Perkins and Giolito

Glen Perkins: From
the doghouse to
the penthouse.

Glen Perkins signed a new contract Thursday. He was already signed for 2012; this one buys out his final year of arbitration (2013) and his first two years of free agency (2014-15) and includes an option on 2016. It guarantees him $10.3 million and apparently contains games-finished bonuses that will raise his pay if he ever becomes the closer.

It's interesting to see Perkins and the Twins so eager to make a multi-year commitment to each other, considering that a couple of years ago they were at definite loggerheads. I certainly thought he was a goner after 2009, and 2010 didn't look any better.


A year ago many fans -- and not a few bloggers -- were undispleased that Perkins was even a candidate for the roster; today he is probably the most reliable reliever Ron Gardenhire has in his arsenal.

And he's a wealthy man.

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About a month ago I had a post on the five supposed front-runners for June's amateur draft -- a subject of more than academic interest to Twins fans, since Minnesota has the second overall pick.

One of those five, Lucas Giolito, a high school RHP from California who reportedly broke 100 mph on radar guns earlier this year, has sprained his pitching elbow and is to miss at least six weeks.

The difference between a sprain and a tear may be marginal, but at least at this point he's not slated for Tommy John surgery.

I now doubt the Twins would use their first-round pick on Giolito. If he falls through the first round, however, I can imagine them using their compensation pick for Michael Cuddyer on him.

Giolito is absolutely a health risk. He is also, emphatically, the kind of power arm the Twins sorely lack.