The news that Nick Blackburn has been dropped from the Twins' 40-man roster and sent to Rochester means the rotation has exactly zero members left from the intended five the organization started with in training camp. The gruesome numbers, with 2012 salary in parentheses:
*Scott Baker: Experienced elbow problems during spring training and ended up needing Tommy John surgery. He will miss entire 2012 season. ($6.5 million)
*Francisco Liriano:Went 3-10 with a 5.31 ERA through late July before -- as in impending free agent -- being traded to the White Sox for two minor league players.($5.5 million)
*Carl Pavano:Went 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA before going on DL with shoulder injury. He hasn't pitched for Twins since June 1 as he rehabs his shoulder.($8.5 million)
*Nick Blackburn:Went 4-9 with a 7.39 ERA this season before being taken off the 40-man roster and sent to Class AAA Rochester on Monday.($4.75 million)
*Jason Marquis:Was 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA before being DFA'd after his final start for Twins on May 20. He was picked up by the Padres, where he has a 4.08 ERA.($3 million)
So that's close to $30 million in sunk salary. Blackburn is due another $5.5 million next season. And the four guys still in the rotation -- Brian Duensing, Sam Deduno, Cole De Vries and Scott Diamond, aka the Filler D's -- are probably making a little more than 5 percent of $30 million this season combined.
