After losing Scott Baker to the Cubs, the Twins need pitching, according to the Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen.
Though the team declined Baker’s $9.25 million option, the two sides were attempting to work out a new deal. That deal fell apart when the Twins wanted to add a 2014 option to the contract. Baker, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, preferred a one-year deal so that he could rebuild his value in order to receive a more lucrative contract next winter. The insistence of an option led Baker to sign a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cubs.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan admitted that the team needs pitching and will be looking at other options. Scott Diamond is the only player with a rotation spot on the Twins next season. Other candidates for the team’s rotation include Liam Hendriks, Cole De Vries, Brian Duensing, Kyle Gibson, Nick Blackburn, P.J. Walters and Esmerling Vasquez, according to Christensen.
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