Tagged: Kevin Mulvey

D-backs acquire Kevin Mulvey on waiver claim

The Twins announced Tuesday that pitcher Kevin Mulvey had been assigned to the D-backs on a waiver claim for cash considerations.

Mulvey is expected to report to Arizona, who needs an additional pitcher after trading Jon Garland to the Dodgers on Monday night.

In the release, the Twins also said that they sent  cash and not a player to the D-Backs for right-hander Jon Rauch. So with cash going both ways, it turns out that Mulvey is essentially the player to be named later for that Rauch deal.

Mulvey was 5-8 with a 3.93 ERA with Triple-A Rochester this season and made one relief appearance for the Twins, allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings at Oakland. The right-hander was one of four prospects the Twins received from the Mets in exchange for Johan Santana prior to the 2008 season.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Nothing says Texas in the summer more than blistering heat and lots of sunshine. When I landed in Dallas last night, the crew announced that the temperature had fallen to 100 degrees. So the fact that it’s around 90 degrees in Arlington today is considered somewhat of a break for the Twins. However, I’m still adjusting to the “cooldown” here and it certainly feels warm to me.

Of course coming from the cool temperatures over the past few days in the Twin Cities, this heat probably feels a little more sweltering to me than usual.

The Twins open the second half with a little different looking roster. Alexi Casilla is here and gets the start at second base tonight. He’s also batting second and the hope is that he’ll be able to carry over the recent offensive success he’s had at Triple-A Rochester. Manager Ron Gardenhire also hopes that Casilla can “get the outs you are supposed to get.”

Gardy also said that he’ll mix in all three of his infielders into those two middle spots. So Nick Punto, Brendan Harris and Casilla will all see playing time.
Kevin Mulvey was also in the clubhouse this afternoon and preparing for his new role in long relief. He left 8-9 tickets for family and friends who have traveled here to Texas, hoping to see his Major League debut.

As for the All-Star Break, everyone seemed to survive their few days off just fine. Everyone that is except for bench coach Steve Liddle who came back with a few bangs and bruises from his trip with other members of the coaching staff. It was Gardenhire who came back with stitches last year after hitting his head on his Motorhome, but this year Liddle got the brunt of the mishaps as he has some cuts and bruises from various accidents during the trip. Luckily it’s nothing serious and generated more laughs than anything else.

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Here are today’s lineups:

Twins (45-44)
3rd place in AL Central, 4.0 games back

Denard Span, LF
Alexi Casilla, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Joe Crede, 3B
Brendan Harris, SS
Carlos Gomez, CF
Pitching: LLHP Glen Perkins (4-5, 4.71)

Rangers (48-39)
2nd place in AL West, 2.0 games back

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Michael Young, 3B
Josh Hamilton, CF
Andruw Jones, DH
Hank Blalock, 1B
Marlon Byrd, LF
Nelson Cruz, RF
Taylor Teagarden, C
Elvis Andrus, SS
Pitching: RHP Vicente Padilla (7-4, 4.53)

A 12-man pitching staff once again

The Twins have returned to a 12-man pitching staff for the start of the second half, as expected.

The club announced Wednesday that they have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Kevin Mulvey from Triple-A Rochester and to make room on the roster for Mulvey, they have optioned catcher Jose Morales to Rochester.

Mulvey was 3-6 with a 3.93 ERA in 17 starts for the Red Wings this season. He’s struck out 81 batters in 103 innings while walking just 31. The 24-year-old pitcher was acquired by the Twins from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade.

Morales had been the Twins third catcher. In three stints with the team, he had batted .343 in 32 games with four doubles and four RBIs.