Josh Willingham set to join Minnesota Twins – MLB Minnesota Twins Update
According to reliable sources, Minnesota Twins were completing a three-year, $21 million contract with outfielder Josh Willingham on the eve of Wednesday. Team authorities would not validate the news, but they recognised having serious conversations with
Willingham's adviser Matt Sosnick while looking forward to any reply from Michael Cuddyer on their three-year $24 million deal.
By saying “yes” to Willingham, the Twins realised they would be saying “no” to Cuddyer and his fellow free agent outfielder Jerr Kubel. Unless an unexpected progression takes place, those two players could sign a contract with other clubs, providing Minnesota
with three awards for set up selections, two for Cuddyer and one for Kubel.
Furthermore, if the Twins do sign Willingham on $7 million contract, their 25-man payroll would be moving close to $96 million on the opening day. It was further revealed by the sources that the General Manager Terry Ryan has plans to cut the payroll expenses
to $100 million, which will be $13 million less than the previous season. After spending so heavily on their batters, the Twins will now be looking to spend the rest of the payroll to improve their pitching division as well.
The Twins made their ultimate offer to Cuddyer the other day and with patience looked forward to a reply until Wednesday, when Sosnick said his client was within 48 hours of making his decision.
"I don't think you want to get on anybody's timetable but your own," Ryan said. "It's important that we make sure we do everything in our ability to try to get a person to play that position [right field] that we like."
One of the three free agents, Cuddyer, Willingham or Kubel, will be signed for the right-field by the Twins, Ryan further added. Kubel, who is a left-hander, did not suit the Twins’ needs as they needed to balance their line-up with a right-hander who could
bat up the order such as Willingham and Cuddyer.
There is definitely not much to choose between the two outfielders. Although the Twins valued Cuddyer’s leadership qualities and ability to play his natural game under pressure, they found Willingham to be a very close approximation.
Both are regarded as complete experts and both outfielders will be turning 33 shortly. Cuddyer has a slight edge as he has a better throwing arm in the outfield. Batting with an average of .246 with 29 homers and 96 RBIs, Josh Willingham had an absolutely
terrific season with the bat. He is considered to be one of the best hitters in the business and he can surely play a big part in changing the Twins’ destiny for the 2012 regular season.
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