Nathan hopeful deal near on extension

Last update: March 20, 2008 - 10:32 PM

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Twins closer Joe Nathan on Thursday expressed optimism that he'll sign a contract extension with the club.

He had a good reason to feel that way.

"My agent is the pessimist of the group,'' Nathan said before the Twins' spring training game against Cincinnati. "If he's saying that things are going in the right direction, that's a good sign. To get him to say that is always good.''

Dave Pepe, Nathan's agent, spent midday in the Twins' offices with Twins General Manager Bill Smith and assistant GM Rob Antony trying to get a deal done. The Twins wouldn't comment on the talks on Thursday.

Talks were at a stalemate in recent weeks and Nathan and Pepe made it clear they would look forward to free agency during the offseason if a deal wasn't done by the start of the regular season.

Nathan, who is underpaid at $6 million this season, sounded like not much more work needed to be done to avoid that deadline.

"From what I gathered is that they had very good talks, and I think things are moving in the right direction,'' Nathan said.

Pepe is in Fort Myers until Sunday.

Hurry up Baker

Righthander Scott Baker estimated that he has lost five to 10 pounds after coming down with the flu last week. He joked that he couldn't feel his legs during his bullpen session on Wednesday.

"I have been able to eat a little more every day,'' said Baker, who was shut down after a March 8 start because of a strained lat muscle before becoming ill. "There's no power. There's no energy.''

But Baker had to throw on Wednesday so he could begin the process of building arm strength for the regular season. He is scheduled to start on Saturday.

And the Twins are considering having Baker pitch every four days. That would enable Baker to throw a simulated game on March 30 at the Dome.

The goal is to get Baker's pitch count to at least 85 pitches before the season starts.

Liriano concerns, too

The Twins' starting rotation could be in more of a flux if lefthander Francisco Liriano can't sharpen his pitches by the end of camp.

Liriano, working his way back from Tommy John surgery in November 2006, needs to improve the command of his fastball and have the confidence to throw his slider the way it's supposed to be thrown.

"If he's not ready to pitch up in the big leagues by the end of spring training, we will leave him somewhere else and let him get ready,'' Gardenhire said. "We've got a lot of ifs right now with Liriano and Baker. We're trying to figure it out as we go here.''

Cuts coming

Indications are that the Twins will make more roster moves today as they work their way down to the 25-man limit before Opening Day. They have 40 players in camp, including 18 pitchers.

Upcoming

Twins righthander Livan Hernandez is scheduled to start at 12:05 p.m. today against Philadelphia. Righthanders Brian Bass, Pat Neshek and Casey Daigle and lefthander Dennys Reyes are scheduled to follow.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III