Minnesota signed LHP J.C. Romero to a one-year, $820,000 contract last week. Romero reportedly can earn an additional $5,000 if he makes 70 appearances. The two sides exchanged salary numbers on January 20th in preparation for an arbitration hearing with the Twins offering $650,000 and Romero requesting $925,000. However, the parties agreed to compromise before a hearing was necessary.

While we anticipated some regression after Romero's very successful first full year in the bullpen in 2002, the 27-year-old's struggles in 2003 greatly exceeded expectations. Romero's strikeout rate fell while his already weak walk rate rose. Meanwhile, he received less support from the Minnesota defense. As he's fought control problems throughout his career, I'm not prepared to predict a big rebound. If he continues to experience serious problems, Minnesota will need to consider limiting Romero to facing only left-handed batters due to the gaping platoon split he developed last season. However, with more support from the Twins' defense, he should pitch effectively in 2004.

1B-S Jose Offerman and OF-S Brian Simmons have signed minor league contracts with the Twins. After the Expos released him at the end of spring training, Offerman joined the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. As Offerman's demonstrated solid plate discipline throughout his career and also possesses moderate speed and power, the 35-year-old could win a job in spring training.

At times, Simmons has displayed decent plate discipline, but he's inconsistent at the plate with little speed or power to improve his case for a major league job. However, Simmons obviously isn't gunning for a big league position, since he signed with a team possessing layers of outfield depth.

Elsewhere in the division, Detroit signed several players to minor league contracts this off-season, including C-R Bobby Estalella, CR-S Greg Norton, UT-R Pablo Ozuna, RHP Craig Dingman, RHP Jason Karnuth, and RHP Esteban Yan.

When Estalella signed with Detroit last month, the Tigers were a team on which a AAAA catcher might hope to find some time in the majors during the 2004 season. The 29-year-old struggled through health problems in 2003, but he usually offers solid plate discipline and modest power. However, Detroit possesses an excess of catching after their acquisition of C-R Ivan Rodriguez, so Estalella likely will spend the season at AAA Toledo in the International League.

Norton has a good shot at breaking camp with the Tigers as a reserve at the infield corners with the ability to cover the outfield corners in a pinch. He also owns decent, albeit inconsistent, plate discipline. Unfortunately, the 31-year-old's power dissipated over the past few years as he evolved into more of a groundball hitter, so he shouldn't threaten the Tigers' starting position players.

As 22-year-old SS-R Omar Infante should return to the minors for additional instruction, the Tigers' have an opening for a reserve middle infielder. Pablo Ozuna missed a large portion of last season after spraining his right knee in spring training, and like Infante, Ozuna could probably use additional time in the minors. However, the four years Ozuna gained during agegate effectively eliminated his already diminishing prospect status. The 29-year-old's position flexibility should put him in position to compete for the open bench job, but he doesn't offer much offensively aside from considerable speed, which may have been curtailed by his knee problem.

Dingman signed with the Cubs midway through the 2003 season after spending the first half of the year playing in the Mexican League. The 29-year-old doesn't possess spectacular talent in any area but neither does he suffer from any significant flaws in his skills, so he could be an effective reliever for the Tigers if given an opportunity.

Karnuth exited the Cubs' system as a minor league free agent this off-season. He split 2003 between AA West Tennessee in the Southern League and AAA Iowa in the Pacific Coast League. While Karnuth struggled at AAA last year, he's had success at the level in the past. I wouldn't trust the 27-year-old in the majors until he's re-established himself at AAA, but he might be in a position to contribute to the Tigers' pen later in the season if needed.

Yan will receive an opportunity to win a spot in the Detroit bullpen in spring training. However, if the team wants to keep both of their Rule 5 pitchers, he'll likely remain in the minors until the Tigers need an arm later in the season. The 28-year-old maintains solid walk and strikeout rates, but he runs into big trouble when not supported by a great defense. Detroit's defense doesn't look very good heading into the season, so I suspect Yan again will experience ERA problems in 2004.

Kansas City recently signed OF-S Adrian Brown and RHP Doug Linton to minor league contracts. Brown spent most of last season with Boston's AAA International League affiliate at Pawtucket, where he hit .282 with a .347 OBP and .359 SLG on 136 H, 16 2B, 3 3B, and 5 HR with a 48:81 BB:K and 34/45 SB% in 482 AB. He also received a September call-up and appeared on the Red Sox's roster in the first round of the playoffs. The 30-year-old will compete for a bench job with the Royals in spring training, though the team doesn't need another back-up centerfielder if they keep either OF-L David DeJesus or Rule 5 pick OF-L Rich Thompson on the roster. Brown's offensive upside and especially his baserunning skills should put him in line for a job if injuries create a mid-season opening, however I'm somewhat concerned that he may have difficulty finding playing time at AAA Omaha in the Pacific Coast League among Kansas City's burgeoning crop of youngsters.

Linton signed with the Blue Jays prior to last season and spent most of the year at AAA Syracuse in the International League following a short stint in the majors to open the season. The 39-year-old's strikeout and walk rates were within target levels, but his homer and hit rates led to a high ERA. Kansas City seems likely to allow their younger pitchers to fill their needs, relegating Linton to another season in the minors.