The Twins' mess of a bullpen could use a little more power and a little less finesse, the front office has decided. And Friday, they acted on that decision.
Right-hander Juan Morillo, who has been clocked as high as 96 mph, was claimed off waivers by the Twins and will take up residence in Minnesota's pen. To make room, the Twins designated former first-round pick Philip Humber for assignment. "This guy is what we don't have right now -- a hard thrower for the bullpen," general manager Bill Smith said. "He has a power arm, and we are looking to add power arms in this organization."
It means probably cutting ties with Humber, one of four players acquired when the Twins dealt Cy Young winner Johan Santana to the Mets in February 2007. Smith has 10 days to trade the right-hander or risk losing him on waivers for nothing. Since the former No. 3 overall pick went 6-1 after the All-Star break for Class AAA Rochester last summer, Humber would almost certainly be claimed by a team needing starting pitching depth.
Meanwhile, the Twins hope pitching coach Rick Anderson can help Morillo, 25, find a way to throw strikes. The Dominican right-hander walked 56 batters in 59 2/3 innings at Colorado Springs last year. "We've had some good reports on him," Smith said. "We'll let Rick take a crack at him and see what happens."
TWINS 11, ANGELS 9: Jason Kubel hit for the cycle, and finished his historic night off in dramatic fashion -- a grand slam that completed the Twins' comeback from a five-run deficit. Minnesota, after allowing five runs in the seventh inning, rallied for seven of its own in the eighth, with Mike Redmond driving in one run with a bloop single, Denard Span knocking in two with a bases-loaded double, and Kubel capping the rally with a titanic upper-deck grand slam. Kubel became the ninth Twin to hit for the cycle, and first since Carlos Gomez last May.
