Starting pitchers on Winter Meetings agenda for Minnesota Twins - MLB Update
The Minnesota Twins have been quite clear about the need for pitchers in the starting rotation for a while now. Currently Scott Diamond is the only pitcher who has been penciled in for the starting rotation and the Twins will certainly want to add more names
at the Winter Meetings this week.
Twins currently have four available spots on the 40-man roster and will have space to show some flexibility. General manager Terry Ryan and his staff will be quite clear in the head about whom to target in Nashville, keeping the best interests of the team
in mind.
The team had the second worst ERA in the Major League during the 2012 season and it was a big contributor in the teams below par show. They have recently traded centre fielder Denard Span for a Minor League pitching prospect Alex Meyer from the Washington
Nationals.
The club, though, is certainly looking for pitchers that are ready to pitch in the Majors. Meyer is a good option for the longer term as they look to build a strong pitching base for the future but they will need to address the issues at hand as well.
The Rule 5 Draft has previously been good for the Twins. They have had great picks such as Johan Santana and Scott Diamond in the past from the Rule 5 Draft and may be able to add some good pitching options this year as well. Due to their low standing in
the 2012 season, the Twins will be one of the teams with the first picks and can make good use of the opportunity.
There have also been suggestions about trade and some quarters have suggested that trading Joe Mauer can bring the Twins some good options in return. If they indeed make such a trade, they must make sure that they get some quality player or players in return.
Outfielder Josh Willingham also has some takers if the Twins decide to trade him. However, the Minnesota ball club does not appear to be interested in trading Josh and it will certainly not be an easy task to find an appropriate trade for a player of Willingham’s
calibre.
There have also been talks of the return of left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano to the ranks of the Twins. He is unlikely to be charging a hefty salary which is making the deal go through even more likely. The team is likely to offer him a short term deal.
The ball club’s management has a lot on its plate to take care of. Good calculated moves will certainly help the team in getting some decent names and that can be very useful in turning the team’s fortunes around and getting them back on winning ways.
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