Minnesota Twins

Carl Pavano has had his ups and downs his entire career as we all know.

He had his breakout season in 2003, collecting 12 wins with an acceptable ERA of 4.30. The very next year in 2004, he won 18 games with an ERA of 3.00.

His All-Star season earned him a 4-year, $40 million deal with the New York Yankees.

But we all know how that turned out, as he started only 26 games during the four years.

As we rapidly approach January, members the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) are filling out their ballots for the 2011 inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  With the Winter Meetings over, January's HOF announcement is the biggest story until pitchers and catchers report in about six weeks.

With most of the big name free agents signed, sealed and delivered to their respective teams, it's time to look at what is still out there for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins still have plenty of questions at the major league level with the departure of Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, J.J. Hardy, and Orlando Hudson. Will GM Bill Smith promote from within as is widely speculated to patch the bull pen together or will be go out and be aggressive as he were last January landing Hudson and Jim Thome? Let's take a look at the ten players the Twins would still love to land this offseason.

Earlier this week, Jesse Crain signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.

As I mentioned in a previous article, the Twins are going to really need to bolster their bullpen in order to three-peat as Central Division champions.

But is losing Crain such a bad thing? Let's examine this question.

Dec. 22, 2010

Twins ‘Cold’ During ‘Hot’ Season

by Andy Vanfossan

With 2010 coming to an end, now is a good time to look at the positives and negatives for the last month and a half of the free agent season.

Positives:

The Minnesota Twins, long known for their patient approach to the offseason, have quietly rebuilt their middle infield, and added new, intriguing arms to a retooled bullpen. 

There are many questions still needed to be answered for the Twins this offseason. Here's a look at the moves made so far this winter by the Twins.

Who's Gone

JJ Hardy, SS: Traded to Baltimore Orioles

On Saturday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins formally introduced 26-year-old middle-infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka. He toured the stadium (which was snow covered), chose the No. 1 to wear in the upcoming year, and became the first Japanese import to sign with the Twins.

The deal is for three years, $9.25 million, with an option for a fourth year, 2014, for $4 million. According to mlb.com's report he "charmed" in his first press conference.

But the question still begs: Who is this guy?

In 2001, the Minnesota Twins (along with the Montreal Expos) were threatened to be contracted from Major League Baseball.

Take a look at where this team has come in the time since.

Rather than folding like a cheap suit, the Twins have risen back to becoming a potent catalyst in the sport in the last decade.

The 2010 season was a special year for the Twins, as highly anticipated Target Field opened for business.

Just one week ago, Minnesotans found themselves in the midst of one of the biggest blizzards in the state's history. Twenty inches of snow and one collapsed Metrodome roof later, the impact of the storm left a mark on the Twin Cities. But just as people in the Twin Cities finally moved past the storm, a tsunami that goes by the name of "Yoshi" or "Nishi" rolled into town.

The Minnesota Twins appear to have a revolving door that their middle infielders continue to step into, only to exit on another team's roster.

When Minnesota opens the 2011 season it will be five consecutive years with a different tandem starting at second and short.

The Twins traded J.J. Hardy to Baltimore, and appear unlikely to re-sign free agent, Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson.

Currently the leading candidates to replace Hudson and Hardy are Alexi Casilla and Japanese import, 26 year-old Tsuyoshi Nishioka.