Welcome To The Club, Philly!

The Twins accquired some cash and righty first baseman/designated hitter Phil Nevin on Thursday from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. To make room on the roster, Shannon Stewart has been placed on the 60-day disabled list. Nevin has been around the bases a few times being 35, so I think a photo montage is the best way to explain his 12-year career.

Philly started his Big League career by being the first draft pick of the 1992 Amateur Draft by the Astros and played 18 games with them at third base in 1995. After being traded to the Detroit Tigers and playing in the outfield for 96 games, he ended up batting .219 on the year. He stayed with the team for two more seasons, hitting .292 in 1996 and .235 the following year with 130 more at bats.

In 1998, he was traded to the Anaheim Angels along with Matt Walbeck (who doesn't even play baseball anymore) for Nick Skuse (a minor-leaguer). He hung around there for a year, had a few more at bats as a catcher, and hit .228.

Then in 1999, he was traded along with Keith Volkman to the San Diego Padres for Andy Sheets and Gus Kennedy. The Sunshine State liked Phil a lot, so they kept him around for 7 years as their everyday third baseman. He was a .303 hitter in 2000 with 31 homers and 107 runs batted in. The following year, he blasted 41 bombs with 126 RBIs. He hit .279 in 2001 for the club and only participated in 59 games in 2003 due to a left shoulder and arm injury. In 2004, he bounced back batting .289 with 26 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Last year, he hit 9 longballs and drove in 47 runs before being traded to the Texas Rangers.

Twelve home runs and 39 RBIs later, batting only .216, the Rangers were like, "Don't mess with Texas. See ya later, pal."

Once again, Phil was being shipped off for some other dude - this time it was Jerry Hairston, Jr. This past May, Nevin went to the green grass of Wrigley Field, where the Cubbies desperately seeked some power in the middle of their line-up. He only ended up playing with the club a total of 3 months at first base, batting .274 with 12 bombs and 33 RBIs in 67 games.

So, welcome to the club Phil Nevin! When ya add it all up, he's had a decent career.
Overall, he's delivered 207 career home runs and 739 RBIs. The Twins wanted in on some of that action, so he's here, and he'll be all suited up in a brand spankin' new Twins uni, ready to smash some balls out of Yankee Stadium Friday night.

Minnesota brought up three other players before the deadline today: those being Scott Baker, catcher Chris Heintz and infielder Alexi Casilla. Casilla, Castillo, that could get confusing! I'm looking forward to it.

Baker has made 12 starts for the Twins this season, going 3-7 with a 6.93 ERA. He will take the mound in place of Brad Radke on Saturday in New York. Heintz, 32, has spent the entire season with AAA Rochester, batting .281 with 22 doubles and 38 RBIs. The Twins will purchase the contract of Casilla, who they got in that Romero trade last December. Casilla, 22, started the season with Class A Fort Myers and batted .331 with 12 doubles, 33 RBIs and 31 stolen bases in 78 games. He was then promoted to AA New Britain on July 14. With the Rock Cats, Casilla batted .305 with 19 stolen bases in 43 games. Yes! Another thief! I'm pumped to see what these guys can do for the club in the future.