FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -The Minnesota Twins want closer Joe Nathan around for the long term, and he’s not looking to leave.
There is no guarantee, though, they’ll agree on the cost of making that happen – look at what happened with Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. While a contract extension is a possibility this spring, Nathan is about eight months from becoming a free agent.
Relief pitching is always a premium for contending teams, so Nathan is certain to have high trade value should the Twins decide not to meet his asking price. Manager Ron Gardenhire has made clear to the front office how adamant he is about keeping Nathan.
“Next out the door? I tried not to go there. I tried not to go there with anybody until it’s down to the last second,” Gardenhire said. He added: “I think he’ll be here. I’m not even thinking about him not being here. That’s where I’m at. Call it naive. Call it anything you want. I refuse to go there.”
The manager’s wish is not always reality, of course.
“It’s just good to hear him say that, but it doesn’t change the fact that we really haven’t heard anything from them,” Nathan said. “We’re definitely still optimistic that’s something we can get done. They know were we stand.”
General manager Bill Smith declined to comment on the matter. Nathan’s agent, Dave Pepe, was in town this week for client visits, but he reported no progress on negotiations.
The rest of the relievers realize Nathan’s situation, especially in light of the winter departures of Hunter and Santana, who desired contracts that were longer than the Twins were willing to commit to.
They’re preparing themselves for their expected roles this season in a bullpen that, if everyone is healthy, should be strong. They’re also continuing to develop themselves as future closers, should Nathan leave or they find themselves on other teams.
“If Joe’s here, I’m definitely happy where I am,” right-hander Jesse Crain said. “I’d love to have the opportunity to do that. That’s definitely my goal. The first thing to do is just be healthy, and we’ll see what happens after that.”
ns worked out together in Minnesota over the winter, and Crain is eager to begin facing live hitters for the next test in his recovery.
“That’ll be when I know I’m actually taking the next step,” Crain said.
Juan Rincon is another right-hander trying to return to form. He said he was healthy last year, but just lost his rhythm and confidence once his early struggles moved him down the list and his assignments decreased. After three spot-on seasons as the primary setup man in the eighth for Nathan, Rincon saw his ERA spike to 5.13. He gave up 65 hits and walked 28 in 59-plus innings.
“I’m not going to blame my results on anything else but results,” Rincon said.
He pitched in a winter league at home in Venezuela, which he said has given him a boost for the season.
Side-armer Pat Neshek blew away the league until a late fade due to fatigue, when he suddenly lost his slider. Neshek rested the final few weeks last September when the Twins were out of the race, which was all he needed to re-energize for 2008.
He’s a potential closer-in-waiting, too, though like the others Neshek is not ready to think that way as long as Nathan is here.
“It’d be great to always keep him around for a foundation, as a leader, and someone you kind of look up to,” Neshek said. “No matter who you put there, there probably won’t ever be another closer in Twins history who put up the numbers he did. Have a fun time, because you’re not going to be able to do that. If that’s me, I’ll do my best, and if it’s somebody else, they’ll do their best. I don’t think anybody wants to see him leave.”
Left-hander Dennys Reyes, whose arrival at camp from his native Mexico has been delayed by an expired passport, will fill a specialist role and right-hander Matt Guerrier will return to the late-inning mix after an excellent year.
That leaves one bullpen spot open, likely for one of the starters who doesn’t make the rotation. Perkins, whose 2007 season was also marred by injury, could get it.
With essentially the same group in tact, the Twins expect a lot – especially with so many young starters.
“We really don’t feel like we have a load put on us, because we have so many guys down there that can do a great job,” Nathan said. “That’s why it’s something that I’d like to be able to be a part of for a few more years and get a chance to stay here, because of these guys, and try to stay and have some more success.”
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