La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts. Mark Rosen borrows him occasionally for WCCO-TV.
The Twins have agreed to terms with righthander Jason Marquis on a one-year, $3 million contract.
Marquis is expected to move into the back end of the Twins rotation.
Marquis, 33, is 104-98 in his career and was 8-6 with a 4.43 ERA in stints with Washington and Arizona last season. Marquis' best season with 2004 with St. Louis, when he went 15-7, 3.71. He has never pitched in the American League.
Marquis is in town today for a physical, which usually is the final step before the Twins announce a deal.
The signing indicates that the Twins will move lefthander Brian Duensing into the bullpen.
The Twins will officially announce the deal later this afternoon.
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