MLB Free Agency: Minnesota Twins might not be done looking for starting pitchers
By Hayden Kane
On Monday the Minnesota Twins finalized a two year, $11 millon deal with free agent starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey. They retained his services in addition to signing free agents Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes this off-season.
Even with those additions, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN reports that the Twins still have money to spend if they want to continue looking for help for a rotation that was, in a word, pitiful last season.
Best I can get from #MNTwins side on whether they're still pursuing a stater after Pelfrey agreement: "We will see." Def. still have $$.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) December 15, 2013
The Twins finished 66-96 in 2013; they actually overachieved to reach that mark, as their Pythagorean W-L (based on run differential) was 63-99. That had a lot to do with their starting rotation, as young Sam Deduno and Kevin Correia were the only starters with ERAs under 5.00 and Deduno was the only one with a WHIP under 1.400. Their semi-big starting pitching acquisition last season, in addition to Correia and Pelfrey, was Vance Worley from the Philadelphia Phillies. In 10 starts, he whom they call the “Vanimal” posted a 7.21 ERA and surrendered nine home runs.
So it makes sense that the search won’t stop after retaining Pelfrey and adding Nolasco and Hughes, especially if they have more money to spend. Presuming they don’t plan to pursue a frontline guy, potential free agent targets include Bronson Arroyo and former franchise stalwart Johan Santana.