Talk high regarding potential moves
12/06/2005
DALLAS -- Twins general manager Terry Ryan expected day one of baseball's annual Winter Meetings to be the same quiet, settling in type of day it has been in years past.
But that was not exactly the case on for Ryan on Monday as the event kicked off at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. Instead, the Twins GM spent the day talking to a majority of the clubs in attendance and trying to figure out a way to improve an offense that lacked power in 2005.
"There is a lot of activity down here this year," Ryan said Monday night. "It was much more hectic for the official first day, which is unusual for down here. Usually people get acclimated and get settled in, just touch base. This year it seemed like everybody wanted to talk."
With the Twins looking to fill two significant holes in their lineup at third base and DH, talking is exactly what the Minnesota club was looking to do. Though just talking doesn't seem like it will be enough for Ryan this year.
"We're looking for DHs and third basemen," Ryan said. "We're concentrating on those two spots right now and that's what we need to get done."
The Winter Meetings have not typically been a place where the Twins have had much success at accomplishing major deals or trades. But with the team needing to do something considerable to change its offensive production, this year is different, Ryan said. That need, along with the increased talk of possible moves Monday, is the reason Ryan has hope this year's meetings will have a different outcome.
"We haven't touched base with all of the clubs yet, but we've got a match with many," Ryan said.
So busy was Ryan's day, he didn't have a minute to talk about the day's musings until after 10:00 p.m. CT, and it wasn't over yet. Ryan said that he expected to meet with others following his media session.
Musings around the hotel Monday focused on the Twins' possibilities for a new third baseman. The rumors ranged from trade deals involving Texas third baseman Hank Blalock to signing free agent Bill Mueller.
A power hitting third baseman is at the top of the list of wants for Ryan, but he isn't limiting his search only to such players. Defense is also at the top of list, with one of the major reasons for Michael Cuddyer's switch from the position being his 15 errors there.
Beyond the talk of position players, the chatter has focused on the Twins looking to sign a veteran free agent slugger to fill the DH role. Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Kevin Millar and Frank Thomas have been among those mentioned in speculation, but in terms of details, the Twins remained tight lipped.
The missing links in the lineup may be the first priority for Ryan to accomplish during the four-day affair, but other questions still remain for the Twins as well. Free agent Jacque Jones lingers on the market, and the chances of him remaining with Minnesota in 2006 haven't changed, according to Ryan.
"It's a sliver," Ryan said. "That sliver hasn't closed at all. Did he sign with anybody today? Then we still have a chance."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
DALLAS -- Twins general manager Terry Ryan expected day one of baseball's annual Winter Meetings to be the same quiet, settling in type of day it has been in years past.
But that was not exactly the case on for Ryan on Monday as the event kicked off at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. Instead, the Twins GM spent the day talking to a majority of the clubs in attendance and trying to figure out a way to improve an offense that lacked power in 2005.
"There is a lot of activity down here this year," Ryan said Monday night. "It was much more hectic for the official first day, which is unusual for down here. Usually people get acclimated and get settled in, just touch base. This year it seemed like everybody wanted to talk."
With the Twins looking to fill two significant holes in their lineup at third base and DH, talking is exactly what the Minnesota club was looking to do. Though just talking doesn't seem like it will be enough for Ryan this year.
"We're looking for DHs and third basemen," Ryan said. "We're concentrating on those two spots right now and that's what we need to get done."
The Winter Meetings have not typically been a place where the Twins have had much success at accomplishing major deals or trades. But with the team needing to do something considerable to change its offensive production, this year is different, Ryan said. That need, along with the increased talk of possible moves Monday, is the reason Ryan has hope this year's meetings will have a different outcome.
"We haven't touched base with all of the clubs yet, but we've got a match with many," Ryan said.
So busy was Ryan's day, he didn't have a minute to talk about the day's musings until after 10:00 p.m. CT, and it wasn't over yet. Ryan said that he expected to meet with others following his media session.
Musings around the hotel Monday focused on the Twins' possibilities for a new third baseman. The rumors ranged from trade deals involving Texas third baseman Hank Blalock to signing free agent Bill Mueller.
A power hitting third baseman is at the top of the list of wants for Ryan, but he isn't limiting his search only to such players. Defense is also at the top of list, with one of the major reasons for Michael Cuddyer's switch from the position being his 15 errors there.
Beyond the talk of position players, the chatter has focused on the Twins looking to sign a veteran free agent slugger to fill the DH role. Mike Piazza, Reggie Sanders, Kevin Millar and Frank Thomas have been among those mentioned in speculation, but in terms of details, the Twins remained tight lipped.
The missing links in the lineup may be the first priority for Ryan to accomplish during the four-day affair, but other questions still remain for the Twins as well. Free agent Jacque Jones lingers on the market, and the chances of him remaining with Minnesota in 2006 haven't changed, according to Ryan.
"It's a sliver," Ryan said. "That sliver hasn't closed at all. Did he sign with anybody today? Then we still have a chance."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
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