@TroyRenck: Rockies still firmly in mix to get cuddyer could happen today.

@Buster_ESPN: Rival executives expect that Michael Cuddyer will land with the Colorado Rockies.

I’m wondering how much money the Rockies are offering because I really thought Cuddyer would head back to the Minnesota Twins. Especially after the three year, $24 million dollar offer they gave him. He’d get some job security as well as a salary that not many teams have been offering. If he’s prepared to move on from that then Colorado must be offering something good.

Michael would be a good addition to the Rockies outfield and could enjoy a nice Coors Field boost. Since becoming a full-time start he’s averaged just under 17 homeruns a season but over the last three seasons that’s jumped up to 22 per. If he stays healthy and plays 140+ games I could see him easily hitting 30 plus.

With multiple sources now saying a deal could happen, I’m sure it does. I just still question how much it will be for, could he hit the $10 million mark?

@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: #Twins also on Buehrle, joining #Nationals, #Marlins, #Rangers. Offer not as strong. Others believed 3 yrs in $36-39M range. #MLB

If Rosenthal’s information is correct then I’m a little surprised at the dollar value but they’re very fair offers. I expected more of a $14-15 million per salary, but $12-13 isn’t bad at all. Especially when you look at his age, 32 and the amount of innings he’s thrown.

My thinking is if all teams are within the same salary range then it will come down to what team gives him a better chance to win another championship by the time he retires. Does he go with the Rangers who’ve been to the last two World Series, a team that he’d actually be an ace for right now if they don’t re-sign C.J. Wilson.

Or does he go with the Marlins a team who is spending like madmen this winter as they get ready to move into their new stadium. They’ve already signed Heath Bell and Jose Reyes but said there’s still money left in the bank to upgrade the rotation.

Or does he join the Nationals who are a young up and coming team in a very competitive division. They might be the furthest away from championship contention but boy do they have a nice nucleus. Does Buehrle want to join a team that he may not really be able to win with till the end of that contract?

The Twins, I don’t think will play a part if their offer isn’t close to the other guys.

Should be interesting to see who he picks, he can’t go wrong either way.

@PMac21: Liriano will throw about 25-30 innings in winter ball — about a half season — Anderson says. He was dealing with arm issues all year.

After the season Liriano had in 2011 I can’t blame Francisco for wanting to get in some extra work this off season. It’s good to see the Twins are allowing it as he definitely could use the work after that debacle.

In 2011, he had a 5.09 ERA over 24 starts. Looking at the raw numbers his main issue was his command as he allowed 75 walks in 134 innings while striking out only 112. That equates to a 1.49 SO/BB ratio almost half of his career rate of 2.52. A career rate that plummeted thanks to that poor performance.

In 2010, Liriano made 31 starts and had a 3.62 ERA with 201 strikeouts and only 58 walks. That was a 3.47 SO/BB. As you can tell a huge difference.

There’s something that stands out between the two seasons and it’s not the stats but the off season preparations. In the winter prior to 2010, Liriano pitched in the Dominican Winter League as he was still working on building up his arm strength after his first full season post Tommy John Surgery.

Last off season, The Twins rejected Liriano’s request and look what happened. He had an off year and complained of arm problems at varying times. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

Minnesota compromised this year and they’ll let him get his work in but not too much. What will be interesting to see is if it makes much of a difference. If it does then I’m sure the Twins will allow it again, if not the Dominican’s may never get to see him pitch again.

According to sources, Cuddyer toured Citizens Bank Park and had lunch with Phillies officials. He also met with manager Charlie Manuel, who flew in from Florida. (CSN Philly)

CSN reports that the Phillies love his right handed bat and the versatility he’ll bring to the team. I say, no shit who wouldn’t? Especially a team like the Phillies who have nothing but left-handed bats and a couple of pinch-hitters who couldn’t touch the field last season.

Cuddyer is so versatile he can fill in at all of the positions that the Phillies have need in, left field, third base and first base. In addition to that he can also spend some time in right field, shoot he could even play some second base if they need it. All while batting from the RIGHT side, something the Phillies sorely need.

Being able to play so many positions means the Phillies could give Michael four or five starts per week, between platoon situations and just general rest for aging veterans. Which would make his price tag worth their while.

I haven’t seen what he’s looking for financially, just that he wants a three year deal. For a guy whose 33 I can’t blame him. If I was the Phillies I wouldn’t even blink at that, he’s worth it.

@SI_JonHeyman: joe nathans agent david pepe says nathan is excited about free agency and seeks closer (not setup) job. 1.00 2nd half whip

For the season, Nathan went 2-1 with 14 saves and three blown saves. His ERA was an uncharacteristically high 4.84 and he gave up seven homeruns. Those seven homers were the highest in his Twins tenure but in his lowest amount of innings pitched. Heyman pointed out something that gives him reason to believe he could close again and that’s a 1.00 second half whip.

After the All-Star break, Nathan went 1-0 with 11 saves and a 3.91 ERA over 24 appearances. He pitched the same amount of games in the first half but all his numbers went down, hits allowed, runs allowed and walks, while strikeouts rose. Basically he learned how to become a pitcher and not a guy with a strong fastball.

The market for closers is pretty strong this year and his competition is a lot younger and throws a lot harder. With that being the case I think plenty of teams will show interest in him but I’m not sure if he’ll be able to land a closing job. Especially, if he has a high asking price.

Minnesota Twins reliever Joe Nathan has struggled mightily in 2011

@shipleykid: Also last night, Gardenhire said #Twins not considering sending Nathan on rehab assignment. Needs MLB innings.

Nathan’s ERA currently stands at 11.37, allowing eight runs over six and a third innings. He’s only struck out three batters, while walking six and allowing two homeruns. For a guy whose always been a strikeout machine, he obviously doesn’t have his good stuff, yet. Not surprising as we do know it could take at least a year after returning for a pitcher to regain that.

By Gardenhire saying that the Twins aren’t even considering sending Nathan out for rehab tells me that he thinks he’ll be better off getting his work in with the big boys. If the Twins weren’t a playoff contending team I would agree.

Nathan needs work to get his arm and control back to where it was. The problem is when does Gardenhire give him that work? The Twins are a playoff contending team but with them already six games every game matters. Ron’s going to have to the fine line of wondering when he takes the risk of pitching Nathan.

Personally, I’d send him to the minors for a brief rehab assignment and let him work out his control issues. But hey, I don’t get paid to make those kind of decisions. Hopefully this one works for you Ron, it’s only April but you’re teams already fading fast.

@TwinsNow: DY having an MRI tomorrow at his request, Gardenhire said. If something turns up in that exam team will almost certainly make a move.

I’m thinking the MRI will comeback fine and it’s just general paranoia after dealing with the flu, especially when you add in his dreadful start at the plate.

Young had a career year in 2010 but so far in 2011 looks well, umm lost at the plate. He’s batting .228 with 0 homers, 3 doubles and six rbi. In 2010, he had career highs in all those categories. Maybe he’s thinking injury has something to do with the poor start?

Personally, I think he’s just a lot like New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, he just stinks in April. In 2010, Young also had a poor start, batting .222 with 2 homers, four doubles and nine runs batted in. After that he was a terror at the plate and if he isn’t injured I don’t see any reason why he won’t be again.

The most unusual thing about this thou is the player requesting the MRI. No one knows a players body better then the player itself, hopefully he’s just paranoid and not actually hurt. He’s one guy the Twins can’t afford to lose, especially with Joe Mauer on the disabled list.

With six pitchers vying for five spots in the Twins starting rotation, one possible solution is trading Francisco Liriano. Speaking to team officials recently, I’ve been surprised how open they are to this possibility, but the logic makes sense.

If you’re like me you have to be asking yourself what’s the logic in trading one of your best pitchers? Well Christensen goes on to tell us that the Twins have no interest in signing Francisco long term. So you know what that logic makes total sense now doesn’t it?

One thing is clear: The Twins don’t plan to sign him long term. Last weekend, they avoided arbitration with a one-year, $4.3 million deal. From what I’ve heard, their long-term talks went nowhere, with Liriano’s camp hinting it wanted a three-year, $39 million contract.

In my opinion, $13 million a season for Liriano’s services isn’t that bad, of course that’s if he stays pitching like he did in 2010, not the post-surgery 2009 Liriano. Christensen hints that the reason the team is balking is because they aren’t sure of what they have in him.

For one, he suggests that Francisco is still an injury risk, which I totally agree with. He’s had numerous arm injuries in the minor leagues leading to Tommy John surgery a few years ago. Normally, pitchers would come back from that surgery, change their delivery and become less of an injury risk, not Liriano.

He’s still got the same wild delivery that he’s always had which can’t be good for the elbow. How long till he blows out his new ligaments? It could happen sooner then we think.

Christensen also mentions on how small Liriano was when it really mattered.

But in his final 20 starts, including the postseason, he didn’t finish the eighth inning once.

In his much-hyped showdown with Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies batted around in the first inning. The Twins won all five of Liriano’s starts against the White Sox, but his performances were more white-knuckle than dominant.

Then, in Game 1 of the Division Series, Liriano had a 3-0 lead in the sixth inning when the Yankees came back to tie it. Afterward, Liriano was his usual polite self, but it was a huge letdown for the team.

Joe says the Twins will be looking for something big in return for the lefty but if they don’t get the return they want then no big deal. They’ll simply keep the pitcher for his final two arbitration years, let him walk and take the two draft picks in return.

What that tells me is they’re ready to play the high stakes chicken game. They’re a team in contention and if he’s on top of his game Liriano is the type of pitcher who can put them over the top. Taking this risk thou, is definitely a big one.

Liriano’s stock is as high as it’s ever been and there are teams out there who really need a stud pitcher, mainly the New York Yankees. I’m sure they’d be willing to pay the house for him and doubt they’ll bullshit around like they did last year with Cliff Lee and Seattle.

If I was the Twinkies, I’d be looking into making a move now. If he blows that elbow out again, they’ll be left with egg all over their faces. In their market, they can’t afford to take this risk.

I’m sure Brian Cashman of the Yankees has already made a few phone calls to discuss the pitcher. Unfortunately for him, the Twins are the one team who may not have a need for one of his star catchers.

@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: #Twins closing in on Pavano. Deal expected to be for two years. #Nationals #MLB

This comes as really no surprise to me as there wasn’t much of a market for the pitcher. Yes, he was very effective in 2010, going 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA over 32 starts but it wasn’t enough for the big teams to come calling.

Other teams that did show interest were the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. The Pirates interest was very mild but they didn’t want to “set the price”, while the Nats well who knows.

Rumors were strong that the Nationals were interested but recent reports say that they were never really that serious. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says that Pavano’s agent says the team never made much of a push.

@AdamKilgoreWP: #Nats talked w/ agent, never made much of a push. RT @Ken_Rosenthal Sources: #Twins closing in on Pavano. Deal expected to be for two years.

@nickcafardo: #Milwaukee and #Washington out front in Carl Pavano sweepstakes

You got it, he says the Brewers and Nationals are leading the pack. That kind of surprises me. I figured both teams would be in on Pavano; as they are both looking for starting pitching but favorites?

I expected to hear him say someone like the Florida Marlins or his former team the Minnesota Twins. Thanks to Ken Rosenthal we know the Twins are “making a strong push” for his services and we know that the Marlins are very interested in bringing Pavano back to Miami.

Now that I think about it if everyone is talking about the Twins and Marlins, then maybe that’s why Cafardo mentions the Brewers and Nationals. He’s going a different route, could be for attention or could he be on to something? We’ve seen this fall that baseball GM’s have been doing the unexpected.

- Florida traded Dan Uggla to the divisional rival Atlanta Braves while many expected a team like the Blue Jays to be favorites.
- The Diamondbacks dropped a bombshell saying they’re actively shopping Justin Upton.
- Oakland made a quick strike trade with the Royals, acquiring David DeJesus.

So yea, GM’s have been doing unexpected things this year, so who knows maybe the front office of either the Nats or Brewers have been sweet talking Pavano behind everyone’s backs.

The point of all this thou is it’s too early for favorites. Pavano has made it known that he is going to test this free agent process which doesn’t surprise me. At this point in his career he’s going to look for that payday, I’m sorry I’m still a bitter Yankees fan about this and will say this guy is about nothing but the money. He’s going to take his time and see what kind of payday he can get.

If Pavano doesn’t get a Ted Lilly three year, $33 million type offer, then I can see him turning to sentimental favorites (Twins & Marlins). Although, with the thin free agent market I can almost guarantee he’ll get that kind of money, maybe even more. So, the favorite will be whatever team offers the biggest check.