Twins add Ortiz

[beer batter]

Nice signing. 3.1M for a 1 year deal. 2 veteran pitcher signings (including Ponson) in the off season. Terry must be ready to make a real run at it this year.

[knoppers]

we needed starting pitching help, and they should fit in very well. it would be nice to see ponson get his good stuff this year. ortiz should be good. bring on the season, I am ready!

[schweady]

Hey, BPW: Remember the fiasco of an ALCS game that you and Ray and I went to back in '02? 400 mile round trip to the HumptyDome on a school night. Remember the Angel pitcher going 5 innings for the win? Our new-found friend Ramon Ortiz. Seemed like the only highlight that night was Johan coming in relief after Reed gives up his second HR of the night. Maybe Ortiz can do it again, but I'm not sure if it's enough arms even yet to look for many Twinkie ALCS wins in '07. But, maybe......

[buzzsaw]

Twins strike a deal with Ramon Ortiz

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins have agreed with right- hander Ramon Ortiz on a one-year deal. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports the deal is worth $3.1 million and is contingent upon him passing a physical.

Ortiz went 11-16 with a 5.57 earned run average in 33 starts for Washington last season. In his eight-year career, Ortiz is 79-76 with a 4.85 ERA in 220 games, including 200 starts.

The 33-year-old Ortiz has started at least 30 games in five of the last six seasons, with his best season coming in 2002 when he helped the Los Angeles Angels win their first World Series by going 15-9, including a 6-0 record in his final nine starts, with a 3.77 ERA.

Ortiz could fill the void in the Minnesota rotation created when Brad Radke retired after last season. He would join a starting staff that already consists of reigning Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, Boof Bonser and possibly Sidney Ponson. Ponson agreed on a minor league deal with the team earlier this month and will have to make the team out of spring training for his contract to be guaranteed.

[Big Pine Walleye]

Schweady--

I do rememeber that trip--"Good Times!" The only problem is, I know that if the Twins are in the play-offs and we go again, the only pitcher that I will get to see is BOOF!!! I hope that this is a good signing--if nothing else he should eat up innings until the young guys are ready!

GO TWINS!

[IFallsRon]

Ramon is from the Bert B. school of home-runs-are-OK pitching. But chances are that he can get to middle relief.