Following the Twins' international free agent signings

Today is the first day of the international free agent signing period. I will be following the Twins activity as well as the movement around Miguel Angel Sano and post updates on my Twitter. At the end of the day I will summarize any signings. You can follow the Twitter updates either here (on the panel directly to the left of this post) or at Twitter. I will be an interesting day. Here is Baseball America's top 25 potential international free agents list, ranked by bonus size.

Update: 8:45 PM EDT. Still no definite news on Sano. La Velle Neal III indicated that the Twins made an offer to Sano (contingent on whether he is 16) at "around $3 million) but ESPN's Jorge Arangure had not heard of an offer as of an hour and a half ago. La Velle got his information from the Twins' organization, while Jorge from the receiving end in the Dominican Republic, so it is not conflicted: An offer could be made but Sano or his agent might not want to publicize it until all is said and done. I do not think that this will be resolved today, but I will be updated on Twitter (and here) as information moves along. Will an offer "around $3 million" be good enough? Maybe. If you look at the Baseball America's predicted top bonuses, where Sano is listed as number one, you will see that the number 2 player, Wagner Mateo, was signed by the Cardinals for $3.1 million and the number 3 player, Gary Sanchez, was signed by the Yankees for $3 million, an offer larger than $3.1 million might make it happen

On other news, the Twins have replaced Sean Henn with Brian Duensing in their pen and Louis Ayala signed a contract with the Florida Marlins after we was released by the Twins who could not find a buyer earlier today.

Update: 10:05 EDT: Just got confirmation that the Twins will sign SS Jorge Polanco (2 sources confirm, but this is the latest -ESPN's Jorge Arangure- setting the bonus to $700K; earlier, Baseball America's Ben Badler indicated that the Twins "will sign Polanco") He will turn 16 this Sunday, so no deal can be announced until then.

Goodbye Bobby Korecky

Bobby Korecky was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks today, when he was removed off the 40-man roster to open a spot for Luis Ayala. He will have a chance to win a spot in Arizona's pen and the Twins would have a change to showcase Delaney (or Mijares if he does not make the 25-man roster) as the closer in Rochester. Korecky will be 29 this season, and would have a better opportunity to stick with the Diamondbacks than he would have had with the Twins. Good luck in Arizona, Bobby.

A bit of an update

The day almost passed and there were news about any roster moves for the Twins, so that Ayala can start being integrated with the team. As is he can run around the field and practice with the Twins (like Corey Koskie is doing) but cannot participate in team drills and team activities (the latter at this point of the Spring training are zero.) This delay is screaming to me that there is a trade brewing some place. Stay Put.

On other division news, after La Velle Neall III broke the possibility that the league and the union might agree to a sign-and-deal for type A free agents, there is more than a word from both Chicago and Kansas City that Orlando Hudson might end up with one of the Twins' division rivals.

Not sure what to think about Boof's and Mauer's injuries, but they seem more worrisome than previously thought.

The Crede situation is still brewing.

Liriano, will not pitch for the Dominican Republic in the WBC.

I will update as news come in, but so far this is soaking sun time for the Twins...

Transaction alert

The Twins have to announce a new transaction by tomorrow. They held making official the signing of Luis Ayala, because their 40-man roster is full. Neshek cannot move to the 60 day DL to create an opening because the DL does not start before the season. To participate in spring training Ayala needs to be in the roster.

Who will go?

Stay tuned

The case for the Twins adding a couple of free agents

Spring training is almost here, and the Twins' additions have been Luis Ayala, R.A. Dickey, Jason Jones and some minor league free agents. Even though Ayala's contract has not become official yet, he is the one of this off-season's additions most likely to stick with the major league club.

An interesting fact is that there are still the following free agents available (from here) :

Catchers
Gary Bennett (37)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Paul Lo Duca (37) - Type B, not offered arb
Ivan Rodriguez (37) - Type B, not offered arb

First basemen
Miguel Cairo (35)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Sweeney (39)

Second basemen
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
Mark Grudzielanek (39) - Type B, offered arb
Orlando Hudson (31) - Type A, offered arb
Adam Kennedy (33)

Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34) - Type A, offered arb
Nomar Garciaparra (35)

Third basemen
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42) - Type B, not offered arb
Garret Anderson (37) - Type B, not offered arb
Emil Brown (34)
Luis Gonzalez (41) - Type B, not offered arb
Jay Payton (36)
Manny Ramirez (37) - Type A, offered arb

Center fielders
Jim Edmonds (39)

Right fielders
Emil Brown (34)
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - Type B, not offered arb

DHs
Frank Thomas (41) - Type B, not offered arb
Jose Vidro (34)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
Paul Byrd (38) - Type B, offered arb
Tom Glavine (43)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Chuck James (27)
Jon Lieber (39)
Rodrigo Lopez (33)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Mark Mulder (31)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30) - Type A, offered arb
Kip Wells (32)

Relievers
Joe Beimel (32) - Type B, not offered arb
Joe Borowski (38)
Shawn Chacon (31)
Chad Cordero (27)
Juan Cruz (30) - Type A, offered arb
Scott Elarton (33)
Keith Foulke (35)
Eric Gagne (33) - Type B, not offered arb
Jason Isringhausen (36) - Type B, not offered arb
Jon Lieber (39)
Aquilino Lopez (34)
Will Ohman (31)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32) - Type B, offered arb
Ricardo Rincon (39)
Rudy Seanez (40) - Type B, not offered arb
Julian Tavarez (36)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)

I have been making the case that the Twins still have holes at third base (where they are much bellow league average) and at the starting rotation. One of my proposed targets for the starting rotation, Pedro Martinez is still out there and the Twins should try to sign him. I have very little confidence in Perkins as I indicated in my analysis, based on his performance last season and on his stuff. Another consideration is that Tolbert and Buscher are at or below replacement level and being in their primes are not expected to get any better. One of the interesting names, who the Twins should offer a contract as a bench player, PH, part time DH, part time 1B, part time 3B, part time SS is Nomar Garciaparra. I would feel better seeing Nomar instead of Tolbert as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning for Punto when necessary. Nomar last year he hit .264/.326/.466, 105 OPS+ in limited action. Those numbers are better than Crede's last year across the board and Nomar will not cost much. Given that the Twins will not sign Hudson and Cabrera due to their type A status, and Crede does not really add that much (other than getting Buscher to Rochester), bring thing in the former Red Sox, will be a very wise and cost-effective route for the Twins to improve the team as spring training approaches

Meet and Greet: Luis Ignacio Ayala

Today the Twins ended their off-season futility by signing Luis Ayala, formerly of the Mets and Nationals to an one year, $1.3 million contract with up to $575 thousand in additional incentives. Last year Ayala made 1.7 million dollars and, depending on his performance, he would have a chance to exceed it in 2009. Luis was born on January 12, 1978

The road that brought Louis to the states from his native Mexico and to the majors has been an interesting one. His professional baseball career started as a successful starting pitcher at the Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarape Makers). In his first 2 years in the States, American Baseball was like a summer job for him, singing contracts in 2001 and 2002 with the Rockies and the Expos. In 2001 he pitched 13 games in relief with Salem Avalanche of the Carolina (A+) league collecting 7 saves and in 2002 he was a set up man for the Ottawa Lynx of the International (AAA) League where he appeared in 6 games. His next "summer job" contract for the 2003 season was deemed to be with the Arizona Diamondbacks; however the Expos either saw something they liked in his 6-game stint with Ottawa or, most likely, were impressed with his real job performance as a starter, that selected him in the Rule 5 draft from the Diamondbacks. Other than rehab assignments, Ayala played only 19 games in the minors and pitched 21 innings. He did not disappoint the Expos in his first year, assuming the set-up role, playing in 65 games and pitching 71 innings collecting 3 saves while producing a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 5.83 K/9 and 3.54 K/BB. He has a very deceptive delivery (see picture below) that has been very hard for right handers, but extremely easy for lefties. In his inaugural season RHB hit .188/.221/.267 and LHB .337/.398/.564 off Ayala.

2004 was his best season in the majors so far (hopefully this will change next year). Pitching 90.3 innings in 81 games as a set up man, Ayala accumulated a 2.69 ERA, 6.28 K/9, 4.20 K/BB and 1.18 WHIP. The move of the Nationals was not kind to him. He regressed slightly in 2005, but was still a very good pitcher (68 games, 71 IP, 2.66 ERA, 5.07 K/9, 2.86 K/BB, 1.25 WHIP). However, in 2006 Ayala became the poster boy of the detractors of the WBC: He blew his elbow in a WBC game and sat the 2006 out with Tommy John surgery. Ayala himself in an interview by the Washing Post said that he regretted playing to the WBC. In 2007 he started slowly, partly because he suffered a neck injury while trying to rehabilitate his surgically repaired elbow in extended spring training. By April his fastball velocity was only 85 mph and needed improvement. After a couple of rehab assignments he was activated and joined the Nationals in late June. He appeared in 44 games for the Nationals, pitching 42.1 innings producing respectable numbers: 3.19 ERA, 5.95 K/9, 2.33 K/BB, 1.30 WHIP. His rehab and return from Tommy John surgery is very similar to that of Fransisco Liriano (other than the part where the Nationals kept Ayala in extended spring training while the Twins rushed Liriano).

2008 was even less kind for Ayala. In a hunting trip in the off-season in Mexico (January 4th), he was shot by mistake by one of his buddies on his left (non-throwing) bicep (There still is one pellet in there; no word about airport metal detector issues). The Nationals doctors diagnosed "a bruised nerve" (btw, nerves don't "bruise") and gave him a clean bill of health. In addition to the "bruised nerve", in 2008, Ayala suffered a bruised ego when he his wife filed for and was awarded a divorce. In all respects, 2008 was a regrettable season for Ayala (who was traded to the Mets in a waiver trade August 17th for Anderson Hernandez, a AAA utility infielder, after he requested to be traded): 81 games, 71.7 IP, 5.71 ERA, 5.95 K/9, 2.08 K/BB, 1.45 WHIP. On an "exit interview" in Fredericksburg Free Lance Star, Ayala suggested that he lost his focus because of his off-field problems; however, an unnamed source told MLB.com back then that Ayala's problems came about by the fact that he was bypassed as the closer replacement for Chad Cordero.





Ayala has 3 pitches that he mixes regularly with good command (esp. before his surgery): a 91 mph sinker, an 85 mph hard slider and a 84 mph change up, which he throws anywhere in the count and spots locations. His out pitch had been his 2-seamer, but the last couple of years he has been relying on the slider as an out pitch more and more (with not much success). This singing makes the crowded Twins bullpen even more crowded, but Ayala (with his deceptive delivery) has the ability to replace Neshek (and his deceptive delivery). Whether or not his apparently fragile ego will clash with the brash personality of Gardy, remains to be seen.

Here is a video of Luis Ayala in his native Saltillo: