Signing Crede is low risk, All-Star reward

FORT MYERS, FLA. — The Twins went from having a question mark at third base to potentially having their best infield since their World Series title-winning teams in 1987 and '91.

Free agent Joe Crede, a 2008 All-Star and strong defensive player at third, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Twins worth $2.5 million. By meeting incentives for staying healthy, Crede could earn as much as $7 million this season. The incentives begin at 250 plate appearances and max out at 525.

Crede, who flew to Fort Myers from the Twin Cities on Saturday night, will be presented at a news conference this morning at the Lee County Sports Complex.

The Twins were prepared to enter the season with Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris at third base. But the addition of a proven player such as Crede to play with former MVP Justin Morneau at first base, table-setter Alexi Casilla at second and reliable shortstop Nick Punto appears to give the Twins their best all-around infield in a long time.

"This is the guy that we talked about way, way back," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "This guy, if he's healthy, can do a lot of damage. We've seen him. He's done it to us. He can pick it at third base. He's a Gold Glove third baseman type of player. He can put the ball in the seats, as he's done plenty of times against us."

The Twins on Friday wrapped up most of the negotiations with Crede's agent, Scot Boras, after weeks of talks that went on while Crede worked out for scouts in Arizona. Crede, 30, has played in only 144 games over the past two seasons for the Chicago White Sox, each one ending with back surgery. Last year, he went on the disabled list in late July, and an attempted comeback was aborted after he played in only seven games.

Boras maintains that Crede is 100 percent -- but most of the haggling was over how much risk the Twins wanted to take on. By guaranteeing Crede $2.5 million, the Twins aren't taking a big hit if Crede's back flares up again.

"If he is on the field, he will help us quite a bit," Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer said. "I also believed in the guys we had in-house, too. Make no mistake about that. I think Buscher and Harris and the guys who would have gotten the opportunity would have done a great job.

"But that being said, Crede has killed us over the past couple years. I think with the opportunity he's going to have over here, he's going to have a chance to help us. He might be the guy to do it. If anything, he won't be killing us."

Crede hit .400 with seven homers and 17 RBI in 11 games for the White Sox against the Twins in 2008, including a grand slam in the teams' first meeting. Signing Crede, who was drafted by the White Sox in 1996 and played nine seasons for them, adds another layer to the heated White Sox-Twins rivalry -- the latest chapter occurring on Sept. 30, when the Twins lost 1-0 at Chicago in a one-game playoff for the American League Central title.

But White Sox players on Saturday spoke highly of Crede when approached by the Chicago media at the team's new spring camp in Glendale, Ariz.

"First of all, I'm happy for him," Chicago right fielder Jermaine Dye said. "It was a tough offseason for a lot of people. And hopefully that [artificial] turf doesn't affect his back too much. I've talked to him a lot and seen him in Arizona when he was working out and said he feels good.

"Hopefully he does well, just not on the days we play him."

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was asked if adding Crede makes the Twins the favorite in the AL Central.

"He will make their pitching staff better because their defense will be a lot better," Guillen said, "He will create double plays. He knows how to play the game. There is one player who didn't grow up with the Minnesota Twins organization, and he played like a Minnesota Twin. He's that type of player.

"They got better? If Crede is on the field, they're going to be better. I don't think they'll win the division because of one player."

If he's healthy, Crede brings the best production at that position since Corey Koskie left as a free agent following the 2004 season. Crede hit 21, 22 and 30 homers from 2004 to '06 and batted .248 with 17 homers and 55 RBI in 97 games last season.

If he's healthy, Crede is a defensive whiz. His .964 fielding percentage since 2003 is sixth-best in the majors -- and it would be higher if he hadn't committed a league-high 20 errors at his position last season while he battled back problems.

If he's healthy, the Twins look more like a contender.

"If you can put a guy up there that has the capabilities of a Gold Glove and also a 25-30 home run guy, you have to take a chance," Gardenhire said. "It's a good chance."