Jim Mandelaro
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

The Christmas shopping season is over, and apparently so is the Minnesota
Twins' search for free agents to solidify the Red Wings' 2007 roster.

"You're never done, but right now it looks like we have a nucleus to
choose from,'' Twins farm director Jim Rantz, the man in charge with
building the Wings, said this week from his Minneapolis office.

On paper, the Twins did not appear to hit a home run for their Triple-A
affiliate. The top minor-league free agent signed was first baseman Ken
Harvey, an All-Star with Kansas City in 2004 but limited to 12 games the
past two seasons because of a bad back. It's hardly certain that he would
accept an assignment to Triple-A, and the Red Wings already have a solid
first baseman in Garrett Jones, the first Rochester player since Don
Baylor (1970-71) to hit 20-plus home runs in consecutive seasons.

Also signed to a minor-league contract was right-hander Jeremy Cummings,
who no-hit the Wings for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in September. Cummings, 30,
is a solid 60-45 with a 3.86 earned-run average in eight minor-league
seasons, but he'll probably be no better than Rochester's No. 3 starter
when the season opens on April 6 against Ottawa.

Two left-handed relievers, Mike Venafro and Carmen Cali, also were signed
but both will vie for spots in the Twins' bullpen. Venafro has pitched in
307 big-league games for Texas, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Colorado and the Los
Angeles Dodgers. Cali pitched briefly for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004
and '05.

The Twins re-signed five potential free agents: left-hander Jason Miller,
infielders Gil Velazquez, Tommy Watkins and Glenn Williams and outfielder
Josh Rabe, a 2006 Triple-A All-Star. Miller alternated between starting
and relieving, Velazquez and Watkins are both coming off career years and
Williams likely will play third base. Rabe, who earned his first
big-league callup last summer, would be one of the Wings' top offensive
threats if he returns for a fifth season in Rochester.

Several players from the 2006 Governors' Cup finalist Red Wings probably
will play elsewhere. Reliever Beau Kemp signed with Toronto, third baseman
Terry Tiffee signed with Baltimore after being dropped by the Twins and
relievers Kevin Cameron (San Diego) and Levale Speigner (Washington) were
selected in the Rule V draft.

Cameron and Speigner were purchased for $50,000 but must remain on the
big-league roster or be offered back to the Twins for $25,000.

"That's a possibility,'' Rantz says.

Outfielders Andres Torres and Kevin West, catcher Shawn Wooten and pitcher
Mike Smith, who emerged as Rochester's top starting pitcher the second
half of the season, were not asked back. Smith signed with the St. Louis
Cardinals last month.

Another former Wings pitcher Henry Bonilla, signed a minor-league deal
this week with the Los Angeles Angels.

"He's one guy I would have had an interest in,'' Rantz says.

Rantz feels comfortable with a starting rotation that probably will
include top prospects Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey, plus Cummings,
left-hander Dave Gassner and perhaps right-hander J.D. Durbin, who must
clear waivers in the spring because he's out of options.

Troubled pitcher Sidney Ponson signed a minor-league deal with the Twins
this week, but has an 'out' that allows him to refuse a demotion to the
minors. He may be willing to start the season in Rochester, however, given
Minnesota's unstable rotation.

"(Rochester's) rotation looks pretty solid,'' Rantz says.

Rantz's biggest concern is finding a veteran catcher to back up Chris
Heintz, who probably will return for a fourth season. It's a difficult
task, given that the Twins have two solid catchers (American League
batting champ Joe Mauer and veteran Mike Redmond) and Heintz is on the
40-man roster.

"They know what's ahead of them,'' Rantz says.

A potential major boost to a lineup light on power would be the return of
2004 International League batting champion and Rookie of the Year Jason
Kubel. The outfielder missed the 2005 season following major surgery on
his left knee and underwent surgery on his right knee in November to
repair torn meniscus.

"We're not sure what's going to happen with his situation,'' Rantz says.

There are many questions, but few exclamation marks. The 2007 Red Wings
are a work in progress and will be up until Opening Day.

As it stands now, reaching .500 looks like a much easier task than making
a return trip to the playoffs.

Projected lineup

With Opening Day two months away, here's how the 2007 Red Wings could
shape up:

Catcher — Chris Heintz
1B — Garrett Jones
2B — Alexi Casilla
SS — Luis Rodriguez
3B — Glenn Williams
LF — Josh Rabe
CF — Denard Span
RF — Alex Romero
DH — Ken Harvey

Starting rotation: Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, Jeremy Cummings, Dave
Gassner and Jason Miller.
Bullpen ace: Bobby Korecky.

January 11, 2007