But the reality is it’s not exactly a buyer’s market for pitching out there right now. You have to take your risks."
Baker, who became a free agent after the Twins’ declined their option on him, was confident of his recovery and timeline of his return to the Major League. “I have every intention of being a competitive pitcher next year right away,” he said as he is expected
to start some pitching work sometime in December.
In his career so far, Scott had a 63-48 winning record with a 4.15 ERA. He missed almost the whole 2012 season due to his surgery and only featured in 23 games in the 2011 season due to injuries.
A fit Scott Baker will be playing the role of a starting pitcher for the Cubs. His work load in the early part of the season is going to be light and will probably be kept to five to six innings initially. If everything goes well from there, the Cubs will
reassess and manage the pitcher’s load accordingly.
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