twins/mlb

When it becomes apparent a Rule 5er won’t make the club, you hear this annually from clubs not wanting to say the draftee was a bust: “Maybe we’ll try to make a deal to keep him.”

In the case of Diamond, the Twins actually did so — trading hard-throwing reliever Billy Bullock to the Braves after Diamond cleared waivers.

The Twins’ desire to keep Diamond was driven as much by a dearth of left-handed starters in the organization as by any certainty he could make it in the big leagues as a prototypical crafty lefty.

Diamond was the only reliable arm in the Twins’ 12-starter mess of 2012 — and the fact it’s a left arm makes it even more important to have him big-league ready in early April.

“He’s the only lefty in the starting picture, correct?” someone said to Anderson.

The pitching coach’s confirmation was a roll of his eyes.

 

Patrick Reusse can be heard 3-6 p.m. weekdays on AM-1500. • preusse@startribune.com