The Minnesota Twins may be preparing to reunite with Matt Garza--the right handed pitcher the team drafted with the 25th overall pick of the 2005 MLB Draft--according to multiple reports.
NESN reports that the Twins are kicking the tires on Garza, a free-agent, who the team drafted in the first round almost a decade ago. Garza spent parts of two seasons with the Twins before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in November of 2007.
Garza spent 2013 split between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers, and went 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.236 WHIP and 136 strikeouts. Garza went 6-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 11 starts with Chicago before going 4-5 with a 4.38 ERA through 13 starts with Texas.
Minnesota is desperate to turn around their lackluster play in recent seasons. The Twins have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons, finishing in last place in 2011 and 2012 before somewhat improving to fourth place in 2013 and finishing with a 66-96 record for the second straight campaign.
The Twins have spent a lot of time this offseason revamping their rotation by signing Ricky Nolasco (four years, $49 million), Phil Hughes (three years, $24 million) and Mike Pelfrey (two years, $11 million), and would like to add Garza to the rotation at the right price.
The Twins rotation finished 29th in ERA (4.55) and 28th in WHIP (1.41) last season and will look to turn things around in the American League Central in 2014 and make the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
NESN reports that the club is considering Garza and Bronson Arroyo to round out the rotation, with Garza being an attractive option due to his link with the organization and his past success. Minnesota is willing to pay a high annual salary to Garza but aren't willing to give him a long-term deal.
Garza, 30, is 67-67 in his eight-year career with a 3.84 ERA, a 1.283 WHIP and 1,001 strikeouts.
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