Spring Break
Twins expect to perform routine maintenance, not major overhaul in offseason
Joe Christensen
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports
MINNEAPOLIS (MCT) - The Twins were staring at seismic changes at this time last year.
They were about to let Torii Hunter walk as a free agent and trade Johan Santana.
Joe Nathan was one year from free agency, and they had yet to lock up Justin Morneau with a long-term deal.
Bill Smith's first offseason as general manager was anything but bland. He traded Santana, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett. By opening night, the Twins had a revamped starting rotation and six new players in the starting lineup.
Outsiders naturally viewed it as a rebuilding year, but the Twins had simply reloaded on the fly. They lost Tuesday's one-game playoff to the White Sox 1-0. That's how close manager Ron Gardenhire came to a fifth division title in seven years - one measly run.
A new offseason began Wednesday, and instead of a major overhaul this time, look for the Twins to do standard maintenance.
Expect fewer national headlines, though that won't mean the organization is resting on its laurels.
"I think we have the nucleus of our '09 team here, but we'll explore every avenue we can to see if we can get better," said Twins assistant general manager Ron Antony.
Joe Mauer is under contract through 2010, Nathan 2011, and Morneau 2013.
Of their pending free agents, the Twins' biggest decision is whether to retain Nick Punto, and it sounds as if they will. They have only two players who are arbitration eligible - Jason Kubel and Matt Guerrier - and neither will break the bank.
Meanwhile, the Twins have staged an absolute coup with their starting pitching.
At a time when former Twins pitchers Kyle Lohse ($41 million) and Carlos Silva ($48 million) are swimming in money, their current starting five could return for next season at less than $500,000 apiece.
The trouble with cheap young talent, however, is the price goes up rapidly after three years in the big leagues.
At this time next year, Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins could all qualify for salary arbitration.
They were about to let Torii Hunter walk as a free agent and trade Johan Santana.
Joe Nathan was one year from free agency, and they had yet to lock up Justin Morneau with a long-term deal.
Bill Smith's first offseason as general manager was anything but bland. He traded Santana, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett. By opening night, the Twins had a revamped starting rotation and six new players in the starting lineup.
Outsiders naturally viewed it as a rebuilding year, but the Twins had simply reloaded on the fly. They lost Tuesday's one-game playoff to the White Sox 1-0. That's how close manager Ron Gardenhire came to a fifth division title in seven years - one measly run.
A new offseason began Wednesday, and instead of a major overhaul this time, look for the Twins to do standard maintenance.
Expect fewer national headlines, though that won't mean the organization is resting on its laurels.
"I think we have the nucleus of our '09 team here, but we'll explore every avenue we can to see if we can get better," said Twins assistant general manager Ron Antony.
Joe Mauer is under contract through 2010, Nathan 2011, and Morneau 2013.
Of their pending free agents, the Twins' biggest decision is whether to retain Nick Punto, and it sounds as if they will. They have only two players who are arbitration eligible - Jason Kubel and Matt Guerrier - and neither will break the bank.
Meanwhile, the Twins have staged an absolute coup with their starting pitching.
At a time when former Twins pitchers Kyle Lohse ($41 million) and Carlos Silva ($48 million) are swimming in money, their current starting five could return for next season at less than $500,000 apiece.
The trouble with cheap young talent, however, is the price goes up rapidly after three years in the big leagues.
At this time next year, Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins could all qualify for salary arbitration.
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