The Minnesota Twins haven’t set the world on fire at baseball’s winter meetings in Dallas this week, but they have made some minor moves to try to get closer to 81 wins next year (that’s .500, folks, perhaps the best we can expect after 99 losses).
First was the signing of Matt Capps as the 2012 closer. One year, $4.5 million. The fan base? Mostly irate. But most reporters and bloggers who follow the team are defending the decision. Blogger Nick Nelson offer this well-rounded column, arguing that that the Capps outrage is excessive.
Also excessive: The apparent joy that whining righthander Kevin Slowey has been shipped off to Colorado. Great for us (as the Star Tribune reported, the Twins need pitching so they must have really wanted to get rid of Kev), but not so great for the Rockies. Here’s a column from Denver Post writer Woody Paige, who makes the case that Slowey’s arrival is a bad omen for the Rockies.
What’s next on the horizon? Perhaps Michael Cuddyer will re-up with the hometown nine. That decision is expected any day — as the Twins have apparently offered Cuddy a three-year deal worth $25 million. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he called Cuddyer today to wish him well on the birth of his twin daughters, implying that it was an omen. Twins. Get it?
Gardenhire also told reporters that he’ll miss Ozzie Guillen, who bolted from the White Sox to manage in Miami. As Gardy put it, Guillen’s departure “kind of stinks.”
Those are the major storylines so far from the winter meetings, which wrap up Thursday. What’s your take? Have the Twins done enough wheeling and dealing — or do you expect more? Let us know…
