Hendriks may earn rotation spot: The Twins have been looking at several free agent pitchers to fill the fifth starter's spot, but due to budget limitations, they may give prospect Liam Hendriks an opportunity to fill that role. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Twins management would prefer to start Hendriks off in the minors, but due to a lack of affordable and viable options on the free agent market, he may be given a chance to break camp with the team as one of its starters. Hendriks made four starts for the Twins last September, and he went 0-2 with a 6.17 ERA. (Updated 12/21/2011)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/23/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Hendriks fits the mold of contact pitchers that the Twins seem to prefer, and his low strikeout rate will keep his Fantasy value at a modest level, even if he wins a rotation spot. Still, his impeccable control was in evidence during his brief big league trial last fall, and he could be worth a pick in AL-only drafts. (Updated 12/21/2011).
01/17/2012 01:56 2012 Fantasy outlooks: Minnesota Twins
The Twins have a long road in front of them. After having a rebuilding-type season in 2011, Minnesota is now in full-on rebuilding mode in 2012. What does that mean for your Fantasy team?
Liam Hendriks is yet another young Twins pitcher with less-than-elite stuff, but like Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey before him, he's able to make up for it with stellar control and a full arsenal of pitches. What separates Hendriks from those two is his ability to keep the ball in the ballpark. If he's stranding what few baserunners he allows, he's not going to give up many runs, and that's been his formula for success so far in the minors. Granted, he got knocked around in four starts with the big club late last year, but the Twins weren't at all discouraged by the performance and have seemingly cleared a rotation spot for him this offseason by trading Slowey to the Rockies and moving Brian Duensing back to the bullpen. Hendriks' limited ceiling makes him less than enticing in long-term keeper leagues, but his potential to be a steady innings eater and WHIP specialist makes him worth a flier in AL-only formats, especially if he opens the season in the majors. And don't be surprised if you find yourself scooping him off the waiver wire at some point in mixed leagues. (Updated 1/5/12)