Twins keep players, increase payroll

From the Seats, December 22, 2004

,MINNEAPOLIS - Jacque Jones, Louis Rivas, Michael Ryan, and Matt Guerrier all signed one year deals on Monday. The Twins also offered arbitration to Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, Kyle Lohse, and J.C. Romero.

Jones signed for $5 million, Rivas for $1.625 million, and LeCroy signed for $750,000. Now the Twins will go to work on trying to get a multi year contract for Johan Santana.

With the latest signings it will put the Twins ahead of the projected $55 million payroll. Terry Ryan did get approval to increase payroll. That is good news, the not so good news to go with it is that all hopes of adding any free agents have pretty much gone down the drain. Unless Terry Mulholland can do some recruiting and get some guys for $1.

Since the payroll has been okayed to be increased by Pohlad I think this is a good move, keeping Jones around. Hunter was quoted in the paper that he was happy that Jones is staying. I don't know what Hunter would have been like (attitude wise) if Jones had left. Would Hunter have the same approach as he would if Jones stays?

Signing Rivas to a one year deal pretty much assures he will be at second. Nothing to exciting there unless he figures out a new approach at the plate.