The Twins have placed 32-year old switch hitting 2B Orlando Hudson on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain. Hudson has played in 80 games this season for the Twins and he is 90 of 323 (.285 avg, .743 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 4 homers, 27 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. The Twins have recalled 27-year old switch hitting catcher Jose Morales to replace Hudson on the D.L. Morales has played in 63 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 63 of 225 (.280 avg, .764 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 2 homers and 24 RBIs. Morales has played in 55 games in his career with the Twins and he is 40 of 122 (.328 avg, .779 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 0 homers and 7 RBIs. Alexi Casilla will likely get a lot of P.T. until Hudson returns to action.

Many experts scratched their heads when the Twins re-signed Carl Pavano but it looks like the team knew exactly what they were doing. Pavano has pitched in 20 games (all starts) for the Twins so far this year and he is 12-6 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He only has walked 19 batters while giving up 126 hits in 143 2/3 innings as he has been pounding the strike zone all year long. His best year besides this one came way back in 2004 for the Marlins when he pitched in 31 games (all starts) and was 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. 2004 was the only season that Pavano has won more than 14 games in his career but he looks like he’ll make 2010 the second time. The Twins need Pavano to keep up the good work because the rest of the rotation (except Francisco Liriano) is pitching poorly.

The Twins have finally demoted 28-year old righty starting pitcher Nick Blackburn to the bullpen. He has been awful this season for the Twins. Blackburn has started 18 games for the Twins this year and he is 7-7 with a 6.53 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He has given up a whopping 143 hits in only 102 innings pitched this season including a stunning 19 homers. Blackburn only whiffed 35 batters while walking only 27 so he was pitching to contact…..but it was very hard contact. He will likely be nothing more than a mop up man for the Twins. 27-year old lefty Brian Duensing will replace Blackburn in the starting rotation. Duensing has pitched in 39 games (0 starts) for the Twins so far this season and he is 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has only given up 33 hits in 43 innings this season as he has been razor sharp this year. Duensing will likely strengthen the Twins rotation but the bullpen will suffer without him in it.

26-year old righty reliever Anthony Slama has been called up by the Twins for his first taste of the majors. He was the Twins’ #19 ranked prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Slama has pitched in 43 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 0-1 with 17 saves, a 1.71 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Slama has now pitched in 183 games (0 starts) in his four years in the minors and he is 9-7 with 85 saves, a 1.83 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Slama will replace Alex Burnett in the bullpen as he was demoted to AAA after last night’s game with the Indians. Burnett pitched in 35 games (0 starts) for the Twins this year and he was 1-2 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Burnett will probably get another chance with the Twins later this season if he pitches well in AAA.

The Twins might have to overpay to get a couple of pieces this year as evidenced by them losing out on Cliff Lee to the Rangers. With that in mind I would target Brett Myers and Ty Wigginton. For Myers I would trade the Astros 3B Danny Valencia, SS Trevor Plouffe and Alexi Casilla. I know that seems like a lot but Myers would probably be the Twins’ #2 starter the way things are going right now. This kind of trade would allow you to bump Nick Blackburn from the rotation while leaving lefty Brian Duensing in the pen where he has been incredible this year. Then I would flip reliever Anthony Slama and catcher Jose Morales to the Orioles for Ty Wigginton. If the Twins are never going to give Slama a chance they should at least get something for him. Wigginton would be a huge asset to the Twins as he can handle 1B, 2B and 3B defensively and he would give them a nice righty power bat to even up the lineup a bit more. I know the price tags look a tad high but you know that other teams in front of the Twins won’t be deterred by that. So if you want to play with the big boys you have to ante’ up.