In a column for the Star Tribune on Monday, Patrick Reusse noted that the Twins will shed $37 million in payroll this offseason ($40 million if you count the $3 million that Jim Thome is making). Reusse argues that the Twins must use this money to acquire two starting pitchers to head their currently-awful rotation. In reality, not all of the money that the Twins save will be available; they may re-sign Michael Cuddyer or Joe Nathan, the front office may require a payroll reduction, or the team may choose to spend some money to shore up a terrible middle infield. But as Reusse correctly points out, there may be  as much as $30 million available for starting rotation help.

In any other year, this would be enough to bring in a true ace pitcher. But the free agent market for 2012 looks pretty thin. A list of potential 2012 free agents can be found here. As you can see, other than CC Sabathia, who might opt out of his massive contract to extort even more money from the wealthy Yankees, there isn’t a lot available on the starting pitching market.

Here are a few highlights, though, with some notes on how they could help the Twins:

Truly, the beginning of the season is a time for great optimism.

That is why Patrick Reusse’s Opening Day article in the Star Tribune was like finding a dead mouse in my morning bowl of Lucky Charms.

The article contains some interesting observations by former Twins owner Clark Griffith, but the central argument is that the Twins’ window of opportunity may have closed because their players are mostly past their primes. (more…)