Friday, August 3, 2007

Diamondbacks claim Cirillo off waivers

Jeff Cirillo’s brief tenure with the Twins is over. The team just announced it activated Michael Cuddyer for tonight's game. To make space on the roster, Minnesota allowed Jeff Cirillo to join Arizona, which had claimed the utility infielder off waivers. The Twins received no compensation for Cirillo, and the Diamondbacks will assume his contract.

Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.

Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.

Going to the first-place Diamondbacks could give Cirillo a chance to achieve a career-long goal of playing in the postseason for the first time.

Tonight’s lineups:

INDIANS
Sizemore cf
Blake 3b
Martinez c
Garko 1b
Hafner dh
Peralta ss
Lofton lf
Gutierrez rf
Barfield 2b
Sabathia p

TWINS
Tyner lf
Bartlett ss
Mauer c
Cuddyer rf
Morneau 1b
Hunter cf
Redmond dh
Punto 3b
Casilla 2b
Santana p

Cirillo Traded?

Looks like Jeff Cirillo’s tenure with the Twins may be over, though there is no official word yet. The team intends to activate Michael Cuddyer for tonight’s game with Cleveland, and word in the clubhouse is that he’s been traded to the National League.

Just before the team gathered on the field for pre-batting practice stretching, manager Ron Gardenhire walked to the batting cage and said something to Cirillo. The pair went back to the clubhouse together.

The team has now begun their stretching, and Cirillo is not on the field. There is no confirmation on where he is headed, but we will update once an announcement is made.Cirillo, a 14-year major-league veteran who signed a one-year free-agent contract last December, is hitting .261 with two home runs. His season was hampered by arthroscopic knee surgery in April, and he had suggested that he might retire after the season.