Carlos Silva to Mariners

There will be plenty of baseball players changing uniforms in the New Year and we can now add Carlos Silva to that list. Silva signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners that will average $12 million a season. $48 million! Wow. Silva was 13-14 last season, but still managed to draw a high price tag from Seattle. The Twins reportedly offered him $18 million over three season or about $6 million a year – half of what Seattle paid. Half! I guess the market for free agent pitchers is crazy tight right now – wish I knew how to throw a good sinker!

The Twins will have to rely on the skills of Scott Baker, Boof Bonser, Francisco Liriano (finally back!) and Kevin Slowey to get them through next season. Is it spring yet? I am soooo tired of shoveling snow!

Mets looking at Carlos Silva

The Twins pitchers seem to be at the forefront of all Twins rumors (now that Torii is basically gone). It is rumored that the New York Mets are looking at Twins Pitcher Carlos Silva. The Twins probably won’t be able to afford him and it is rumored Silva could end up with a $40 million, four-year deal from the New York Mets or even the Chicago Cubs.

TWINS SPRING TRAINING OPENER

The Minnesota Twins opened spring training with a bang! The Twins tied the Boston Red Sox 4-4 after 10 hard fought innings in Ft Myers, Florida. The highlight of the game was when defending American League batting champion Joe Mauer belted a three-run homer in the fifth inning – go, Joe, go! I suppose Mauer wants to be sure that there are no doubts he is worth every cent the Twins are paying him and if he keeps swinging like that, there will be no worries. Rondell White also had a productive outing, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. White is trying to prove he is worth keeping. It would be nice if White could be more consistent than last year and be a solid hitter every game. Matt Garza was on the mound for the Twins and held the Red Sox hitless over two innings. Garza definitely put his best foot forward as he is trying to win a spot in the rotation. Scott Baker didn't fare as well, getting belted around for seven hits and four runs over 1 1/3 innings – ouch!

Up next: The Twins travel to Tampa for a 12:15 p.m. ET game against the Yankees on Thursday, March 8th. Right hander Carlos Silva is scheduled to start. Go Twins Go! I love Minnesota Twins Spring Training and wish I was in Florida to see my boys swing the bats…especially when I am shoveling 3 feet of snow off of my driveway.