The Minnesota Twins had one of baseball's worst starting rotations in 2013, and pitching continues to be the main focus of the the team's offseason.
The Twins, which previously signed free agent starters Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco, have agreed to re-sign RHP Mike Pelfrey to a two-year, $11-million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. In all, the team has given out $84 million in guaranteed money to three pitchers this offseason.
And they may not be done: The team is "strongly interested" in signing free agent RHP Bronson Arroyo, reports Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
After missing most of 2012 following Tommy John surgery, Pelfrey was awful in 2013, going 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.552 WHIP for the Twins. But the Twins are rolling the dice he can rebuild his career enough to at least help the Twins rebound from the piching woes that plagued the entire rotation in 2013.
"He's good for the clubhouse," manager Ron Gardenhire told Berardino. "He came a long ways last year off his surgery. ... We went through this process. Now we'd like to see the benefits and fruits of it going forward."
The team still wants to add another arm, with Arroyo and Matt Garza on the radar. Arroyo is the more likely option given he will come cheaper.
The former All-Star, who turns 37 in Februrary, is one of baseball's most durable pitchers, having started at least 32 games nine straight seasons.
Combine that with his solid 2013 season with the Cincinnati Reds 2013 stats (14-12, 3.79 ERA, 1.153 WHIP, 34 BB, 124 Ks), and he has received substantial interest this offseason.