General Manager for the previous 13 years, Terry Ryan stepped down into the role of Senior Advisor in September 2007 and was replaced by Bill Smith, formerly the assistant general manager. Scouting director Mike Radcliff was named vice president of player personnel and director of baseball operations Rob Antony was named assistant GM.[1]
Prior to the Rays trade, the Twins traded for outfielder Craig Monroe of the Chicago Cubs. Monroe would later sign with the Twins and would be placed on the major league roster soon after. Monroe joined several others including Adam Everett and Mike Lamb as those new to the team who made the 2008 Opening Day roster.
On January 18, 2008, the Twins avoided arbitration with three current players: Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau and Juan Rincón. Rincón and Kubel were signed through 2008, while Morneau and Michael Cuddyer were signed to extended contracts.[2]
Minnesota lost Carlos Silva via free agency, Silva signing with the Seattle Mariners for a four-year contract. Silva was a starting pitcher for the Twins in recent years after coming over in the Eric Milton trade.
The Twins, as per long-standing tradition,[3] were the last team to begin spring training on February 17, 2008.
On March 27, the Twins announced they had finished signing their entire 40-man roster.[4]
Pitcher Francisco Liriano was unable to report to camp on time due to visa problems.[5] Shortly before the start of the season, Liriano was sent down to the minor leagues to continue his development.[6]
The team re-signed closerJoe Nathan to a four-year contract on March 24.[8]
Regular season
Notable events
On May 7, 2008, Carlos Gómezhit for the cycle against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. He became the ninth major leaguer in history to hit for the reverse natural cycle.[9] He also became the third-youngest player to hit for the cycle in MLB history.[10] It had been a spell of 22 years since the last Twin hit for the cycle, Kirby Puckett in 1986.
On May 19, Bobby Korecky—with a single in the tenth inning—became the only Twins pitcher to get a hit in the Metrodome (1982–2009).
In the third inning of the June 15 game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Scott Baker became the first Minnesota Twin to strike out four men in a single inning. After Ryan Braun struck out, Prince Fielder struck out swinging at a wild pitch and made it to first base. Baker then struck out Russell Branyan and Mike Cameron to end the inning. Baker is the eighth American League pitcher to strike out the four consecutively. In 2012, Francisco Liriano will become the second Twin to accomplish the feat.[11]
Joe Mauer won his second American League batting title with a .328 average. Justin Morneau set a new club record with 47 doubles, and led the major leagues playing in 163 games. Carlos Gómez topped Rod Carew's 1974 team record with 30 bunt singles (Carew had 29), a total which led the majors.
April 19, 2008: Placed shortstop Adam Everett on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 15; recalled third baseman Brian Buscher from Rochester.
April 24, 2008: Optioned outfielder Denard Span to Rochester of the International League (AAA).
April 25, 2008: Activated outfielder Michael Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list.
April 26, 2008: Optioned pitcher Francisco Liriano to Rochester of the International League (AAA); recalled pitcher Bobby Korecky from Rochester.
April 30, 2008: Optioned third baseman Brian Buscher to Rochester of the International League (AAA).
May 2, 2008: Activated infielder Adam Everett from the 15-day disabled list.
May 8, 2008: Placed pitcher Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 4; activated pitcher Kevin Slowey from the 15-day disabled list.
May 9, 2008: Placed pitcher Pat Neshek on the 15-day disabled list; recalled pitcher Glen Perkins from Rochester.
May 11, 2008: Placed infielder Nick Punto on the 15-day disabled list; recalled infielder Alexi Casilla from Rochester.
May 17, 2008: Placed infielder Matt Tolbert on the 15-day disabled list; purchased the contract of infielder Howie Clark from Rochester.
May 22, 2008: Placed shortstop Adam Everett on the 15-day disabled list; recalled infielder Matt Macri from Rochester.
June 5, 2008: Optioned infielder Matt Macri to Rochester of the International League (AAA).
June 6, 2008: Activated pitcher Scott Baker from the 15-day disabled list; placed infielder Nick Punto on the 15-day disabled list; recalled infielder Matt Macri from Rochester.
June 24, 2008: Activated infielder Nick Punto from the 15-day disabled list: optioned infielder Howie Clark to Rochester.
June 29, 2008: Placed outfielder Michael Cuddyer on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 28; recalled outfielder Denard Span from Rochester of the International League (AAA).
July 31, 2008: Placed infielder Alexi Casilla on the 15-day disabled list; activated infielder Adam Everett from the 15-day disabled list.
August 11, 2008: Signed former Twin Bobby Kielty to a minor league contract.
August 21, 2008: Activated infielder Alexi Casilla from the 15-day disabled list; assigned pitcher Brian Bass to Rochester of the International League (AAA).
Player stats
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
Pitching
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
^Twins: Ryan steps down, Smith will take over Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^La Velle E. Neal III (January 26, 2007). "Morneau, Cuddyer sign up". Minneapolist Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 28, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
^The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: New faces mark start of Twins camp
^"The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: Official Info: Twins sign 16 players to 2008 contracts". Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
^The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Notes: Liriano to be late to camp
^"The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Liriano won't break camp with Twins". Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
^"The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Gómez wins center-field job". Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
^"The Official Site of The Minnesota Twins: News: Nathan staying put in Twin Cities". Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
^Huber, Mike. "May 7, 2008: Minnesota's Carlos Gomez hits for reverse natural cycle". SABR. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
^Willis, Ken. Hey Willie! Best Style is Winning. news-journalonline.com. April 20, 2008. Archived May 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^"Four Strikeouts in One Inning". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
^"Morneau overcomes Hamilton's stellar show". MLB.com. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
