Another deadline is looming for the Twins to make a decision on relief pitcher Matt Guerrier.
Guerrier, who returned to the Twins on a minor-league contract, has a May 8 opt-out date in an updated contract he signed with the team during the final week of spring training.
The Pioneer Press reports Guerrier’s agent Joe Bick said the veteran reliever is “not willing” to push back the opt-out date in the updated contract he signed.
Guerrier is continuing his recovery from August surgery to repair a torn flexor mass in his throwing arm. He has been working his way through the minors in an effort to make a return to Major League Baseball.
Guerrier has posted a 2.25 earned run average through three appearances at Triple-A. He pitched two innings on Sunday and allowed a three-run home run in the ninth, but outside of that has been solid in his extended work in the minors.
“He looked like Matt Guerrier,” Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony told the Pioneer Press.
Guerrier pitched for the Twins from 2004-10. Since that time he has also pitched for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.
He would be paid at the rate of $1 million once added to the big-league roster and could earn multiple $250,000 bonuses based on the amount of appearances he makes, for the Twins.
For Guerrier to be called up a spot on the 40-man roster would have to be cleared. Mike Pelfrey is on the disabled list and Sam Deduno is back in the starting rotation, so the odd man out could be rookie Logan Darnell, who was called up last week.
