TWINS

[rsox]

Re: TWINS

While it sucks to have to watch your team develope good players and watch them leave on a regular basis, Twins fans are lucky, lucky that there team has such a stacked farm system that they can trade away a guy like A.J. Pierzynski and someone is ready to take his place, the Twins have so many good young arms that they could trade Eric Milton, let Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins,Rick Reed and Kenny Rogers leave as a free agents, and still should have a competitive team, even looking down the line two or three years from now, the Twins should still have a pretty decent lineup.

[HawkeyeFan247]

Re: TWINS

The Minnesota Twins re-sign P J.C. Romero to a 1yr contract

[HawkeyeFan247]

Re: TWINS

The Minnesota Twins re-sign P J.C. Romero to a 1yr contract

[HawkeyeFan247]

Re: TWINS

The Minnesota Twins re-sign P J.C. Romero to a 1yr contract

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

When I saw that the Twins signed Jose Offerman to a minor league contract, I thought he had an outside shot at making the team, but the Twins would ultimately keep one of their younger players in the big leagues. With 5 bench spots available, the Twins have Offerman, Mike Ryan, Lew Ford, Michael Restovich, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, Justin Morneau, Henry Blanco, and Rob Bowen as candidates. After reading this article I anticipate the following to make the team as bench players:

C - Henry Blanco
OF - Mike Ryan
Util. - Michael Cuddyer (can play OF, 3B, 1B, and I've heard they might play him at 2B as a sub)
INF - Nick Punto (SS/2B)
INF - Jose Offerman (primarily a pinch hitter. mainly 1B, started career at 2B)

AAA:
OF - Lew Ford
OF - Michael Restovich
1B - Justin Morneau
C - Rob Bowen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the article from startribune.com:

Twins: Offerman signed to serve as pinch hitter
Jim Souhan, Star Tribune


The Twins signed two-time All-Star infielder Jose Offerman to a minor league contract Monday, and they plan for him to fill the role of veteran pinch hitter.

Offerman is perhaps best known for converting an excellent season in 1998 for the Kansas City Royals (he hit .315 with 45 steals) into a four-year, $26 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that caused Padres star Tony Gwynn to say, "Jose Offerman, $26 million? You've got to be kidding me."

Offerman, who made his major league debut with Los Angeles in 1990, is a switch hitter with a career average of .274 who will be used primarily as a lefthanded pinch hitter. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Offerman will give him a veteran option but won't affect the status of lefthanded-hitting outfielder Mike Ryan, who served as a pinch hitter late last season.

"I'd like to have Mike Ryan on my club," Gardenhire said. "Keeping Jose might affect someone like [righthanded-hitting outfielder] Lew Ford. I'm excited about this. We needed a veteran, and we all know Jose can hit. I just talked to him on the phone, and he's excited. I don't know if we'll use him in the field much, but that's not what we need."

At 35, Offerman, a former middle infielder, is considered primarily a first baseman, but he's nowhere near as skilled a fielder as incumbent Doug Mientkiewicz.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan signed Offerman to a minor league contract that will pay him $500,000 if he makes the big-league team. Ryan said the Twins' recently hired scout in the Dominican Republic, Nelson Norman, has been recommending Offerman for two months.

Offerman, who hit .232 in 284 at-bats in 2002, was cut by the Seattle Mariners last spring and was not with a major league organization last year. He played this winter for Licey in his native Dominican Republic; Norman coached for that team.

"Nelson Norman said very good things not only about the way Offerman played, but about him being a good influence on younger players in the clubhouse," Ryan said. "We think he can play a role for us."

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

When I saw that the Twins signed Jose Offerman to a minor league contract, I thought he had an outside shot at making the team, but the Twins would ultimately keep one of their younger players in the big leagues. With 5 bench spots available, the Twins have Offerman, Mike Ryan, Lew Ford, Michael Restovich, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, Justin Morneau, Henry Blanco, and Rob Bowen as candidates. After reading this article I anticipate the following to make the team as bench players:

C - Henry Blanco
OF - Mike Ryan
Util. - Michael Cuddyer (can play OF, 3B, 1B, and I've heard they might play him at 2B as a sub)
INF - Nick Punto (SS/2B)
INF - Jose Offerman (primarily a pinch hitter. mainly 1B, started career at 2B)

AAA:
OF - Lew Ford
OF - Michael Restovich
1B - Justin Morneau
C - Rob Bowen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the article from startribune.com:

Twins: Offerman signed to serve as pinch hitter
Jim Souhan, Star Tribune


The Twins signed two-time All-Star infielder Jose Offerman to a minor league contract Monday, and they plan for him to fill the role of veteran pinch hitter.

Offerman is perhaps best known for converting an excellent season in 1998 for the Kansas City Royals (he hit .315 with 45 steals) into a four-year, $26 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that caused Padres star Tony Gwynn to say, "Jose Offerman, $26 million? You've got to be kidding me."

Offerman, who made his major league debut with Los Angeles in 1990, is a switch hitter with a career average of .274 who will be used primarily as a lefthanded pinch hitter. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Offerman will give him a veteran option but won't affect the status of lefthanded-hitting outfielder Mike Ryan, who served as a pinch hitter late last season.

"I'd like to have Mike Ryan on my club," Gardenhire said. "Keeping Jose might affect someone like [righthanded-hitting outfielder] Lew Ford. I'm excited about this. We needed a veteran, and we all know Jose can hit. I just talked to him on the phone, and he's excited. I don't know if we'll use him in the field much, but that's not what we need."

At 35, Offerman, a former middle infielder, is considered primarily a first baseman, but he's nowhere near as skilled a fielder as incumbent Doug Mientkiewicz.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan signed Offerman to a minor league contract that will pay him $500,000 if he makes the big-league team. Ryan said the Twins' recently hired scout in the Dominican Republic, Nelson Norman, has been recommending Offerman for two months.

Offerman, who hit .232 in 284 at-bats in 2002, was cut by the Seattle Mariners last spring and was not with a major league organization last year. He played this winter for Licey in his native Dominican Republic; Norman coached for that team.

"Nelson Norman said very good things not only about the way Offerman played, but about him being a good influence on younger players in the clubhouse," Ryan said. "We think he can play a role for us."

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

When I saw that the Twins signed Jose Offerman to a minor league contract, I thought he had an outside shot at making the team, but the Twins would ultimately keep one of their younger players in the big leagues. With 5 bench spots available, the Twins have Offerman, Mike Ryan, Lew Ford, Michael Restovich, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, Justin Morneau, Henry Blanco, and Rob Bowen as candidates. After reading this article I anticipate the following to make the team as bench players:

C - Henry Blanco
OF - Mike Ryan
Util. - Michael Cuddyer (can play OF, 3B, 1B, and I've heard they might play him at 2B as a sub)
INF - Nick Punto (SS/2B)
INF - Jose Offerman (primarily a pinch hitter. mainly 1B, started career at 2B)

AAA:
OF - Lew Ford
OF - Michael Restovich
1B - Justin Morneau
C - Rob Bowen
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the article from startribune.com:

Twins: Offerman signed to serve as pinch hitter
Jim Souhan, Star Tribune


The Twins signed two-time All-Star infielder Jose Offerman to a minor league contract Monday, and they plan for him to fill the role of veteran pinch hitter.

Offerman is perhaps best known for converting an excellent season in 1998 for the Kansas City Royals (he hit .315 with 45 steals) into a four-year, $26 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, a deal that caused Padres star Tony Gwynn to say, "Jose Offerman, $26 million? You've got to be kidding me."

Offerman, who made his major league debut with Los Angeles in 1990, is a switch hitter with a career average of .274 who will be used primarily as a lefthanded pinch hitter. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Offerman will give him a veteran option but won't affect the status of lefthanded-hitting outfielder Mike Ryan, who served as a pinch hitter late last season.

"I'd like to have Mike Ryan on my club," Gardenhire said. "Keeping Jose might affect someone like [righthanded-hitting outfielder] Lew Ford. I'm excited about this. We needed a veteran, and we all know Jose can hit. I just talked to him on the phone, and he's excited. I don't know if we'll use him in the field much, but that's not what we need."

At 35, Offerman, a former middle infielder, is considered primarily a first baseman, but he's nowhere near as skilled a fielder as incumbent Doug Mientkiewicz.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan signed Offerman to a minor league contract that will pay him $500,000 if he makes the big-league team. Ryan said the Twins' recently hired scout in the Dominican Republic, Nelson Norman, has been recommending Offerman for two months.

Offerman, who hit .232 in 284 at-bats in 2002, was cut by the Seattle Mariners last spring and was not with a major league organization last year. He played this winter for Licey in his native Dominican Republic; Norman coached for that team.

"Nelson Norman said very good things not only about the way Offerman played, but about him being a good influence on younger players in the clubhouse," Ryan said. "We think he can play a role for us."

[rsox]

Re: TWINS

While Offerman may be used primarily as a pinch hitter he could also see a good amount of time as a DH as well, if Matt LeCroy struggles Offerman could be good insurance.

I agree that thats what the Twins bench will probably look like, although i'm not sure whether of not Nick Punto or Augie Ojeda will win the backup middle infield spot, offensively neither one is really a good hitter, so it will be who plays the better defense.

[rsox]

Re: TWINS

While Offerman may be used primarily as a pinch hitter he could also see a good amount of time as a DH as well, if Matt LeCroy struggles Offerman could be good insurance.

I agree that thats what the Twins bench will probably look like, although i'm not sure whether of not Nick Punto or Augie Ojeda will win the backup middle infield spot, offensively neither one is really a good hitter, so it will be who plays the better defense.

[rsox]

Re: TWINS

While Offerman may be used primarily as a pinch hitter he could also see a good amount of time as a DH as well, if Matt LeCroy struggles Offerman could be good insurance.

I agree that thats what the Twins bench will probably look like, although i'm not sure whether of not Nick Punto or Augie Ojeda will win the backup middle infield spot, offensively neither one is really a good hitter, so it will be who plays the better defense.

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

I don't think he'll see much time at DH. For one, I think Lecroy should have another decent year, but if he does falter, they have several young players that I'm sure the Twins would rather put in that spot like Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, Michael Restovich, or maybe even guys like Mike Ryan and Lew Ford. In case of any injury or poor production from the DH spot, Morneau would most likely slide in, but he'll probably start the year in AAA in order to get more at bats.

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

I don't think he'll see much time at DH. For one, I think Lecroy should have another decent year, but if he does falter, they have several young players that I'm sure the Twins would rather put in that spot like Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, Michael Restovich, or maybe even guys like Mike Ryan and Lew Ford. In case of any injury or poor production from the DH spot, Morneau would most likely slide in, but he'll probably start the year in AAA in order to get more at bats.

[bender_over]

Re: TWINS

I don't think he'll see much time at DH. For one, I think Lecroy should have another decent year, but if he does falter, they have several young players that I'm sure the Twins would rather put in that spot like Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, Michael Restovich, or maybe even guys like Mike Ryan and Lew Ford. In case of any injury or poor production from the DH spot, Morneau would most likely slide in, but he'll probably start the year in AAA in order to get more at bats.

[tbuck]

Re: TWINS

I don't like the signing of Offerman at all. He's terrible defensively, and way over the hill. I'd prefer to use the utility role to develop some of our older prospects (Ford, Ryan, Cuddyer, Punto) but for some reason Terry Ryan always loves to have an ancient veteran in the clubhouse. It may work if he's limited to pinch hitting and a spot start at first. If he's a DH, it's a wasted roster spot. Between Lecroy and Cuddyer, with Morneau or Restovich as replacements, the DH spot should be settled.

[tbuck]

Re: TWINS

I don't like the signing of Offerman at all. He's terrible defensively, and way over the hill. I'd prefer to use the utility role to develop some of our older prospects (Ford, Ryan, Cuddyer, Punto) but for some reason Terry Ryan always loves to have an ancient veteran in the clubhouse. It may work if he's limited to pinch hitting and a spot start at first. If he's a DH, it's a wasted roster spot. Between Lecroy and Cuddyer, with Morneau or Restovich as replacements, the DH spot should be settled.