Minnesota Twins

When the news broke this morning that the Minnesota Twins signed one of their regulars to a contract, I am sure every Twins fan was hoping it was Joe Mauer who was signed to that contract. Unfortunately, for Twins fans it was not Mauer who was signed this morning.

Instead they will have to settle for five more years of Denard Span.

The Minnesota Twins pulled off a miracle last season by winning the AL Central on a tiebreaker game against the Detroit Tigers. They went 87-76 and won their fifth division title in the last eight years. However, they were swept by the eventual World Series Champion New York Yankees in the ALDS.

The Minnesota Twins locked up a talented 26-year-old today, but not the one that fans have been expecting.

While the club still hasn’t finalized a deal with Joe Mauer, they have ensured consistency in the outfield for the foreseeable future.

What I’m Reading

• Just imagine a Mauer-less Twinky-Town. Through means of a trade, no less. My head hurts already.

• So Jose Reyes’ thyroid is due to keep him out anywhere from two weeks to two months. Great diagnosis, Doc.

Eddie Guardado, known largely for piling up strikeouts, was given his walking papers today.

The Washington Nationals released the veteran southpaw after two less-than-stellar exhibition performances. Guardado posted an ERA of 18.00 in just two innings of work this spring.

On Tuesday morning, the Minnesota Twins revealed that their closer, Joe Nathan, had a torn ligament in his throwing arm and would likely be shut down for the 2010 season.

The subsequent barrage of texts, tweets, and comments from White Sox fans were overwhelmingly celebratory.

As one Sox fan friend of mine put it, "Hell yeah!"

It is only the second week of Spring Training, but the Minnesota Twins were already dealt a possibly crippling blow to their chances of returning to the postseason in 2010.   According to USA Today, All-Star closer Joe Nathan was sidelined with a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

2010 Top 50 Twins Prospects | No. 9 | Rene Tosoni

Joe Nathan has a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

At best, it’s partially torn, and he’ll be able to avoid surgery and pitch through the pain this season, albeit with a seriously diminished skill-set due to the injury.

Lefty Jon Lester surrendered three hits and issued two walks as part of a four-run first inning as the Minnesota Twins rebounded from yesterday’s loss with a 5-0 defeat of the Red Sox today in Ft Myers.

The Sox wasted a solid scoring opportunity in the top of the first inning. CF Mike Cameron drew a walk off RHP Carl Pavano to open the game but was thrown out trying to steal second base. The caught-stealing proved costly when Victor Martinez doubled to left field one out later.