The Minnesota Twins made four more roster moves today, as they announced that designated hitter Matthew LeCroy, outfielder Jason Tyner, and third basemann Glenn Williams were all outrighted to Triple-A Rochester, while they also decided against picking up their 2006 option on pitcher Joe Mays and bought out his contract. The Twins are expected to invite Tyner and Williams to spring training if they don't sign elsewhere.

LeCroy started his career as a catcher, but a weak throwing arm made him a bit of a liability behind the plate, and he was mostly considered a back-up first baseman and designated hitter. He came up with the occasional clutch hit, but more often than not was streaky rather than consistent. Although we wish only the best for Mattie, one only hopes that he doesn't go on to be another David Ortiz, who sucked donkey dick while he was with the Twins, but has hit 72 homeruns and driven in 240 in the last two years for the Red Sox.

Joe Mays was an All-Star in 2001 when he won 17 games and finished with a 3.16 ERA in 34 starts, but he was signed to a big contract at the end of the season and never lived up to the expectations. In the three seasons since (he missed half of 2002 with injuries and all of 2004 after Tommy John surgery), he has only 18 wins combined (and 26 losses), with a 5.81 ERA in 79 appearances (64 starts). He lost his spot in the rotation this season after a series of poor performances, and operated out of the bullpen until injury concerns (and elimination from postseason contention) sidelined Carlos Silva and Brad Radke for the rest of the season.

Truthfully, outrighting Tyner and Williams was probably the most surprising of the roster moves made today. Glenn Williams was called up from Rochester in June and batted .425 - with a hit in all thirteen games he played - before dislocating shoulder and being put on the disabled list. Similarly, Tyner batted .321 in eighteen games as a September call-up, including a twelve-game hit streak at one point, and was an able replacement both offensively and defensively for Shannon Stewart when he injured his shoulder.

The Twins have disposed of seven players, along with third base coach Al Newman, since the close of the season. Additionally, outfielder Jacque Jones and pitcher Kyle Lohse are likely to test the free agent waters this offseason. Either Terry Ryan is going to be pretty active in free agency this year or the Twins are planning on getting even cheaper and younger than they were in 2005.

» Twins cut Mays, LeCroy loose [twinsbaseball.com]

06:31 PM | (0)
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