News
Inbox: Checking up on recovering Neshek
Beat reporter Kelly Thesier answers Twins fans' questions
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
11/30/09 10:00 AM EST
MINNEAPOLIS -- With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us, the focus of the baseball world now turns to the Winter Meetings. This year's Meetings begin Dec. 7, and they'll take place in Indianapolis. While it's been a relatively quiet Hot Stove season so far in terms of moves, the Winter Meetings are often the time when things really start to heat up -- both on the trade market and through free agency. The days leading up to the Meetings can also lead to increased activity, so it will be interesting to see how things unfold over the next week. However, before we start speculating about what might happen in the next few days before the Meetings get under way, let's dig into this week's edition of the Inbox. How is Pat Neshek doing? Will he be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery when Spring Training opens in February?-- Matt S., St. Peter, Minn. I e-mailed Neshek a little over a week ago to ask him about his progress. Since undergoing the elbow ligament replacement surgery last November, Neshek has been on a rehab program and spent the majority of his time in Fort Myers, Fla. His last day of that program was Nov. 23, meaning that he won't throw another bullpen session until January. So, right now, he's right on track to be ready for the start of Spring Training. Neshek's plan is to remain in Fort Myers for the rest of the winter and prepare for the season as he normally would. He wrote that he's going to work out with Twins strength and conditioning coordinator Perry Castellano. As for Neshek's stuff, he seemed excited about how all of his pitches were coming along. He said it feels like he's throwing his fastball harder than he did before surgery.
Neshek's delivery hasn't changed, he made sure to emphasize that, although he said he's back to getting his hand on top of the ball at release. It's something that he believes he was doing during his successful stints with the Twins in '06 and '07. So Neshek sounds really excited to get back to pitching again, and he's hopeful for another strong season after missing the majority of the past two years. To keep updated with Neshek, you can visit the blog that he updates often.
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Have a question about the Twins?
 E-mail your query to MLB.com Twins beat reporter Kelly Thesier for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content.
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We love Joe Crede, except for the health questions, and he has said he would like to come back to Minnesota. Is there any chance he could re-sign with us even though he is a Scott Boras client?
-- Tim Z., Waconia, Minn.
The club has other options to fill the role, including Nick Punto, Matt Tolbert and Brendan Harris. Still, the Twins saw what Crede could do when healthy, and if he comes at a bargain price again, the team could possibly think about signing him to be a stop-gap again at the position.
Do you think Jim Thome will sign with the Twins this winter? He would be a good fit at the DH spot.-- Marty A., Edina, Minn. I've been told by some Twins insiders that Thome has expressed interest in playing for the team in recent years. The veteran slugger enjoys Minnesota and has a strong respect for the way the Twins play the game. With Thome now a free agent, this could be an opportunity for him to finally play in Minnesota.
The problem is that the Twins already have a regular DH in Jason Kubel, and it's a big question whether the club would want to spend money on a player like Thome, who wouldn't be playing every day.
So far, I haven't heard anything about the Twins' interest in Thome this winter. Thome is considered to be one of the nicest men in all of baseball, and I know many of the Twins' players and coaches have a great amount of respect for him. But it's unclear whether he would fit into the club's current plans.
Is J.J. Hardy a likely candidate to hit second in the Twins' batting order, ahead of Joe Mauer?-- Mike V., Proctor, Minn. I spoke with manager Ron Gardenhire just after he finished second in the AL Manager of the Year voting. Since I had received so many questions about where Hardy would hit in the order, I asked Gardenhire about it. He said that he can't designate a spot for Hardy until he gets the shortstop out on the field in Spring Training and gets a better feel for how he hits.
But Gardenhire did say that Hardy is an option to hit in the second spot. Hardy hit second in the Brewers' lineup for the majority of his career. Whether or not Hardy will do that for the Twins will depend on whether Gardenhire feels he's the right fit to be the guy to hit the ball the other way and not necessarily drive the ball at all times. But whether Hardy hits second or seventh or anywhere else in the order, he'll give the Twins another power threat.
Hi, I am a baseball fan from Canada and I am somewhat of a Twins fan. Looking at the Twins, they have good, young talent led by Mauer. However, to compete against the Yankees, they lack that big ace. Do you think there is any chance that a small-market team like the Twins can land Roy Halladay?-- Vishal R., Mississauga, Ontario The Blue Jays have been actively talking to teams about Halladay as the team president said it's clear Halladay does not want to sign an extension with Toronto.
The Twins have been exploring possible options for starting pitching -- both on the free-agent market and through trades. But with the Twins trying to sign Mauer to a long-term contract, I think it's unlikely that they could add on a salary like Halladay's -- at least not right now. Halladay is owed $15.75 million in 2010, and to even get the pitcher for one year, the Twins would have to give up a package of their most highly touted prospects. That is, if Toronto is even interested in what the Twins would have to offer. It seems a heavy price to pay for one year of Halladay's services.
The Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and Dodgers are among the teams rumored to be interested in the ace pitcher, and it's likely that whatever team decides to trade for Halladay could also get time to negotiate a contract extension. So, right now, I would say it's an unlikely scenario that the Twins would get involved in the race for Halladay.
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
