27-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Aaron Bates is hitting well in the minors for the Twins so far this year. Bates has played in 45 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 54 for 163 (.331 avg, .872 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 3 homers, 18 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Bates has 5 games of major league experience. It came back in 2009 with the Red Sox when he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg, .962 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs. If the Twins continue to struggle hitting the ball, they might give Bates a chance to help them at some point in 2011.

The Twins have placed starting LF Delmon Young on the 15-day disabled list due to a sprained right ankle. Young has played in 55 games for the Twins this year and he was 53 for 207 (.256 avg, .605 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 2 homers, 20 RBIs and 1 stolen base. The Twins have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Rene Tosoni to take Young’s roster spot. Tosoni played in 17 games earlier this year for the Twins and he was 8 for 43 (.186 avg, .534 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 1 homer, 4 RBIs and 14 whiffs. The Twins hope that Tosoni is better for them this time around.

Lefty swinging outfielder Lyman Bostock had a very solid, but short, career with the Twins. He had a monster year with the Twins in 1977. In 1977, Bostock played in 153 games for the Twins in which he was 199 for 593 (.336 avg, .897 OPS) with 104 runs scored, 14 homers, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Bostock also had 36 doubles and 12 triples in 1977 as he finished 27th in the voting to the A.L. MVP Award that year. Bostock played in 379 games in three years with the Twins and he was 456 of 1,436 (.318 avg, .812 OPS) with 231 runs scored, 18 homers, 179 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Bostock signed on with the California Angels for the 1978 season. On September 23rd, 1978, Bostock was 2 for 4 with a double, walk and a run scored in a day game that the Angels lost 5-4 to the White Sox. Later that night, Bostock was shot in the temple in a car by a jealous husband who was aiming at his wife and missed. Bostock died two hours later.

29-year old righty starting pitcher Nick Blackburn has been on fire lately for the Twins. In his last three starts, Blackburn is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Blackburn has now started 14 games for the Twins so far this year and he is 6-4 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He has given up 96 hits in 91 innings this year but he has limited the damage by attacking the strikezone as he has only walked 24 batters so far this year. Blackburn has been the Twins’ best starter so far this year and that has been a complete surprise.

The Twins have signed 28-year old righty starter/reliever Thomas Diamond to a minor league deal. Diamond pitched in 14 games (5 starts) in AAA-ball earlier this year for the Cubs and he was 1-3 with a 8.66 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. He got his first taste of the majors last year with the Cubs. He pitched in 16 games (3 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 1-3 with a 6.83 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP. Diamond was once one of the best prospects in baseball before he was injured. The Twins won’t give him a shot to join the team unless he really steps up in the minors.

28-year old lefty swinging catcher Joe Mauer and 26-year old switch-hitting shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka are back healthy for the Twins and ready for action. Mauer has played in 9 games for the Twins this year and he is 8 for 34 (.235 avg, .554 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. Mauer played in 7 games in A-ball on his rehab assignment and he was 6 for 23 (.261 avg, .849 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. He only whiffed 1 time on his rehab assignment. Catcher has been a black hole offensively for the Twins this year so they have to be giddy about getting Mauer back in the lineup.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka is moving over to SS with Alexi Casilla moving to 2B. Nishioka has played in 7 games for the Twins so far this year and he is 6 for 28 (.214 avg, .517 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He played in 7 games in A+AAA-ball on his rehab assignment and he was 8 for 24 (.333 avg, .865 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

The Twins hope that Mauer and Nishioka add some spice to the batting order as the Twins have had a hard time scoring runs this year.

I think the Twins like the roster they already have, but they have to be disappointed with the way this season is playing out. Unless they get hot in the next month, I look for them to deal some pieces of value without breaking up the team. I think the biggest two pieces the Twins will be willing to deal are starting pitchers Francisco Liriano and Kevin Slowey. I expect the Yankees to be calling about both of those pitchers but the Twins shouldn’t deal Slowey or Liriano to the Yankees unless they get a nice haul in prospects back. DH Jim Thome could also be moved at the trade deadline if a contender needs a DH. If Travis Hafner gets hurt again and the Indians are still winning at the trade deadline, I’m sure they would have an interest in Thome. Backups Mike Tolbert, Luke Hughes and Jason Repko could also garner some minor interest on the trade market. I don’t look for the Twins to be major sellers, but I do think they will move some players that they can replace.

The Twins have placed 30-year old lefty swinging 1B Justin Morneau on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 10th with a sore left wrist. Morneau has played in 55 games for the Twins so far this year and he is 48 for 213 (.225 avg, .619 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 4 homers and 21 RBIs. Morneau just hasn’t been the same since his concussion last year as he is not hitting the ball at all. Maybe a break to get healthy again will spur him to play better when he returns to action. Michael Cuddyer is a solid player and he will replace Morneau at 1B until he’s ready to return to action.

UPDATE: (6/25/2011) - Justin Morneau will undergo surgery on his neck next week. He will miss at least six more weeks.

26-year old switch-hitting shortstop Alexi Casilla is red hot with the bat right now. In his last 21 games, Casilla is 26 for 74 (.351 avg) with 12 runs scored, 0 homers, 7 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Casilla was hitting .184 coming into May 22nd of this year before his hot streak started and he was in danger of losing P.T. Casilla has played in 58 games overall this year for the Twins and he is 46 for 185 (.263 avg, .668 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 0 homers, 12 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Casilla has now solidified his starting gig with the Twins due to his recent hot streak.

The Twins have placed 27-year old lefty swinging CF Denard Span on the 7-day disabled list due to a concussion and whiplash. Span has played in 56 games for the Twins so far this year and he is 68 for 231 (.294 avg, .746 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 2 homers, 15 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. The Twins have called up 24-year old lefty swinging outfielder Rene Tosoni to replace Span on the active roster. Tosoni has already played in 13 games earlier this year with the Twins and he is 6 for 35 (.171 avg, .494 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs.