White Sox to Add Ken Griffey Jr.

The Reds and White Sox have reached a tentative deal that would land Ken Griffey Jr. in Chicago.

The Chisox, clinging to a 1.5 game lead over the Twins in the AL Central, uncrossed their fingers when Griffey signed off on the deal. As a 10 and 5 player, Griffey has veto rights over any trade, but the 38-year-old is in his 19th season and may see this as his last best chance to play in a World Series.

While hitting only .245 this year, Griffey would bring an impressive resume and a veteran presence to the Chicago clubhouse, along with his 608 career home runs. Junior has been hot of late, extending his hitting streak to 12 games on Wednesday with a home run.

Francisco Liriano Not Happy

Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano and his agent have asked the players union to "investigate" why Liriano has not been called up from Triple A. What a jackass!

Liriano, an All-Star during his rookie year of 2006, is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA over his past nine games. But he missed all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and began the year in the big leagues by going 0-3 with a piss-poor 11.32 ERA, so its understandable why the team is being cautious.

Not to mention the fact that they don't need him. The team is currently 1.5 games behind the first place White Sox, in large part due to its rotation.  Scott Baker, Glen Perkins, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey have anchored a rotation that also includes veteren Livan Hernandez. Of that group, Hernandez is the only one close to losing his spot, but he is an innings eater and has won nine games.

If and when the Twins decide to recall Liriano, he may be headed to the bullpen, according to ESPN.com.

Joe Mauer Passes Jason Veritek in All-Star Voting

It has been no small accomplishment for the Twins to wage a political campaign on behalf of a relatively obscure catcher in a forgotten prairie backwater like Minneapolis in an endeavor to overtake Red Sox captain Jason Veritek, who has the distinct advantage of playing in the cosmopolitan baseball hotbed of Boston.

Yet here it is with just three days left to tally the totals, and young Joe Mauer has parlayed his recent hot streak into a tenuous but tangible lead, a shocking misdeed achieved through devious, sinister, underhanded and borderline corrupt (gasp!) BALLOT BOX STUFFING!

Yes, the "Vote for Mauer" mantra has been repeated so often and so ubiquitously that rumor has the young Minnesota native overtaking even Gov. Tim Pawlenty on presumptive presidential nominee John McCain's vice presidential short list.

Dishonest? Sure! Cynical? Most definitely! Republican? Well, let's not go that far. But at any rate, is it Joe Mauer's fault that he finds himself riding the crest of a tidal wave of love, admiration, loyalty and devotion? And whom, after all, is more deserving?

In the best tradition of late broadcaster and National Baseball Hall of Fame board member Tim Russert, an examination of the public record shows Mauer has hit nearly .360 over the past two months, raising his season average to more than .330 while playing outstanding defense, an All-Star qualifying resume if there ever was one.

The All-Star game will be held at Yankee Stadium -- one of the last contests before it is demolished -- on July 15, with voting to be concluded Wednesday via the Monster online ballot at MLB.com, and the winners to be announced July 6.

Barring a filibuster in New England, expect Mauer to be named the starter, and deservedly so.

Starter Carlos Silva Hardly a Bargain at $48 million

Sure it's just one game, and maybe starter Carlos Silva was just wasting a few innings of exhibition play to try to get his newly developing cutter to cut more like a cutter. Still, he gave up a lofty 13 hits and 10 runs in the Mariners recent 17-3 loss to the Brewers at Peoria, Ariz., and has a little explaining to do.

One cannot draw too many conclusions from one spring outing, but a cloud hangs over the head of the Mariners $48 million, No. 4 starter not only because of his more than 9.00 spring ERA, but because questions linger as to why Silva was unable to re-sign with the Twins when he practically begged them for a contract renewal at a fraction of the Mariners cost.

Silva offered the Twins a sweetheart deal because he married a Twin Cities woman and only recently completed building a multimillion-dollar home in the St. Paul-Minneapolis area. But as a finesse pitcher who all too frequently has been unable to hit his spots with his sometimes shaky sinker, the Twins said thanks, but no thanks.

The Mariners willingness to spend $52 million over five years to sign pitcher Jerrod Washburn and his now 18-29 Seattle record was one thing; Silva's four-year deal is quite another considering Silva's 24-29 mark and more than 5.00 combined ERA over the past two years.

Twins Joe Mauer, Trick Knee, Arrive With Bravado

The good news is that Twins catcher Joe Mauer has arrived in Fort Myers, Fl., reassuring friends and teammates that his knee is "100 percent" healthy and that he expects no setbacks for 2008.

The bad news is that Mauer said virtually the same thing last year, when -- just a month into the season -- he went on the disabled list for 32 days with a strained quadricep before having to be reassigned to Class A for a rehabilitation.

For the record, in addition to the quad strain, Joe Mauer's 2004 meniscus cleanup is well behind him, and technically meniscus surgery is the best kind of knee surgery to have. That is to say, if you must have knee surgery, maniscus repair offers a full chance of recovery in time, and Mauer has had more than enough time to feel confident about his durability.

And yet, anyone -- let alone a 6 foot five, 220-pound man who squats for a living -- remains highly vulnerable to arthritic repercussions as the result of any invasive trauma at the knee joint. So for Mauer, arthritis is more a question of when, rather than if.

Mauer's bravado and the Twins willingness to keep Mauer behind the plate instead of moving him to designated hitter, first base or third indicates that no such arthritic condition is on the horizon for now, and with any luck might not appear until after Mauer retires.

In the meantime, fans can enjoy watching one of the best young catchers in the game, and see that he still offers outstanding play behind the plate, can continue to his for average, and hopefully not only stay healthy but maybe even begin to hit with power.

Fans fear not; Twins Owner Carl Pohlad Has a Plan

It couldn't have been uglier than if it had been a scene out of Frankenstein: an angry mob of townsfolk converging on the Edina, Minn., mansion of Twins owner Carl Pohlad, waving torches, pitch forks, sickles and clubs.

Fools! Don't they know Carl Pohlad has a plan?

Yes, Pohlad failed to improve his team prior to the non-waiver trade deadline; and yes, he traded away .300-hitting infielder Luis Castillo and has little to show for it. But the aging tycoon didn't acquire his vast wealth by being stupid.

Word about Pohlad's plan has yet to be announced, but sources close to the venerable chain saw manufacturing magnate hint that he believes he is close -- very, very close -- to a special, ingenious, arrangement whereby upon his death, he will miraculously be enabled to take his money with him!

Twins Kevin Slowey Pressing for Return to 'Show'

Having been demoted from Minneapolis to Triple A Rochester, Twins prospect Kevin Slowey refuses to be forgotten. He's still knocking at the door.

Though he has lost his big-league rotation spot to rival prospect Matt Garza, Slowey showed he still has what it takes to finesse minor league hitters, throwing a complete-game, three-hitter in a 1-0 win over Syracuse in his most recent outing. As a control specialist, Slowey is a marked contrast to Garza, who relies primarily on a more than 95-mph heater.

Both look to pitch side by side in the Twins rotation eventually, perhaps before the end of the year.

Slowey, 23, who has been compared to former Twins ace Brad Radke, was hammered during his brief call-up to Minneapolis, but he bettered his minor league record to 8-2 while striking out eight with his typical array of off-speed offerings.

Slowey's Triple A ERA stands at 1.59. Slowey leads the International League with four complete games in just 11 starts, though he has been kept at a 100-pitch limit.

Justin Morneau's 'Lung Contusion' an Exaggeration

Forget most of what major news outlets have published recently about Twins first baseman Justin Morneau's chest injury. It appears its seriousness has been greatly exaggerated.

Morneau was carried off on a stretcher last Friday after a homeplate collision with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo. But though he was spitting blood and was reported as having sustained a potentially serious lung contusion, the diagnosis now appears to have been either utterly mistaken or a result of doctors or trainers deliberately erring on the side of caution, though don't expect anyone to admit it.

Morneau has now completed yet another round of tedious medical tests and examinations at University Medical Center in Minneapolis, where he is an outpatient. Knowledgable sources in Minnesota and elsewhere are openly scoffing at the original injury analysis, noting that lung contusions as a result of homeplate collisions are extremely unlikely.

Repeated tomographical examinations of Morneau's chest injury have shown almost beyond a doubt that Morneau was not seriously harmed, with his brief bleeding episode perhaps attributable to minor trauma to the tongue, mouth, throat or post-nasal passage.

Lung contusions can be very serious, resulting in various pulmonary complications and even death in rare instances. But they usually are associated with high-speed automobile collisions, air crashes or a falls from great heights. They are most often colateral to violent fractures, and X-Rays show conclusively that Morneau has no broken bones.

Normally lung contusions would require a month or more of rest and rehabilitation. If such injuries were so common as to result from everyday homeplate contact, half the skill position players in the NFL would likely finish each football season on the disabled list.

Morneau has been protesting for days that he is well and able to return to the field. He is right. Morneau will be in uniform well before the end of the week.

Twins Physicians Await Return of Justin Morneau

A team of four physicians headed by Dr. John A. Steubs are awaiting first baseman Justin Morneau's return flight to Minneapolis-St Paul, where the injured slugger's progress will continue to be monitored through the week to determine when he can retake the field.

Potentially inconclusive medical tests at Memorial Hospital in Miami so far point to Morneau's lung contusion as being minor -- at least in relative terms. However, doctors will take no chances with the budding slugger, who may be vulnerable to pulmonory complications as a result of his violent homeplate collision with Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo last week.

The doctors' charge has been complicated by Morneau's stubbornly positive attitude, which perhaps could be characterized as too much of a good thing. The scrappy former hockey player would want to play even if he had an arrow through his head, so doctors must do his thinking for him.

Though various examinations indicated unmistakable symptoms of a lung contusion -- including internal bleeding -- computerized tomographical scans indicated no severe trauma. Whether the findings tell the whole story likely will become clear in three or four days.

If Morneau is healthy he can be expected to return to action by the weekend. But if his condition is serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, he will likely miss the better part of month or perhaps more, according to sources familiar with the nature of his injury.

Early Indications Dubious for Twins Justin Morneau

Though initial X-Rays of injured Twins first baseman Justin Morneau's lungs came back normal, a decision to keep him hospitalized in Florida over the weekend raises a red flag.

That Morneau suffered a bruised lung in a homeplate collision Friday is of little doubt, considering he was raising blood and experiencing other symptoms when he was taken to the hospital on a stretcher. The question is, how serious is the bruise?

Tissue scans point to perhaps a mild injury relatively, as these injuries go. But normal test results and normal health are not necessarily the same thing, and further examinations seem to have indicated Morneau was unready to return to the dugout.

If he continues to improve, Morneau may miss as few as three or four days. The unfortunate thing for the team is that normally a bruised lung would be expected to keep him out three or four weeks. If Morneau goes on the disabled list, experts familiar with his type of injury warn that it's likely he won't return much before August.

Matt Garza Expendable in Mark Teixeira Dealings

It's be a bit harsh to label hard-throwing Twins prospect Matt Garza uncoachable, but clearly his resistence to developing off-speed offerings has cost him not only a promotion to The Bigs but perhaps some friends in the Minnesota organization.

Garza -- who throws in the mid-90s -- has pitched reasonably well for the Triple A Rochester Red Wings, but has had moderate control problems, blaming them on the coaching staff' pestering him to improve his change-up and other off-speed pitches.

The 23-year-old Garza prefers to do things his way, an attitude that would make him a very expendable but still valuable in any potential dealings for a Twins upgrade at third base.

In one of the Twins versions of the myriad scenarios for the trade of slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira by the Texas Rangers, Teixeira is envisioned going to the Boston Red Sox, allowing Kevin Youkilis to move to third base, Mike Lowell and cash to be shipped to the Twins and a Garza and other top Twins prospects to go to Texas.

This is a tremendous upgrade at the corners for the Red Sox, while helping the team to get younger and acquire some value for Lowell in his last year of a $9 million contract. At the same time the Twins receive a major third base rental in the team's ongoing charge for a playoff spot.

On the surface the free-falling Rangers would appear to have the most to lose in the deal, as the team would kiss off "Big Tex," the guy they signed for a $10 million bonus and the one player who more than any other embodies the face and future of the franchise.

But then again, this is the same team that was foolish enough to trade away starting pitcher Chris Young and upcoming star first basemen Adrian Gonzalez and Travis Hafner -- just to name a few -- and now has virtually nothing to show for it.

Kevin Slowey Likely to Start for Twins on Friday

The Rochester Red Wings have withheld the identity of Tuesday's starting pitcher in a Triple A matchup against Richmond, adding to speculation that prospect Kevin Slowey will miss his turn so that he can be called to Minneapolis to replace struggling veteran Ramon Ortiz on Friday.

Ortiz was bombed again Saturday, surrendering six runs on 10 hits over six innings in a 9-8 loss to Toronto, giving him an ERA of nearly 11.00 over his last five starts. The outing was largely seen as his one last chance before he is likely released or sent to the bullpen.

The 23-year-old Slowey, meanwhile, has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the International League with a 6-2 record and 1.54 ERA in nine starts, three of which were complete games. Slowey has struck out nearly a batter per inning. while demonstrating supurb control with a 0.81 whip. He has been likened to former Twins ace Brad Radke, with a highly accurate, low-90s fastball with lots of action plus dependable off-speed pitches.

The Twins next rotation opening had initially been expected to go to Slowey's rival, fellow 23-year-old Matt Garza, who compiled a 3-6 record with a 5.76 ERA in a late callup last year. But despite Garza's 1.35 ERA during spring training, he allowed what the staff regarded as too many baserunners.

Garza -- the Twins 2005 No. 1 pick -- has been criticized as a one-pitch wonder, heavily relying on his 97-mph fastball without being able to throw off-speed pitches for strikes. Garza has pitched well at Rochester, striking out a batter per inning with a 3.49 ERA and 2-4 record. But he has handed out 18 free passes in 49 innings while chaffing under directives to develop his changeup.

Twins SP Matt Garza Sloughs Off Injury as Minor

Twins starting pitcher Matt Garza has told trainers he is ready, willing and able to pitch, despite discomfort in his neck. But the team is taking no chances, holding him out of action to undergo examinations, tests, rest and mild rehabilitative excercises while awaiting results of an anti-inflammatory drug regimen.

With any luck, Garza likely will have recovered within 10 days as the strain is not considered serious enough to cause him to see consulting specialists off site. He is under the care of team physicians John Steubs and Dan Buss, plus the training staff.


"We're taking care of him here," a team spokesman at the Fort Myers clubhouse confirmed for www.MLBnewsonline.com.

Garza, whose condition has been described as a common somatic disorder, is ticketed to be the No. 4 starter behind ace Johan Santana, Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser. He has felt discomfort at the neck at the base of the cranium, causing stress when he throws or looks toward the plate while straddling the mound.

While the injury in itself is relatively mild, it would lead to trouble if it caused colateral injuries by his altering of his normal throwing motion to avoid stress to the neck.

In his first outing last week, he threw two scoreless innings, but manager Ron Gardenhire suddenly removed him from a game five days later after Garza appeared to be uncomfortable as he faced Tampa Bay prospect Elijah Dukes.

In an unrelated development, center fielder Torii Hunter returned to action in the same game after taking the weekend off following a beaning by former teammate Kyle Lohse, now with the Reds. Hunter has a knot at the base of his skull, but otherwise remains unaffected. He told trainers a resulting headache has passed.

Twins OF Torii Hunter Will Take Weekend Off After Being Beaned by Friend, Ex-Teammate Kyle Lohse

Twins outfielder Torii Hunter was expected to be held out of action over the weekend after being struck in the head by a fastball thrown by former teammate Kyle Lohse in exhibition action with the Cincinnati Reds at Fort Myers, Fla.

Hunter, 31, was reported as uninjured, having sustained a glancing blow off the back of his skull at the base of his helmet.

Hunter went down hard on a one-ball, two-strike count, turned on his side and lay prone for several minutes before being escorted off the field by manager Ron Gardenhire and trainer Rick McWane.

Though Hunter appeared dazed, an examination indicated he was lucid and alert, with no indications of concussion or other serious injury. But it was expected Hunter would rest over the weekend, going home to his Fort Myers residence in his personal vehicle. His activities were not expected to be otherwise limited.


"He left on his own....He was driving," team spokesman Dustin Morse told www.MLBnewsonline.com .

Lohse, 28, also immediately came out of the game, struggling with control problems after giving up a hit and a run and three walks in two thirds of the opening inning before beaning Hunter.

Ironically, Hunter and Lohse, both of whom reside in Florida during the winter, have remained friends since Lohse was demoted from the Twins to the AAA Rochester (N.Y.) Red Wings last year before finally being acquired by the Reds.

Hunter and Lohse had played together for all or parts of six seasons during Lohse's association with the Twins, which came to an unexpected and rancorous conclusion after repeated performance questions at the beginning of last season.

Twins Peculiarly Cautious in Joe Mauer's Signing

While other superstars such as Houston's Carlos Lee, Philadelphia's Chase Utley or Toronto's Vernon Wells have been inked to long-term deals, Minnesota remains peculiarly cautious in refusing to commit to young Joe Mauer beyond 2010. The question is why?

The decision fits a familiar pattern at the tight-fisted Twins front office, which previously let walk such fan favorites as Chuck Knoblauch, David Ortiz, Corey Koskie, A.J. Pierzynski, Jacques Jones and Eddie Guadardo rather than commit limited funds for an uncertain future.

GM Terry Ryan chalks it up not so much to caution as a need for what he calls "flexibility," reasoning that volatile circumstances could dramatically alter value perameters in years to come. Sometimes, as in the case of Koskie and Guadardo, his reserve has paid off. Other times, as with Ortiz, it has blown up in his face.

In Mauer's case, Ryan's hesitance becomes especially puzzling, with the team balking at spending more than $33 million to hold onto the 2006 American League batting champ for any more than a mere four years. This means that the young catcher becomes eligible for a huge payday at 27, and very likely will depart for greener pastures, even though more than any other player -- even Johan Santana or Torii Hunter -- Mauer represents the face of the franchise.

Remember, Mauer is the kid who came out of Cretin-Durham Hall, the Catholic school in St. Paul that produced Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Paul Molitor, and former Blue Jays prospect and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Wenke. Simply put, as a Cretin-Derham alumnus, Mauer's provincial recognition is immeasurable, as are the fan interests, endorsements and ticket sales he generates.

So why not sign Mauer to a longer deal, say six, seven, even eight years with options, as has been seen elsewhere. Why not let Mauer become the next Cal Ripken or Craig Biggio, finish his career in Minnesota? With so much at stake can it be that Ryan's motivation can be summed up as pure , small-market prudence, or are other more canny evaluations at work?

Ryan, a former scouting director and shrewd judge of talent, is no fool. One must keep in mind that Mauer missed 127 games after violently tearing the cartilage in his left knee in 2004. While successful surgery has resurrected Mauer's career, the unfortunate inevitablity is that anyone sustaining an invasive medical procedure such as Mauer's meniscectomy will sooner or later suffer progressive, degenerative, post-traumatic arthritis, especially a catcher. This is a condition that someday may force Barry Bonds, for instance, to undergo knee replacement.

Will Mauer yet have a long and successful career. In all probability yes, or reasonably so. But don't be surprised if that wealthy team that pays for productivity at catcher when Mauer is 27 winds up unexpectedly buying a first baseman, designated hitter or trainer's room haunt before the contract matures. Of this, Ryan may be only too aware.

Kevin Slowey is Dark Horse to Make Twins Rotation

The signings of veterans Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson have created a something of a stir in Minnesota as the Twins seek to fill out a rotation that is wide open beyond the establishment of staff ace Johan Santana. With so much uncertainty, even extreme dark horse rookie Kevin Slowey has a shot at making the team if he can turn enough heads during spring training.

With Francisco Liriano on surgical leave, Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser are penciled in at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively, but they're so shakey that nothing is guaranteed with Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Scott Baker competing for spots.

Slowey, 22, who has yet to make the 40-man roster, is a former second round pick who owns a 4-2 record with a pristine 1.01 ERA in 14 starts for Class A Fort Myers, and a 4-3 record with a 3.19 ERA in nine starts for AA New Britain.

Somewhat like Radke, Slowey -- 6-foot-3, 195 pounds -- throws a tailing fastball in the high 80s and low 90s, then complements it with an off-speed ball so limp you could break your neck trying to slow down for it. Two years ago Slowey came within an out of a no-hitter at Fort Myers and once struck out 19 batters in a college game. Coaches see him capable of throwing 200 innings in a season.

Ordinarily a pitcher like Slowey would be passed over for a year or two, but in Minnesota need creates opportunity now.

Justin Morneau Tips His Hand in Talks with Twins

As expected, American League MVP Justin Morneau and the Twins are 20 percent apart in salary arbitration, with Morneau asking for $1 million year more than the team's $4 million counter offer.

Negotiations will be completed by next month at the latest, with the team's front office determined to reach an amicable accord with the star first baseman without resorting to potentially recriminating talks before an arbitrator under provisions of baseball's collective bargaining agreement.

The team has a distinct advantage in contract talks as the 25-year-old Morneau, a former hockey player, has already allowed that he has no intention of leaving town even in the long term as he has nearly completed a palatial new home in the St. Paul area. Morneau will share those digs with Rory McDade, 25, who plays lacrosse for the Twin Cities-based Minnesota Swarm, and with whom Morneau played hockey when the two grew up together in their hometown of New Westminster in the frigid Canadian outback.

With that frame of reference, Morneau should be willing to work out a sweetheart deal with the Twins. After all, the British Columbia native has never lost interest in hockey and Minneapolis is the U.S. capital of the sport.

White Signing Relegates Twins Jason Kubel to DH

Minnesota's signing of aging Rondell White means former top prospect Jason Kubel will be relegated to DH, receiving playing time that already has been partly promised to newly signed veteran 3B Jeff Cirillo.

Twins management is trying to justify Kubel's downgrade as a provision for him to buy more time to recover from a knee injury. But the injury is already more than two years past; how much more time does he need?

Ironically, White, a 14-year veteran at 34, who reupped with an incentive-laced, $2.75 million one-year contract, has health issues of his own, having been unable to appear for more than 500 atbats since 1999. White will be paid $8.5 million in '07 if he gets 650 plate appearances. Sure!

Not fully recovered from a nagging shoulder injury from the previous year, White washed out last season as the starting DH, hitting just .194 in that role for the season.

Brad Radke Not Making Self Scarce in Minnesota

Retired Twins pitcher Brad Radke and his wife Heather have completed a new retirement home in Bel-Air Beach in South Florida, but they'll remain familiar figures in the Twin Cities, sometimes even in winter. Radke will maintain his property on a lake called Minnetonka -- Indian word meaning "big water, rich people."

Radke, an upper Mississipi Valley native, keeps a boat on the lake and has been a familiar face among the ice fishermen. Radke and his wife will continue to oversee the Radke Family Foundation, an important charity for the needy.