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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Zumaya agrees to deal with Twins

Game on!

The Tigers could end up seeing a lot of Joel Zumaya this year after all. It’ll just be in a different uniform, albeit an awfully familiar one.

After throwing for teams in December and holding out for a roster spot and the right situation, Zumaya has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins, the reliever told MLB.com. The two sides spent Saturday putting together a deal that could pay him anywhere from $800,000 to $1.7 million if he reaches incentives.

A Twins official would neither confirm nor deny the deal to MLB.com, but said they’ve been in negotiations since December.

Zumaya weighed what he called “good offers” from three other clubs, but the Twins included guaranteed money rather than a minor-league deal with a Spring Training invite. If he’s healthy, they’ll bring him to the same mound at Target Field where he last threw a Major League pitch. He fractured his elbow throwing for the Tigers against the Twins on June 28, 2010.

Repoz Posted: January 15, 2012 at 03:00 PM | 11 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: tigers, twins

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: January 15, 2012 at 03:15 PM (#4037429)

Would be great to see him pitch again, but I'm not terribly optimistic.

2. I Am Not a Number Posted: January 15, 2012 at 03:39 PM (#4037444)

Those crazy kids and their gull durned Guitar Hero.

3. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: January 15, 2012 at 06:05 PM (#4037524)

Would it be fair to say at this point that perhaps Zumaya was a bit premature in getting those flame tattoos on his forearms?

4. jwb Posted: January 15, 2012 at 09:10 PM (#4037681)

As of 2009, Zumaya had given up Guitar Hero and was playing drums with Rock Band.

5. Greg K Posted: January 16, 2012 at 03:21 AM (#4037773)

As of 2009, Zumaya had given up Guitar Hero and was playing drums with Rock Band.

Lame, everyone knows bass is where all the action is.

The Bass Player

6. Craig in MN Posted: January 16, 2012 at 11:28 AM (#4037908)

Would it be fair to say at this point that perhaps Zumaya was a bit premature in getting those flame tattoos on his forearms?

Just practicing for a future of having his arms poked and prodded.

He seems to me like the least likely Twins pitcher ever, a spot previously occupied by Jon Rauch. I want to like the move, but I'm not sure the Twins should be looking for even more players coming off of major injuries.

7. Mike Emeigh

Posted: January 16, 2012 at 11:37 AM (#4037918)

I want to like the move, but I'm not sure the Twins should be looking for even more players coming off of major injuries.

It's a one-year deal, and it's pretty low-risk for the Twins. If Zumaya is even a semblance of his former self it's likely to be a bargain, and if not the Twins haven't lost a whole lot; if they let him go before the season starts he's only going to get 400K.

The Twins got him by offering a major league contract when no one else would.

-- MWE

8. Craig in MN Posted: January 16, 2012 at 12:11 PM (#4037979)

It's not that they're gambling a lot or out much regardless....it's opportunity cost of making this gamble. The problem is that they needed one more good reliever and signed Zumaya thinking "this is the best we can do". So now they likely don't have the good reliever they need, and we all get (more likely) the depression of players being injured or under performing. If they could still eke out a good reliever signing, having Zumaya as a wildcard to bolster the bullpen is great.

I think the most likely scenario is that Zumaya comes back throwing 93 and getting enough guys out in spring training that he makes the team, but not being about to do the same during the regular season, but they'll keep running him out there in the 8th inning because of his track record and hope that he could throw 99 again and because there are no better options.

9. Der_K Posted: January 16, 2012 at 12:23 PM (#4038001)

Worthy risk - good move (based on not seeing him throw, mind you).

10. Bitter Mouse, highly paid & well respected #### up Posted: January 16, 2012 at 12:44 PM (#4038029)

it's opportunity cost of making this gamble

Including the roster spot and the innings he pitches. If he is terrible (not a given), then the cost is the money (not much), a roster spot, the opportunity to have someone else pitch/prove themselves, and the terrible innings of which there are only 162* games.

If he is good then we get a relief pitcher (which is good), in a year it is not likely the Twins will be competeing for much.

Overall I am mildly positive (chance at good player outweighes the downsides).

*Assuming no play-in type game or playoffs. It could happen, but not likely I think.

11. Gamingboy Posted: January 16, 2012 at 03:18 PM (#4038190)

Eh, guess it's nothing to lose, right?

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

Zumaya agrees to deal with Twins

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