The Twins have signed pitchers Samuel Deduno and Esmerling Vasquez to minor-league contracts for 2013, Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Monday.
Deduno, 29, managed a 4.44 ERA in 15 starts with the Twins in 2012, his first extended major-league stint after appearing in six games between Colorado and San Diego in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Control problems consistently nipped Deduno in the minors -- he walked 5.0 batters per nine innings in 56 career appearances (28 starts) at Triple-A -- and they lingered in Minnesota as he recorded a 6.0 BB/9. As such, Deduno will have to battle through spring training for another chance at a rotation spot in 2013 despite showing sharp breaking stuff and an affinity for ground balls (58.3 percent of balls in play according to FanGraphs).
Vasquez, 28, spent most of the season with Triple-A Rochester in Minnesota's system, where he posted a 2.78 ERA in 31 appearances (eight starts) covering 100 1/3 innings, including 98 strikeouts. He struggled in six starts with the Twins, however, allowing a 5.68 ERA and walking 19 against just 14 strikeouts.
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