Twins Inside Pitch: No Room For Cameron

In this edition of Twins Inside Pitch, the Twins have no interest in signing Mike Cameron, Jesse Crain continues to come back from injury, the Yankees have said they have put the best offer out there for Johan Santana, and much more:

The Twins' penny-pinching reputation has lingered for years despite the front office's protests that the payroll is nearly five times what it was when Torii Hunter joined the team in 1999. And while it is true that Minnesota's payroll of $72 million last season was higher than a dozen other major league teams, it now appears that the Twins might take a large step backward in spending in 2008.

Hunter left Minnesota as a free agent, and Johan Santana is likely to be traded before spring training in return for a package of inexperienced -- and low-paid -- prospects. That removes 2007's highest salaries from the Twins' roster, a pair that cost Minnesota $20 million last season. (Santana is due to earn $13.25 million in 2008.)

If Santana departs, the Twins could be one of the few teams in the major leagues without a $10 million contract next season. Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan will each earn roughly $6 million in 2008, and arbitration-eligible Justin Morneau figures to be awarded (or settle for) a salary of $9 million or so.

With no other player on the roster earning more than $5 million -- and between eight and 10 players earning the major league minimum -- the Santana-less Twins could spend $50 million or less. That's a 30 percent decline in payroll and comes two seasons before the Twins move into their new downtown ballpark.

If that occurs, the Twins' reputation for cheapness will only be enhanced, but the flexibility it provides could be critical to keeping the core of the team together. The Twins probably would be able to make market-level long-term offers to Morneau and Michael Cuddyer (and perhaps Nathan, should Minnesota choose to bid when he reaches free agency next winter), preventing them from losing key players like Hunter again.

There's one other option, of course. The Twins could swallow hard and offer Santana the $125-150 million contract he is seeking. That would end all talk of Minnesota's budget-conscious reflexes.

NOTES, QUOTES:

LHP Johan Santana remains with the Twins, but Yankees executive vice president Hank Steinbrenner said his team "has already made the best offer" for the two-time Cy Young winner. Steinbrenner told the New York Daily News that he has not offered "two of the three young pitchers," meaning Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain. But "I feel confident they're not going to trade him before checking with us one last time."

CF Mike Cameron, still seeking a new employer for 2008, approached the Twins through his agent to gauge whether general manager Bill Smith, still without an experienced center fielder for next season, had any interest in the 13-year veteran. Smith reportedly said he does not plan to make an offer.

RHP Jesse Crain continues to make progress from surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder and is already in Florida to prepare for spring training. But general manager Bill Smith told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that the team is not counting on Crain to be ready by Opening Day.

RHP Juan Rincon threw 10 innings for Lara in the Venezuelan winter league and allowed two earned runs on four hits. He also allowed seven walks in his stint in his home country. Rincon lost his setup job in Minnesota's bullpen in 2007, but the Twins chose to offer him a contract for 2008 at the non-tender deadline.

The Twins are seeking some of baseball's brightest prospects in a trade for LHP Johan Santana, but they could have acquired them in the draft. RHP Phil Hughes, for instance, was chosen 23rd by the Yankees in 2004; the Twins, holding the 20th pick, instead chose SS Trevor Plouffe. Minnesota also had the 20th pick in 2006 and took 1B Chris Parmelee; New York took LHP Ian Kennedy, also involved in the trade talks, one pick later.

BY THE NUMBERS: 8 -- New York Yankees who earned more than $12 million in 2007. The Twins have never paid a player more than $12 million in their history.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've got some candidates. These sort of things tend to sort themselves out. We might have a real competitive spring training." -- Twins general manager Bill Smith, on the team's lack of an experienced center fielder.