Leave it to Midwest Sports Fans to help break the news: Larry DiVito just struck a deal with the Minnesota Twins. Formerly a member of the Washington Nationals, DiVito is best known for doing the team’s ‘dirty work’. This comes as a surprise as Minnesota hasn’t made a signing like this in over 20 years.
DiVito had great success in the early part of his career with Washington; that is until last season, where we can assume he was plagued with a series of health problems, the only personnel characteristic with which the Twins will garner enough interest to make someone an offer. But nothing excited the front office more than the upside they saw in years past with the Nationals.
Known for not playing a big factor on turf, DiVito is looking forward to the opening of Target Field in 2010. “This looked to me like another great opportunity…and start fresh with a new team,†DiVito said in a recent interview. And he should be. Leaving the Washington Nationals to be a part of a perennial AL Central contender has to be a relief after spending so many years as a bottom feeder.
We know that DiVito’s excited. We know that the front office is excited.
But is this really the move the Twins needed to make?
With a Joe Crede signing looming, many fans have questioned the deal, arguing that management’s continuous effort to improve everything but the left side of the infield isn’t addressing our core needs.
But what we can all agree on is that this is just another classic Twins signing: an experienced guy with upside potential that we can grab at a discount after a likely year of health problems.
Can DiVito live up to management’s hype? Many say his best work is still a year away.
Stay tuned.
