The infield takes shape as Punto opts to stay a Twin

The versatile defensive standout spurned other offers and signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract.

By TWINS INSIDER LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: December 11, 2008 - 11:07 PM

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LAS VEGAS - If there was a Mount Rushmore of vilified Twin Cities sports figures, it probably would include these men: the Wolves' Kevin McHale, the Vikings' Tarvaris Jackson, the Wild's Martin Skoula and the Twins' Nick Punto.

Many Twins fans probably were assembling a short list of candidates to replace Punto after the free agent arrived at this year's winter meetings, talked to 16 of the 30 teams and wound up with the Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, Indians and Royals as serious suitors.

In the end, Punto didn't want to leave a bunch of teammates he cares about and a manager who believes in him. So he signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with a $5 million club option for 2011.

The Twins' infield is now nearly set, with annual MVP threat Justin Morneau at first base, the emerging Alexi Casilla at second and the slick-fielding, strong-armed and occasionally acrobatic Punto at shortstop.

"I look forward to taking on the role and running with it,'' Punto said.

"He wants to win a World Series for Minnesota,'' his agent, Jeff Caulfield said.

Now that Prince Piranha is here for a little while, it's time for you Punto haters to get off his case.

The baseball blogs of this newsgathering organization routinely blow up with rants against Punto, or Punterrible, as some refer to him. Most athletes warrant criticism at times but, frankly, Punto gets more than he should.

He's not an RBI machine. He hits the ball in the air too much for my liking. And why does he dive into first base all the time? But he bounced back from batting .210 in 2007 to hit .284 last year and is excellent in the field. He's intense. He doesn't take off plays. And the list of aforementioned teams interested in him reflects how he's viewed in the league.

Denard Span and Casilla now form the daily double at the top of the order. Punto will bat where he belongs -- eighth or ninth. And there's nothing wrong with that. What's important is that manager Ron Gardenhire, who pushed for Punto's return, doesn't have to worry about who his shortstop is.

When asked on Wednesday -- before Punto signed -- who the best shortstop on the roster was, Gardenhire replied. "We have talented people that can play, but none of them, you know, are as solid as Nick Punto out there playing every day and knowing what to do and knowing how to control the game from shortstop, which is what I did. I ask my shortstop to do a lot, and that's control the game. I want him to take charge in the infield and that's why Nicky does a pretty good job for me, because he takes charge.''

Punto haters, I think your anger is misplaced.

Instead of being upset that your No. 8 hitter is back for more, you should focus on the rest of the offseason -- and the Twins inability to this point to upgrade at third base.

They lost out on Casey Blake, sticking to their principles and not guaranteeing a third year on their contract offer. This week they talked to the Rockies about Garrett Atkins and the Cubs about Mark DeRosa. They've called about San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff and Houston's Ty Wigginton. They are interested in Seattle's Adrian Beltre but, suddenly, the Twins are on his no-trade list.

With young starting pitching and a certain left fielder drawing interest from teams, the front office should have some explaining to do if the Twins can't come up with a third baseman this offseason.

And there has been no news about the Twins addressing the weakest part of their team last season -- eighth inning relief. With Pat Neshek out for all of 2009 there is no reliable set-up man to get the ball to closer Joe Nathan.

Why put Punto in your crosshairs when the Twins' viability as a playoff contender in 2009 really rests on those areas?