StarTribune.com

Twins sign Guerrier

Posted on February 5th, 2009 – 3:46 PM
By La Velle

The Twins have avoided arbitration with righthander Matt Guerrier by signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.475 million.

Guerrier had requested a $1.75 million salary for 2009 while the Twins filed for $1.2 million. The sides settled at the midpoint rather than go to arbitration. Guerrier was 6-9 with a 5.19 ERA last season, easily the worst of his past four full seasons with the Twins.

The Twins actually included Guerrier’s salary in their press release, which we in the media are truly grateful for. That’s’ one less phone call….

Joe C. will have more on this soon. In fact, he’s on the phone right now as we sit here at Strib headquarters. I’m confident he’s about to whip up an update about a certain free agent third baseman.

59 Responses to "Twins sign Guerrier"

twinlves says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

thanks La Velle

Joe Blow says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

I’ve got your update about that third basemen…Nothing new since we last spoke

mickey mental says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

this is the smartest thing the twins coulda done.

this is the dumbest thing the twins coulda done.

Chad says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Matt Guerrier average reliever with very average stuff. If he doesn’t hit his spot’s you can put it on the board yes!

Burning Bush says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

If you were going to call them anyway why bother putting in the press release.

Jonesy says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

Wow! This is exciting news and……….whoops dosed off for a second there. This is as exciting as the “other” offseason moves the Twins have made this winter.

MHFESQ says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

It is good to see the Twins showing dedication to their players when they have the money to do so. Sure would like to see the update: “Twins sign Mauer, Liriano, Baker, and Slowey to 7 year contracts.”

ruidoso says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

what a great country when that guy can make $1.5 m.

Chad says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Jim Pohlad is probably sweating noing he’s giving his money to a baseball player instead of charity!

schurik says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

anybody watching caribbean series? Yohan pino just got taken downtown for a 2run hr

thrylos98 says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

At least that is better than the $3.2 mil Rincon made last year.

gobbledygookguy says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

“what a great country when that guy can make $1.5 m.”
with a 5.19 era you got that right, 1.5m doesn’t buy much anymore!

The Pro From Dover says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm

I think that is a waste of 1.475 million.Is there a possibility that Guerrier could be released in spring training with the Twins only being stuck for a portion of his salary?

Granted Gardy abused Guerrrier badly.But Bonser and Humber are both out of options and could probably do no worse than Matty G did last year,for a lot less than 1.475M.

sane says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Ignore Guerrier’s three good years and focus totally on last year.

Good plan.

schurik says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm

wilson ramos is also in the lineup for venezuela at DH

UN says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

It’s really going to be interesting seeing how Delaney and Slama start out the year. If they keep dominating like they have, either of them could be potentially huge mid-season additions. Similar to the impact Neshek had a couple years back….

gobbledygookguy says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm

sane wouldn’t you have worked a little harder on that slider when you were a kid if you knew you could make 1.5m with a 5.19 era?

sane says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

ggg,
I did work hard on my baseball.
But the guys making millions are in the top 1% of the guys who play(ed) baseball.
I was in the middle 50%.
That’s why I (we) don’t get paid for our baseball ability like they do.
I had a better chance of being a brain surgeon.

frank says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

this guy is a bumm

johnnyonspot says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Pretty sad commentary that this guy is not only in the majors for 5+ years, with the Twins no less, but is now making over a million bones. He was all well and good when he could hide behind the class A relievers and only mop up once in a while, but the load on his shoulders and watch them sag down until the load slides off. The Twins use him in close and late situations at their peril.

dano says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

matt had three good years but you guys dont care i bet all of you fat lazzy people could do better i dont think so almost all of you guys complain if they sign Crede alot of you guys will complain if the dont you will complain

dano says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

frank says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm

this guy is a bumm
could you do better hell no so shut up

sane says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:44 pm

“frank says:
February 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
this guy is a bumm”

Frank is a meteorologist who can’t spell and is wrong 98% of the time predicting weather.

If Guerrier was as bad at his job as you are at your’s, he would have your job instead.

brian says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

I’d rather just go with Humber or Korecky and had an extra few dollar dog nights. You just don’t give replacable middle relievers more than $1M.

thrylos98 says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pm

seth,
Frank linked to a meteorologist’s (called Bruce Watson) page.

schurik says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pm

I didn’t realize we had so many grammar instructors on this board… and so many Matty fans, since he blew a bunch of games for the Twins last season…

schurik says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Wilson Ramos walked

thrylos98 says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

’d rather just go with Humber or Korecky

at this point, once you offer arbitration to a player, there is no way that you will not pay him. Back in November they had that option. Not now.

sid says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

schurik,

I will never forgive Guerrier either!

But I will start on that, after I start succeeding 100% of the time like you do.

jkucenic says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:53 pm

Nice. There ya go. Bullpen/set-up guy solved. What’s next.

dano says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

hopefully they know talk to Mauer about a loneterm extensen and backer

jkucenic says:

February 5th, 2009 at 4:56 pm

With that being said, does anybody know if the ball A-Rod hit off of him last year has landed yet???

Guerrier is 6th inning/long relief option…That’s about it.

I’m interested seeing if his arm recovered from last year.

Nick Horob says:

February 5th, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Guerrier definitely had a forgettable year last season. He a pretty good year in 2007 though. Hopefully he rebounds now that Mijares looks to be a permanent addition to the bullpen and looks to take over the set-up man duties that caused Matt so much trouble.

http://www.keepdelmon.com

stanbob says:

February 5th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Goodie, I feel so much better now with him and Nicky signed for next year. Way to go BS.

sjmick says:

February 5th, 2009 at 5:35 pm

Good signing. With some help so he doesn;t have to carry the load he will be fine.

Dan says:

February 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

I sure hope he rebounds after last year’s awful performance. I just don’t see how he and his agent can justify sitting down and asking for more money when he actually got worse last year. Sounds like bad business to me.

sane says:

February 5th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Dan,
“I just don’t see how he and his agent can justify sitting down and asking for more money when he actually got worse last year.”

Early in a players career he is underpaid and his good stats are minimized, because he has no leverage.

A player with more experience earns the right to have his bad stats minimized as some form of justice.
In both cases, seniority(or lack of seniority) overrides last year’s stats.

Lee says:

February 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

“Because no one is denying it—and each side may have its reasons—the Bobby Abreu rumor that says the White Sox offered the free agent a bargain-basement low $8 million won’t go away. That’s half of what Abreu made last year with the Yankees, who were not considered to be overpaying their right fielder. And it’s light-years from Abreu’s initial request of three years and $45 million. But economic reality has set in for free agents. While the free-spending Cubs signed Milton Bradley for $30 million over three years, a player five years younger and with less power, Abreu is having trouble finding a job. So are Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn and Manny Ramirez, the best right-handed hitter of his …”

Boneyard says:

February 5th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

Look, I know Guerrier isn’t the most popular guy with the fans and he was ineffectual last year, but he was pretty good for 3 years before that. And when relievers have off years, it tends to get magnified because of the small number of innings they pitch these days. It’s just not a big enough sample size to be all that reliable as a predictor of future performance. Less than $1.5 million is a pretty good risk on a relatively young guy with a decent track record, imo.

Duke says:

February 5th, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Right on Boneyard.

sane says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:36 pm

I agree, Boneyard.

How do people forget Guerrier’s three good years and focus totally on last year?

Selective amnesia, I guess.

Ray Miller says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

Hey, the Twins never learn you can’t pitch a guy every day and not think his arm will be hurt. Guerrier had a live arm but Gardy used him more than an inning and way to many days in a row compared to other pitchers. Matty bailed them out for years and paid the price with a tired arm. Get him strong and use him right he is better than anyone else you’ll bring in here for 1.5 million.

Jim Rome says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

Twins are tough on pitchers, arm needs a little rest and manager thinks they are. dogging it. Its not like playing second base and you lob the ball to first five times a game. You don’t think Santana wanted to bail before he has to pitch in 30 or 40 degree weather next year. Twins will have to kidnap a pitcher when players find out what April, May, Sept., and Oct are like, brrrr

branden says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm

this is much better news then signing someone like eric gagne, or brandon lyon!

PA's bestbud says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:50 pm

Lavel, bet you never get cold, do you own a pair of pants or just shorts and T. Hows that big hamhock of yours at pitching if the Twins need a speedballer next year. Just kiddin-you know we love your lazy —!

jaypee says:

February 5th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

All “Bump” could talk about today on KFAN was how Roger Clemens warmed up before he pitched, first a hottub at highest setting followed by rubbing hot liniment on his n–s. Would this work for cold weather Twins pitchers Lavell? Please try it and report back on your next blogging.

Around the Majors » Blog Archive » Boras: Crede is healthy and ready for spring training says:

February 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm

[…] La Velle noted, the Twins signed Matt Guerrier to a one-year, $1.475 million deal today, clearing their plate of their final pending arbitration […]

johnnyjohnson says:

February 5th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

I like Matty Guerrier.

Thinking the Unthinkable « SethSpeaks.net says:

February 6th, 2009 at 12:04 am

[…] It’s not surprising that the Twins and Matt Guerrier met in the middle and signed a contract before going to an arbitration hearing. It is good to have Guerrier signed. […]

sploorp says:

February 6th, 2009 at 12:31 am

Gurrier pitched 51 innings in the first half with a 3.35 ERA. That is more innings than he pitched in all of 2005 or 2006.

He will be just fine.

RisebroughSux says:

February 6th, 2009 at 8:11 am

Legalized theft. Guerrier is a stiff and has Juan Rinconitist. Another waste of $1.5M.

tlk says:

February 6th, 2009 at 9:38 am

People still complain about a guiet offseason. Remember guys. Next year is going to be nuts. A lot of our good young pitchers are arbitration eligable next year as well as some of the position guys. Isn’t there something like 7 guys? That’s a lot of dough because those guys will win their cases. Then there’s that cather guy named Mauer whose going to need $100+ million. Don’t jeopordize the future for risky moves just so you can say you did something.

Twins Won't Win Guy says:

February 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am

Not a bad price to pay for an inning eater that they will surely need this year. Still, a very boring offseason and even more evidence that all this team does is talk about making real moves to keep our attention. $60 million payroll for a team with a new stadium on the horizon and claims that it is a contender says it all. They’re frauds that steal from the fans to pad their wallets…but yet fans still pay to see them. This season is over with before it even begins…sorry but it’s the truth.

jhawk90 says:

February 6th, 2009 at 11:04 am

The padding the wallet argument is stale. Now, replacing the $167 million that was in your wallet before the stadium with the current revenue streams, that one still holds true.

We’ll compete as is, don’t have to be thrilled about it though. But the team to beat is the Indians, no way they have the same problems they did in ‘08.

AG says:

February 6th, 2009 at 11:20 am

I thought it was kind of ironic last night on channel 4 when they talked about the Twins signing Guerrier, they where showing highlights in the background, They showed him striking out two batters. One was Adrian Beltre and one was Casey Blake.

mike wants wins says:

February 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm

stale but true. Their payroll has dropped the last two years, despite increasing revenues each of those two years.

Hot Offseason Action: Minnesota Twins | umpbump.com says:

February 7th, 2009 at 9:42 am

[…] had a busy offseason, though. They re-signed Punto, and avoided arbitration with Jason Kubel and Matt Guerrier (the Kubel signing was puzzling to Rob Neyer, considering they could’ve used the money to […]

Minnesota Twins Sign Luis Ayala; Joe Crede Signing Looming says:

February 7th, 2009 at 11:19 am

[…] Twins also reached middle ground with Matt Guerrier on Thursday, signing him to a 1.475MM dollar one year deal for 2009. Guerrier’s a good pitcher […]