| Minnesota Twins News: |
| MINNEAPOLIS -- There will be no question about who will get the ball for the Twins in the ninth inning next season as the Twins officially exercised closer Joe Nathan's $6 million option for 2008 on Monday.
It was an expected move as Nathan confirmed last week that the option was going to be picked up. But the Twins chose to honor Major League Baseball's request and wait until after the World Series to formally make the announcement. "I don't think it's a surprise to anyone," Twins general manager Bill Smith said of the club's decision to pick up the option. "Joe Nathan has been a big part of this club for the last few years and hopefully for years to come." Nathan, who will turn 33 in November, has recorded 160 saves along with a 1.94 ERA over his four seasons with the Twins. He ranks second on the club's all-time saves list, trailing only Rick Aguilera (254), and became the first Twins pitcher to record 35 or more saves in four consecutive seasons. By picking up Nathan's option, the Twins now have seven players under contract for 2008, bringing their salary total as of now up to $30.9 million. That includes Johan Santana ($13.25 million), Joe Mauer ($6.25 million), Nick Punto ($2.4 million), Jesse Crain ($1.05 million), Dennys Reyes ($1 million) and Mike Redmond ($950,000). |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Toronto Blue Jays
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Toronto Blue Jays
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Toronto Blue Jays
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Colorado Rockies
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Coors Field
|
|
|
Colorado Rockies
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:05 pm
|
Coors Field
|
|
|
Colorado Rockies
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Coors Field
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Baltimore Orioles
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Baltimore Orioles
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Baltimore Orioles
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Chicago White Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
U.S. Cellular Field
|
|
|
Chicago White Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:05 pm
|
U.S. Cellular Field
|
|
|
Chicago White Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
U.S. Cellular Field
|
|
|
Chicago White Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
U.S. Cellular Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Milwaukee Brewers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Miller Park
|
|
|
Milwaukee Brewers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:05 pm
|
Miller Park
|
|
|
Milwaukee Brewers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Miller Park
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Washington Nationals
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Washington Nationals
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Washington Nationals
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
San Diego Padres
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
PETCO Park
|
|
|
San Diego Padres
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
PETCO Park
|
|
|
San Diego Padres
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
12:35 am
|
PETCO Park
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Milwaukee Brewers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Milwaukee Brewers
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Milwaukee Brewers
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Boston Red Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Fenway Park
|
|
|
Boston Red Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Fenway Park
|
|
|
Boston Red Sox
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Fenway Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Detroit Tigers
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Comerica Park
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Texas Rangers
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
New York Yankees
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Yankee Stadium
|
|
|
New York Yankees
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Yankee Stadium
|
|
|
New York Yankees
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Yankee Stadium
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Cleveland Indians
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Kansas City Royals
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:10 pm
|
Kauffman Stadium
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. New York Yankees
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Seattle Mariners
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Seattle Mariners
|
2:55 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Seattle Mariners
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Oakland Athletics
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Oakland Athletics
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Oakland Athletics
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
|
|
|
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
|
|
|
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:05 pm
|
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
|
|
|
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
12:35 am
|
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Seattle Mariners
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Safeco Field
|
|
|
Oakland Athletics
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
McAfee Coliseum
|
|
|
Oakland Athletics
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
McAfee Coliseum
|
|
|
Oakland Athletics
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
6:05 pm
|
McAfee Coliseum
|
|
|
Oakland Athletics
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:05 pm
|
McAfee Coliseum
|
|
|
Toronto Blue Jays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Rogers Centre
|
|
|
Toronto Blue Jays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Rogers Centre
|
|
|
Toronto Blue Jays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Rogers Centre
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
2:55 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Detroit Tigers
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
12:10 am
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Baltimore Orioles
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Camden Yards
|
|
|
Baltimore Orioles
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Camden Yards
|
|
|
Baltimore Orioles
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
11:59 pm
|
Camden Yards
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Cleveland Indians
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:05 pm
|
Progressive Field
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Rays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Tropicana Field
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Rays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Tropicana Field
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Rays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
7:10 pm
|
Tropicana Field
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Rays
vs. Minnesota Twins
|
1:40 pm
|
Tropicana Field
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Chicago White Sox
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
7:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
6:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
|
|
Minnesota Twins
vs. Kansas City Royals
|
1:10 pm
|
Metrodome
|
| More Minnesota Twins News: |
| "If Grant doesn't get his work done here, he won't be traveling with us when the season starts," Gardenhire said. "He won't just come out and say, 'I feel great,'" It's 'I feel OK,' a lot. We want to hear 'Good to go.' We haven't heard that yet."
When asked Monday for a deadline where Balfour needed to pitch to get enough innings for the season, Gardenhire declined to name one. Instead, he glanced at his watch. Clearly, patience was running thin. "You get to the point where you just say, 'Shut him down for two weeks and not let him throw a baseball,'" Gardenhire said. "We'll move forward." Gardenhire, a native of Oklahoma, has become a part of the Minnesota community since joining the Twins' coaching staff in 1991. Those roots are sure to run deeper after he received a two-year contract extension Wednesday, ensuring that he will be in the dugout through the 2007 season. "Real exciting," Gardenhire said. "My family and I love it here and love this organization. That's pretty cool." Since taking over the club from Tom Kelly before the 2002 season, Gardenhire has guided the Twins to three consecutive American League Central Division championships and three seasons of at least 90 wins. The 47-year-old was the fourth manager in Major League history to begin his managerial career with three straight first-place finishes, joining Larry Dierker (Houston, 1997-99), Ralph Houk (New York Yankees, 1961-63) and Hughie Jennings (Detroit, 1907-09). "He is the right guy for this organization," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "I don't think there is a better fit than Gardy. There's a comfort level with him. Both sides feel good. He makes people who are around him feel good." |
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