Tracy Ringolsby's weekly baseball notes

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With the signing of closer Joe Nathan to a four-year deal, the Minnesota Twins should put to rest the mistaken belief they were purging their roster of salaries.Yes, they lost Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva to free agency and dealt Johan Santana to the Mets, but it's not as if they made no effort to keep them.They offered Hunter a $15 million-a-year deal -- but for three years -- and they offered Santana $20 million a year - but for four years.They also have been aggressive in signing players who want to stay, the most recent of whom is Nathan, who was given a four-year, $47 million guarantee with an option on a fifth year.Already under contract were catcher Joe Mauer (four years, $33 million through 2010), first baseman Justin Morneau (six years, $80 million through 2013) and designated hitter Michael Cuddyer (three years, $24 million through 2010).STOPPING THE CLOCKTampa Bay made a bottom-line decision in sending third baseman Evan Longoria to the minors. Longoria will be up in a couple of months.The Rays just wanted to delay his free agency. As one club official explained, "If we are headed in the right direction, what Longoria can do for us in 2013 is a lot more significant than 2008."If Longoria opened this season in the big leagues, 2013 would be his first year of free-agent eligibility. By delaying his call-up, that won't happen until 2014.The Rays are getting plenty of attention for the move, but they didn't invent the idea. Does the name Ryan Braun sound familiar? He went through the same thing in Milwaukee last year and still was voted National League Rookie of the Year.WILLIS WOES?Detroit locked up third baseman Miguel Cabrera with a seven-year, $141 million extension, but the other key player in the Marlins trade, left-hander Dontrelle Willis, is a concern.It's not just that Willis has issued 14 walks and compiled an 8.64 ERA in 112/3 innings this spring, but he was 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA for the Marlins last year. Scouts are wondering about his diminishing velocity and lack of control.Willis also gave up 29 home runs last year despite calling pitcher- friendly Dolphins Stadium home and he walked career-high 87 batters in 2051/3 innings.SCRATCH HITS-- The White Sox were the only team that did not have a player ranked among the top 100 prospects in the game by Baseball America.-- Right-hander Kerry Wood is the Cubs closer and has been throwing in the mid-90s, but questions remain about his ability to work back-to-back days.-- Since the introduction of the third round of playoffs in 1995, 85 of the 104 postseason participants have won at least five of their first 10 games.OVERHEARD-- San Francisco is serious about moving veteran second baseman Ray Durham, who is guaranteed $8 million this year, and outfielder Dave Roberts, guaranteed $6.5 million this year and next. The Giants admit they will pick up part of the salary for both.-- Right-hander Anthony Reyes may be the Cardinals' best pitching prospect but his ongoing feud with pitching coach Dave Duncan has him on the outs, and scouts for nearly a dozen teams showed up to watch his most recent spring appearance.-- Third baseman Joe Crede says he is healthy, but teams weren't convinced enough to make a deal with the White Sox this spring. Josh Fields, whose 23 home runs led all rookies last year, was sent to the minors, with the White Sox hoping that Crede plays well enough early that they can deal him.READER'S TURNKent Kaiser writes, "Could you explain the options process to me? I always hear that a player has one or two options left, but never know exactly how that works."Kent, if a player is on the 40-man roster but not on the 25-man active major league roster, he can be "optioned" to the minor leagues without having to be put through waivers.A player generally has three options, and each option is good for a full season. In other words, a player with an option can be called up and sent down as often as the team wants in a season, and that uses only one option. If a players' three options are used within his first five years of professional experience, however, the team is given a fourth option for that player.Have a question or comment? Send an e-mail to ringolsbyt@ RockyMountainNews.com.TWO CENTS' WORTHThere's something about the New York Mets that makes it hard to really believe they can win the NL East. As if their achy-breaky bodies aren't concern enough, the rotation is such a mess that in the final days of the spring, club officials were still toying with the idea of Nelson Figueroa being the fifth starter.This is the same Figueroa who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2004 and spent last year playing in Mexico and Taiwan.Odds are Mike Pelfry will get the job with Orlando Hernandez going on the disabled list, but neither distinguished himself this spring.NUMBERS GAME-- 4: Stolen bases in 458 major league games for White Sox center fielder Nick Swisher, who will be the team's primary leadoff hitter while Jerry Owens is on the disabled list with a strained groin.PART OF BONDS IS BACKNot only is Barry Bonds gone, but the Giants have removed all items inside AT&T Park related to him.Club officials did say they will reinstall the Splash Meter, which registered home runs hit over the right-field wall into McCovey Cove.The meter was at 60, with Bonds having hit 35 of them.HE SAID IT"The last couple years, I think we've been in last place in spring training, and it carried on through the season, so, hopefully, it will be different this year."-- James Shields, pitcher, on Tampa Bay enjoying only its second winning spring training in its 11-year history.(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)