Metrodome Memories

The Twins re-signed Rondell White to a one year, $2.75 million deal.  White had a horrific first half but turned it around in the second half and put together a fair season.  Gardnehire has waffled as to what White’s roll is going to be.  He’d probably make a better DH then left fielder but I have a feeling we’ll see him out in left more often then I’d like.  Oh well.  White is a solid bat and the money isn’t much so I’m pretty neutral about the signing.

It looks like Brad Radke is going to officially announce his retirement tomorrow.  He played injured all season last year and he still had a very solid, if short, second half of the 2006 season.  Radke played all twelve of his season for the Twins and he’ll finish with 148 wins and a 4.22 ERA.  His best season by far was his third in 1997, in which he won 20 games and set career highs in strikeouts (174) and innings pitched 239 2/3.

I wish Brad Radke the best in the next phase of his life.

The Twins signed third baseman Jeff Cirillo to a one year, $1.5 million deal today.  Cirillo was one of those guys that “caught on” while playing with the Rockies and has never put up the same numbers since.  He did put together a solid season last year for the Brewers though and he hit .319 as a part time player.  He’s a career .298 hitter but hit career slugging percentage is only .432.

Cirillo will back up at third base and first base for the Twins next year.  It wouldn’t surprise me if we see him at DH now and then either.

Ken Harvey was one of three minor league players the Twins signed this week.  Harvey was a slugger in the making at Kansas City but he never quite got it done.  Just three seasons ago, Harvey played in an All Star game for the Royals after a hot first half in which he hit .305 with ten homeruns.  He cooled off in the second half and bad back has limited Harvey ever since.  He didn’t play at all last year and he played in only twelve games in 2005.

The Twins also took Alejandro Machado in the Rule 5 draft.  Apparantly infield depth was a concern and Machado was the best infielder on the board.  He had made it all the way to Triple A for Boston but never could make it to the big leagues.

It looks like Rondell White is next on the Twins list of players to sign.  It’d be nice if he came at a bargain.  I can’t see White being in high demand.