Brad

Radke

Radke entered Sunday’s contest with a 3-5 record, 8.25 ERA, and .343 batting average against at home. Yesterday, he allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings, and would have been the winner had the bullpen not blown the game.

He did not pitch well Saturday due in part to the ailment. Radke was to have pitched this Thursday but Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire took the opportunity to juggle his rotation so that Johan Santana and Radke would start the first two games of the American League Divisional series slated to begin October 5th.

“I figured I didn’t want to play forever. I’ve got family to think about,” he said. “I’ve got two boys growing up. I want to sit back and enjoy life, too. When I do retire, I’ll thank the Twins for giving me the opportunity to play in the big leagues and have the rest of my life taken care of.” If all Radke is looking for is a two-year offer, then the chances of him staying with the Twins increase. The Red Sox and the Indians were among the teams that seemed likely to offer him three-year deals.

“It revolves around Radke to a degree,” Ryan said. That sounds good, but speculation has the Twins offering Radke only a two-year deal. Other teams may be willing to go to $27 million over three years. Radke could take less money to stay in Minnesota, but he’s probably going to want the three-year deal.

“It stinks that he’s not going to be back,” Radke said. “I’m going to miss him. I don’t think it’s going to factor much in my decision. I don’t see any reason why the Twins couldn’t be competitive again next season.” We’ll see if he feels the same way once Corey Koskie goes. Things have been quiet on the Radke front so far. Even though he was the superior pitcher last season, he seems to be a fallback plan for some of the team’s interested in Carl Pavano.

Radke almost certainly has better offers on the table than the Twins’ three-year, $21 million proposal. If the Twins keep raising their offer by $1 million a day, they’ll be serious contenders by the start of the winter meetings on Dec. 10.

That’s just not enough. Radke may take a little less money to stay with the Twins, but there’s no reason for him to take that much less than he’s worth. It’s believed that he asked the team for about $27 million over three years.

The Twins’ first offer was believed to be worth $15 million over two years. Agent Ron Simon plans to deliver a counterproposal prior to Minnesota before Thanksgiving. He said that Radke has received “serious offers” from other teams.

Agent Ron Simon is believed to have proposed a contract worth about $27 million over three years. It’s a deal Radke could get from another team, but the Twins probably won’t go that high.

It looks like GM Terry Ryan got serious at the last minutes. Radke could have gotten at least $27 million over three years from another team, but since he only may want to pitch two more years, this works fine.