Twins' Young not upset by Gardenhire's comments

Ron Gardenhire said his ideal Twins outfield would not include Delmon Young, who responded, "It doesn't bother me at all."

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: December 5, 2008 - 1:42 PM

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Delmon Young knows he might not have a spot in the Twins' starting outfield next season. He has heard rumblings the team might trade him.

But Young expressed no hard feelings Thursday, when reached on his cell phone.

"It's not in my hands," he said from Santa Barbara, Calif. "If I come back, I come back. If I don't, I don't. I've enjoyed my time up there, but it's a business, too."

On Wednesday in Fargo, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said the team's three starting outfielders should be Denard Span, Carlos Gomez and Michael Cuddyer.

"Those three guys have to play every day," Gardenhire told the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead after speaking at a farm trade show. "Delmon is in the mix. He's a hell of a player, a hell of a talent. But to me, those three guys should be your outfield and then you go from there."

Young, who played 151 games in left field this year, took Gardenhire's comments in stride.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Young said. "It's his decision. He writes the lineup. We just go out and play when we get the opportunity."

The Twins acquired Young one year ago in a six-player trade that sent pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett to Tampa Bay.

Young, who turned 23 in September, batted .290 with 10 home runs and 69 RBI. All the homers came after June 6, and he played through a right ankle injury for the season's final six weeks.

With the ankle limiting his workouts, Young gained several pounds. But after giving the injury two weeks to heal following the season, he returned to the gym. Since then, he has been shedding pounds and adding muscle at the Peak Performance Project in Santa Barbara.

Last year, Young commuted one hour to that gym from his parents' home in Camarillo, but this year he got his own place in Santa Barbara.

Asked how much better shape he's in now than September, he said, "way better," adding, "I've got things to fix with baseball and with my body."

There have been reports of the Twins listening to trade offers for Young. One team known to have inquired about Young is Colorado, perhaps in discussions involving Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins or reliever Huston Street.

"It's going to be real hard to go into spring training with Delmon, Cuddy, Gomez and Span," Gardenhire told the Forum. "Those guys have to play every day. ... And we only have three spots."

Gardenhire could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Young said he enjoyed being part of a pennant race with the Twins. Asked how determined he is to perform better in 2009, he said: "I think everybody on the team knows we could do better. The thing is, you just worry about winning because at the end of the year, it's not about your numbers."

Etc.

• The Twins have asked release waivers on designated hitter Randy Ruiz, 31. Indications are they want to clear space at Class AAA Rochester for younger players. Ruiz made his major league debut last season, batting .274 in 22 games.

• The Twins remain in contact with free-agent infielder Nick Punto, who has received interest from several clubs, including the Phillies and the Mets. The Twins and Punto's agent, Jeff Caulfield, are expected to meet in Las Vegas next week during the winter meetings.

Staff writer La Velle E. Neal III contributed to this report.

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