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 | Video: Baseball from NBC Sports |
 Sammy Sosa’s skin lightened? Nov. 9: Baseball slugger Sammy Sosa shocked the crowd when he showed up at a Las Vegas event with much lighter skin. Is he doing some kind of “skin cleansing,” as some have suggested? Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks with msnbc.com’s Courtney Hazlett and dermatologist Dr. Lynn McKinley Grant. |
MINNESOTA TWINS
2005 finish: 83-79, 3rd place in AL Central
Manager: Ron Gardenhire (5th season)
Free agents: OF Jacque Jones, RHP Joe Mays, LHP Terry Mulholland
On the block: LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Kyle Lohse, IF Michael Cuddyer, DH Matt LeCroy, IF Luis Rivas
Looking for: Offense is a must, and it can come from almost anywhere — DH, second, third base and the outfield
What’s going on: Jacque Jones will be a hot commodity on the market, and that will make it tough for the Twins to keep him, even with their desperate need to add offense. The payroll should rise a little from the $56-million mark, but $47 million already is committed in 2006 to only 10 players, so no huge salaries can be added. Four players — Torii Hunter ($10.75 million), Johan Santana ($9 million), Brad Radke ($9 million) and Shannon Stewart ($6.5 million) will make $35.25 million, or about 60 percent of the payroll. One free-agent possibility is third baseman Bill Mueller. J.C. Romero has fallen out of favor, and as a lefty with some success in the setup role, is the likeliest to go for a hitter. With Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano ready to step into the rotation, free agent Joe Mays likely won’t be re-signed and Kyle Lohse could be traded. Disappointing Michael Cuddyer and Luis Rivas could be dealt or non-tendered after struggling in 2005. Terry Mulholland probably won’t be back after a subpar season at age 42.
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