Monday, February 11, 2013
If Diamond is delayed
By Doug Mittler
The Minnesota Twins have reworked their rotation this winter with deals for Vance Worley, Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey, and are hoping for big things from Scott Diamond, a pleasant surprise last season with a 12-9 record and a 3.54 ERA.
Diamond, however, needed surgery in December to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, and the southpaw might not be ready to break camp with the rest of the team in April, reports La Velle Neal of the Star Tribune. Diamond acknowledged that "it's going to be close," and the Twins will be extra cautious given the rash of injuries they have experienced over the last few seasons.
If Diamond misses the start of the season, that would open up a spring competition for a spot at the back of the rotation. Candidates include Cole De Vries, Liam Hendriks, Brian Duensing and Kyle Gibson, one of the club's top prospects who is nearly big-league ready after missing most of 2012 after Tommy John surgery.
