General manager Bill Smith said this afternoon that re-signing Jim Thome won’t keep the Twins from also bringing back Carl Pavano, telling Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune: “We’re very optimistic, very hopeful of bringing Carl Pavano back to this ball club.”
Christensen reports that Pavano “is taking the weekend to think about the Twins’ final offer, with a decision expected Monday or Tuesday.”
And in the meantime Thome plans to do some recruiting to help convince Pavano to re-sign.
Minnesota’s competition for Pavano is unclear, as Washington general manager Mike Rizzo downplayed the Nationals’ interest and the Brewers dropped out of the running after trading for Zack Greinke. Pavano can surely get a one-year deal from several teams, but the Twins may be the only team--or at least the only contending team--offering him a two-year contract. He’s been the top free agent starting pitcher on the market since Cliff Lee signed in mid-December.
