With major league baseball’s trading deadline coming on Saturday, here are five facts worth knowing about the Twins.
The franchise needs not only pitching help and another productive right-handed hitter, but also more depth among position players. The Twins are having a hard luck season with all their injuries, and the spare parts are suspect.
If the Twins are unable to make a trade or two before the end of the week, don’t give up hope. Following the trading deadline last year general manager Bill Smith acquired relief pitcher Jon Rauch and starter Carl Pavano via waivers from other teams.
The Twins are only one game out of first place in the Central Division so they want to help themselves in their push for the post-season. But there are 13 other teams in major league baseball that are within eight games or less of first place in their divisions. Translation: there are a lot of “buyers” in competition with the Twins for personnel moves.
The front office likely won’t address the subject now but it’s worth the concern of Twins fans to wonder whether the club will be able to re-sign Pavano after this season. He is 12-6 with a 3.26 ERA, and he devours innings like few pitchers in the majors. Pavano, 34, will be of interest to other clubs in the offseason if he continues to pitch like he has been doing. He reportedly earns $7 million this season with the Twins and his contract ends in 2010.
Odds are there’s no high impact help available to be found at AAA Rochester. Former Twins pitchers Pat Neshek and Glen Perkins, infielder Brendan Harris and outfielder Jacque Jones are trying to recapture the skills they once knew. Best bet could be shortstop Trevor Plouffe who has discovered the long ball and now totals 15 home runs in Rochester, most on the team.