Minor Signings

Sometime in the past few days, the Twins signed a couple of right-handed minor league starters who will presumably serve as filler at the AA/AAA level this season. Considering the tiny amount of transaction information that has been coming out over the past few weeks, this actually constitutes "news."

The first player signed was Landon Jacobsen, a South Dakotan born on May 4, 1979. Jacobsen was a 50th round pick back in 1999 by the Pirates, and he was in the Pirates organization through the 2006 season. Last year, he signed as a minor league free agent with the Phillies, where he split time between AA and AAA. Jacobsen actually has a solid career minor league ERA (3.46), but last season he struggled in both AA (4.61 in 93.2 IP) and AAA (4.80 in 69.1 IP).

The other player signed was Heath Totten, a Texan born on September 30, 1978. Totten was a 5th round pick by the Dodgers in 2000, and he was with LA through the 2006 season. Last year, like Jacobsen, Totten pitched at the AA and AAA levels for the Phillies. Totten was actually solid in AA, posting a 3.38 ERA in 56 IP while striking out 31 and walking just 13. Unfortunately, he was eaten alive in AAA as evidenced by his 7.09 ERA in 33 innings and his 11-8 K-BB ratio.