Twins pick Gomez for center field
It’s official: Carlos Gomez is Minnesota’s center fielder and leadoff hitter.
Gomez formally won the job Monday when competitors Denard Span and Jason Pridie were optioned to Triple-A Rochester before the Twins’ 8-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gomez, who was acquired by the Twins in the deal that sent Johan Santana to the New York Mets, went 1-for-5 with an infield single against St. Louis. He also struck out three times and was caught stealing.
It was a quiet clubhouse after Minnesota’s roster was essentially set for opening day. Infielder Brian Buscher and right-hander Philip Humber also were optioned to Triple-A.
“I feel bad, and I feel good,” Gomez said, referring to the mixed emotion of seeing teammates get cut and learning about his appointment. “I hit hard, steal bases, score runs. That’s what I do.”
Gomez, who is batting .278 this spring, set himself apart from Span and Pridie with his elite speed.
“Overall, the excitement that he brings and the way he runs the bases — he brings that extra little flare right now,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He can ignite a baseball team. That’s what we’re looking for. I’m not asking the world of this young man. I’m asking him to just go out and play and have fun.”
Span, a first-round pick in 2002, was dejected by the demotion. He batted .282 with a .404 on-base percentage this spring.
“None of them were easy,” Gardenhire said. “They have all given us everything that they had, all spring long. So it was not a good day.”
Rick Ankiel went 2-for-4 with a double for the Cardinals, lifting his spring average to .369. D’Angelo Jimenez’s RBI single and Cesar Izturis’ two-run single gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Skip Schumaker hit a two-run single in the sixth.
Brad Thompson, competing for a spot in the Cardinals’ rotation, allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-3 with a two-run double for the Twins, boosting his spring average to .340.
Minnesota starter Brian Bass allowed three hits and two runs in three-plus innings. He will be the long reliever and 12th man on the staff.
Buscher’s demotion means Matt Tolbert has won a spot on the bench as a utility player. Tolbert went 1-for-3 and scored two runs against the Cards.
The last roster spot still to be decided for Minnesota involves left-hander Francisco Liriano, who is working his way back from reconstructive elbow surgery. He could stay behind in Fort Myers for more work when the team breaks camp this weekend, which would leave Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey in the rotation for the time being behind veteran Livan Hernandez.
Closer Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins agreed Monday to a $47 million, four-year contract, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the two-time All-Star.
Nathan was in the final year of a contract that called for a $6 million salary in 2008. Several ace relievers around the majors were making far more.
Instead of negotiating an extension, the sides agreed to a new deal.
Nathan gets $11.25 million in each of the next four seasons, and the Twins have a $12.5 million option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout.