The Twins plan to cut ties with Livan Hernandez and Craig Monroe today, clearing space for Francisco Liriano and Randy Ruiz to join the roster from Class AAA Rochester.

The team has yet to make an official announcement, but Liriano and Ruiz are on their way to the Twin Cities from Class AAA Rochester, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Hernandez and Monroe likely will be designated for assignment.

Hernandez is 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts and has allowed 199 hits in 139 2/3 innings.

The Twins signed him to a one-year, $5 million deal shortly before spring training, and he is due to begin collecting $133,333 in incentives at 160 innings pitched, another $133,333 at 165 innings pitched, etc.

Monroe is batting .202 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 163 at-bats. The Twins are paying him $3.82 million this season. Unless they can trade Hernandez and Monroe, they will be on the hook for most of that money.

The Liriano move was expected, as he has gone 9-1 with a 2.51 ERA in his past 10 starts for Rochester. He was scheduled to start again tonight for the Red Wings, but they are planning to use Tom Shearn in his place.

It’s uncertain when he will start for the Twins, but Hernandez was scheduled to pitch Monday in Seattle.

Ruiz needs to be added to the 40-man roster, but he is batting .320 with 17 home runs and 68 RBI for the Red Wings.

The Twins will be replacing one righthanded power hitter for another by inserting Ruiz for Monroe.

Update (4:05 p.m.): The Twins made it official. Hernandez and Monroe were designated for assignment, meaning the team now has 10 days to either trade them, release them or put them on waivers.

Ruiz is not at the Metrodome yet, but he’s in the starting lineup:

1. Denard Span, RF, 2. Nick Punto, 2B, 3. Joe Mauer, C, 4. Justin Morneau, 1B, Delmon Young, LF, 6. Randy Ruiz, DH, 7. Brendan Harris, 3B, 8. Adam Everett, SS, 9. Carlos Gomez, CF.

Twins vs. Cleveland. First pitch 7:10 p.m.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Twins thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.