FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The unusually slow free-agent market took Lance Lynn's wait to find a team through the winter and well into spring training.The offer he settled on from the Minnesota Twins also came with the expectation of pennant race and perhaps postseason pitching."I wanted to go somewhere where they had a chance to win no matter what," Lynn said on Tuesday at his introductory news conference. "It seemed like the perfect fit, and I look forward to doing what I have to do, which is take the ball when it is my turn."Lynn agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract that includes bonuses of $1 million each for 170 and 180 innings. He was given a turn right away and struck out five batters in three hitless innings of an exhibition against Baltimore. He walked one."Other than that, everything went about as smooth as it possibly could," Lynn said. "Get ready for the next and kind of keep the buildup for opening day."Twins manager Paul Molitor said Lynn will make another start on Sunday."We're... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The unusually slow free-agent market took Lance Lynn's wait to find a team through the winter and well into spring training.The offer he settled on from the Minnesota Twins also came with the expectation of pennant race and perhaps postseason pitching."I wanted to go somewhere where they had a chance to win no matter what," Lynn said on Tuesday at his introductory news conference. "It seemed like the perfect fit, and I look forward to doing what I have to do, which is take the ball when it is my turn."Lynn agreed to a $12 million, one-year contract that includes bonuses of $1 million each for 170 and 180 innings. He was given a turn right away and struck out five batters in three hitless innings of an exhibition against Baltimore. He walked just one.The Twins are banking on more performances like that when the wins and losses actually count, stretched out over a full game."When you talk about a competitor and the makeup every time he takes the mound, this is somebody... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Patiently monitoring baseball's slow-moving market, the Minnesota Twins made several significant improvements to the team that made a surprise run last season to the AL wild card game.Right-hander Lance Lynn became the latest addition when the Twins finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Monday, another low-risk move to strengthen a pitching staff that ranked 19th in the major leagues last year with a 4.59 ERA."I think there was at least, my take on it, a real interest of the player to make this a marriage and I think that helped our cause," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.Lynn, who joined his new teammates on the field for an afternoon workout in Fort Myers, will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday before taking the mound for an exhibition against Baltimore.Molitor thinks there's a chance that Lynn could be ready to pitch the first time through the regular-season rotation."I told him this is different circumstances, if you're not ready to throw 100 pitches... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Patiently monitoring baseball's slow-moving market, the Minnesota Twins made several significant improvements to the team that made a surprise run last season to the AL wild card game.Right-hander Lance Lynn became the latest addition when the Twins finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Monday, another low-risk move to strengthen a pitching staff that ranked 19th in the major leagues last year with a 4.59 ERA."I think there was at least, my take on it, a real interest of the player to make this a marriage and I think that helped our cause," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.Lynn, who joined his new teammates on the field for an afternoon workout in Fort Myers, will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday before taking the mound for an exhibition against Baltimore.Molitor thinks there's a chance that Lynn could be ready to pitch the first time through the regular-season rotation."I told him this is different circumstances, if you're not ready to throw 100 pitches... [More]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — By patiently monitoring baseball's slow-moving market this winter, the Minnesota Twins have made several significant improvements to the team that made a surprise run last season to the AL wild card game.The Twins finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Monday with right-hander Lance Lynn, another low-risk move toward strengthening their pitching staff that ranked 19th in the major leagues in 2017 with a 4.59 ERA.Lynn, who joined his new teammates on the field for an afternoon workout in Fort Myers, Florida, will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday before taking the mound for an exhibition against Baltimore.After missing the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Lynn went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 33 starts for St. Louis in 2017 last year. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Lynn was an All-Star in 2012, his first full season in the majors. He was the 39th overall draft pick in 2008 by the Cardinals out of Mississippi.With the Twins, Lynn will join fellow... [More]

The Minnesota Twins were all about upgrading their pitching this winter, giving both their bullpen and their rotation with a series of acquisitions.With the market moving slowly, though, there were position players still available for sensible investments.That included Logan Morrison and his 38 home runs.Morrison and the Twins finalized a $6.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday, a deal that includes a $5.5 million salary this year and an $8 million club option for 2019 with a $1 million buyout."In the free agent market, you are trying to buy wins. You are trying to buy production," Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. "Ultimately we felt we could buy it at a reasonable cost on the bat side."Morrison could earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses this year: $500,000 each for 450, 500 and 550 plate appearances. The 2019 option price would increase to $8.5 million if he has 500 plate appearances this year and would go up to $9 million with a $1.5 million buyout if he has 550.... [More]

The Minnesota Twins were all about upgrading their pitching this winter, giving both their bullpen and their rotation with a series of acquisitions.With the market moving slowly, though, there were position players still available for sensible investments.That included Logan Morrison and his 38 home runs.Morrison and the Twins finalized a $6.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday, a deal that includes a $5.5 million salary this year and an $8 million club option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. The option would become guaranteed if he reaches 600 plate appearances this season."In the free agent market, you are trying to buy wins. You are trying to buy production," Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. "Ultimately we felt we could buy it at a reasonable cost on the bat side."Morrison agreed to terms last weekend subject to a successful physical and was introduced during a news conference at Twins spring training headquarters in Fort Myers, Florida. The 30-year-old drove in 85... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The Minnesota Twins signed Fernando Rodney to be their closer, bringing his 300 career saves to a bullpen that's needed a boost for several seasons.In an age when ninth-inning use isn't necessarily for a team's best reliever anymore, Addison Reed might have been the more valuable addition."There's no question he wants to find his way into the biggest situations of the game that lead you to your closer," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He knows it might not always be the eighth inning. He's more than open to do it. He's got a nice resume which includes a fair amount of saves, and he's more than capable, but to hear him talk about how important those things are to him is more than refreshing."The last four World Series participants, starting with defending champion Houston last fall, have provided a prime-time snapshot of the importance of having multiple hard throwers capable of commanding high-leverage situations once the starting pitcher is removed. That can start... [More]

The Minnesota Twins are adding some pop to their playoff team from last year, landing free agent slugger Logan Morrison for the lineup.Morrison and the Twins have agreed to a $6.5 million, one-year contract, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the agreement was subject to a physical and had not been finalized.The Twins would have an option for 2019 that could vest automatically, making it a two-year deal.Either way, their patience in a slow-moving market this winter has the Twins on the cusp of scoring Morrison, who's coming off a career-high 38 home runs and 85 RBIs for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017.Morrison was drafted by the Marlins and debuted in 2010. He was traded to Seattle prior to the 2014 season, then dealt to the Rays two years later.Morrison played in a career-most 149 games last season and posted an .868 OPS, which would have been tops on the Twins. He broke in as a corner outfielder... [More]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Jake Odorizzi joined the Minnesota Twins just in time for their first full-squad workout of spring training.He had a sense he'd land with them, actually, and it was a good feeling. Leaving behind the Tampa Bay Rays teammates he'd become close friends with wasn't fun, but leaving an organization cutting salary for one coming off a postseason appearance was a welcomed trade."I'm glad to have that closure now, where I don't have to worry about it each day waking up like, 'Is this could be the day I have a new team?'" Odorizzi said.That moment came on Saturday night, when the Rays sent the 27-year-old right-hander to the Twins for minor league shortstop Jermaine Palacios."It's kind of a foregone thing when you're there, to a certain point. Everyone ends up leaving, whether it's time or dollars," Odorizzi said on Monday afternoon, after putting on his Twins uniform for the first time. "I'm out, so I'm happy to go to be here to be on a contending team."The Rays, who let... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The turnaround for Minnesota last year was sharp, with 26 more wins than the miserable 2016 season on a march to the AL wild card game.This year, the Twins are in position to actually measure progress by postseason advancement. The entire starting lineup stayed intact, with five core players age 25 and under, and the bullpen was given a big boost with three free agent additions .For the first time in seven years, the previous appearance in the playoffs, Minnesota is a desired destination."I feel like this team is on the edge of being really good for a while," said left-hander Zach Duke, who joined right-handers Fernando Rodney and Addison Reed as veteran relievers who signed this winter. "Maybe a pitcher or two away, and it's there. It's a very exciting thing."The pitcher or two could still materialize, with Yu Darvish at the top of the list of unsigned logjam of free agents around the game. The Twins, who hold their first official workout for pitchers and catchers on... [More]

A team-by-team look at the American League Central entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad:___Cleveland IndiansManager: Terry Francona (sixth season).2017: 102-60, first place, lost to New York Yankees in ALDS.Training Town: Goodyear, Arizona.Park: Goodyear Ballpark.First Workout: Feb. 15/19.He's Here: 1B-DH Yonder Alonso, OF Melvin Upton Jr., RHP Alexi Ogando.He's Outta Here: 1B Carlos Santana, OF Jay Bruce, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, OF Austin Jackson, LHP Boone Logan.Going campin': Poised to possibly end their 70-year-old World Series title drought, the Indians, who reeled off 22 straight victories in 2017, didn't even make it back to the AL Championship Series after squandering a 2-0 playoff lead against the Yankees. Unlike last winter, when the club signed DH Edwin Encarnacion in free agency, the Indians were relatively quiet, counting on their core to carry them in... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — While baseball's offseason crawls along waiting for a logjam of free agents to clear, Minnesota Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey remains fluid in trying to improve the team's pitching staff.Waiting out decisions by the top starters on the market, Falvey turned his sights to the bullpen, where Minnesota was tied for 20th in the majors in relief ERA (4.40) last season while making its surprise run to the American League wild-card game.As one of the more active teams in free agency, the Twins signed three relievers for a total of $23.4 million guaranteed in closer Fernando Rodney, left-hander Zach Duke and right-hander Addison Reed over the past month."You don't know, really, where things are going to go sometimes," Falvey said Friday as Minnesota began its annual fan festival at Target Field, with Rodney and Duke in attendance. "So, the way we looked at it was, let's find a way to augment our pitching. Ultimately, that could come in the starting rotation, that... [More]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Left-hander Zach Duke is guaranteed $2.15 million as part of his one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins and can earn an additional $1.5 million based on pitching appearances.Duke can earn $200,000 each for 40 and 50 games as a pitcher under the deal announced Dec. 26. He could earn $300,000 apiece for 55 and 60, and $500,000 for 65.The 34-year-old was 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 27 relief appearances last year for St. Louis, returning to the major leagues on July 21 after Tommy John surgery in October 2016. He struck out 12 and walked six in 18 1/3 innings, and three of the 13 hits he allowed were home runs.He is 61-85 with a 4.30 ERA in 169 starts and 299 relief appearances over 13 major league seasons with Pittsburgh (2005-10), Arizona (2011), Washington (2012-13), Cincinnati (2013), Milwaukee (2014), the Chicago White Sox (2015-16) and the Cardinals (2016-17).___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

LHP Zach Duke was signed to a one-year contract by Minnesota. Duke, 34, went 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 27 appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals last season after returning midway through the campaign from Tommy John surgery. The former 2009 All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing for his eighth different team -- and his seventh in the past eight seasons.

The Minnesota Twins signed veteran left-handed reliever Zach Duke to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.Duke, 34, went 1-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 27 appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals last season after returning midway through the campaign from Tommy John surgery. The former 2009 All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing for his eighth different team -- and his seventh in the past eight seasons.He is 61-85 with a 4.54 ERA in 468 appearances (169 starts) with the Pirates (2005-10), Arizona Diamondbacks (2011), Washington Nationals (2012-13), Cincinnati Reds (2013), Milwaukee Brewers (2014), Chicago White Sox (2015-16) and St. Louis Cardinals (2016-17).After making 159 starts and one relief appearances for the Pirates, Duke has settled in as a reliever with his last start coming in 2013.

LHP Zach Duke was activated from the 60-day disabled list prior to Friday's game and made a six-pitch appearance on Friday. He underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2016 off-season and missed all of spring training and the first three months of 2017. The 34-year-old veteran made nine rehab appearances between the rookie league Gulf Coast Cardinals, Class A Palm Beach and Triple-A Memphis. He threw nine scoreless innings, allowing just four hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Duke appeared in 81 games in 2016, making 53 appearances with the White Sox before he was traded to the Cardinals. He made 28 appearances with St. Louis to finish the season.

LHP Zach Duke was activated from the disabled list prior to opening a three-game series against the Cubs.Duke made his season debut in the 11-4 win after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the offseason. He missed all of spring training and pitched nine scoreless innings in nine rehab appearances.

The St. Louis Cardinals activated left-handed reliever Zach Duke and outfielder Randal Grichuk from the disabled list prior to opening a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon.Duke will make his season debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the offseason. He missed all of spring training and pitched nine scoreless innings in nine rehab appearances.The 34-year-old Duke was obtained from the Chicago White Sox a day before last season's non-waiver trade deadline for outfielder Charlie Tilson. He was 0-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 28 appearances after posting a 2.63 ERA in 51 appearances for the White Sox.Duke made his major league debut as a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. In 441 appearances (169 starts), he is 60-84 with a 4.31 ERA for the Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, the White Sox and St. Louis.Grichuk was activated after being out since July 10 with a lower back injury. He appeared... [More]

LHP Zach Duke (elbow surgeries) continued his impressive rehab assignment Wednesday when he threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Memphis. It was the ninth scoreless appearance in as many rehab outings for Duke, who has allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out 10 in nine innings between the Cardinals' rookie-league Gulf Coast League affiliate, Class A Palm Beach and Memphis. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Duke, who had his flexor tendon repaired during Tommy John ligament replacement surgery last October, could return to the majors soon. Duke went 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA and two saves in a career-high 81 games last season for the Cardinals and Chicago White Sox.