Jamey Carroll is reportedly set to sign with the Twins on a two-year deal worth about $7 million to be their starting shortstop. Carroll will turn 38 before the season starts. He has only been on the DL once in his entire career, according to that link. He has a career OBP of .356, and he catches the ball. His agent's name is Jonathan Maurer. In other words, the Twins are reportedly going to sign an older, more durable version of Nick Punto (albeit with 12 career homers to Punto's 14) who gets on base more and is represented by a guy who sounds like a bad Joe Mauer Alias.
Approve?
It's not exciting. But Carroll sounds like he was born to play for the Terry Ryan Twins, so it's fitting that he should be the first new guy to sign in the new Ryan era. And we will say that after last year's parade of errors and trips to the DL, a durable shortstop who doesn't mess up routine plays sounds mighty decent.
And it could be worse. You could be giving Jonathan Papelbon four years and $50 million.
