NASHVILLE - It wasn't a matter of how many pitchers the Twins have asked about so far during Major League Baseball's winter meetings, but rather matter of how many they had not asked about.
General Manager Terry Ryan chuckled a couple of times Monday as he talked about talks with agents.
"I've talked to a quite a few agents for starting pitchers," Ryan said.
The Twins arrived at the winter meetings interested in righthanders Joe Blanton, Brett Myers, Kevin Correia, Jair Jurrjens and Brandon McCarthy and lefthanders John Lannan and former Twin Francisco Liriano.
The Twins are one of at least six teams interested in Blanton, who has reduced his walk rate in each of his past three seasons. They were expected to meet with agents for Liriano and McCarthy sometime Monday. They also remain one of several teams interested in the ground ball-inducing Lannan.
Other reports have the Twins still linked to Myers and Correia.
"Yeah, when you sit here with agents who represent players, I think after a little bit you can kind of gauge both [parties'] interest level." Ryan said. "We've met with so many guys in the last day. That's what happens when you are where we're at. You've just got to keep digging around. I've met with a lot of people here, before you even got here."
Other notes • Both first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer have been confirmed as participants, for Team Canada and Team USA, respectively, in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
• One player who will not be participating is pitcher Liam Hendriks. Ryan revealed that the Australian righthander recently had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He should be fine in time for spring training, but Ryan doesn't want him to push himself through the WBC after surgery.
• Ryan might try to add a third baseman during the offseason to give Trevor Plouffe competition at the position.
• There's a good chance that former Twins pitcher Carl Pavano will land in Miami and play for new Marlins manager and former teammate Mike Redmond.
