Before we get to this report about the Minnesota Twins, why is it called the MLB hot stove?
The hot stove falls under the umbrella of things sports people say all the time but really don’t know where it came from or why it’s used. For the record, MLB off-season rumors are on the hot stove because it’s a way to understand “what’s cookin'” around the league. Thanks, Wikipedia.
Anyway, 1500 ESPN’s Darren Wolfson reports the Twins are interested in discussing a contract with free-agent starting pitcher Justin Masterson.
The #MNTwins have inquired about Masterson, I'm told. Sure, they're checking in on OFs, but finding a starter or two is the top priority.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) November 16, 2014
Masterson, a 6-foot-6 right-hander is coming off the worst season of his career. He started the season in Cleveland before being traded to the Cardinals, finishing with a 5.88 earned-run average and he walked nearly five batters per nine innings.
From 2010-2013 Masterson was a reliable starter, averaging 199 innings and a 4.05 ERA.
A report out of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says Masterson may be looking for a one-year deal with a goal of pitching well in 2015, which in turn would lead to a more lucrative, long-term contract next off-season.
Masterson believes he’ll re-establish himself rather easily because, as it turns out, he was pitching through pain last season.
“At the end of the season, Justin said he really felt he should have spoken up more about what was going on with him,” St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak told the Plain Dealer. “It was just one of those things that didn’t work out.
“His first couple of wins for us were huge. After that it just didn’t go well for him.”
Masterson was an All-Star in 2013.
