First major second baseman target falls off the board...

...with Placido Polanco signing a 3 year, 18 million dollar deal with the Phillies today.

The move sees Polanco moving back to his old team and almost certainly to his old position of third base. There is no mention of it in the article, but I would hope that the Twins were one of his other suitors. Five million a year is quite a bit for a 34 year-old singles hitter, but it most certainly would have been an upgrade over Nick Punto's sketchy bat and considering he owns the league's record for most consecutive error less games at second base, I'm sure the Twins could have afforded to part with this salary in exchange.

But alas, the Twins missed out on another quality option for infield help. And if we are looking at the people I compared after the season ended....this leaves Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Orlando Hudson and Mark Derosa as other players that the Twins SHOULD be pondering at this year's winter meetings.

In other words, the Joe Mauer talks have heated up apparently. This can only be classified as FANTASTIC news. Give him the world Billy.

UPDATE: Scratch that...Figgins signed with Seattle for 36 million over 4. Hell of a deal and yet ANOTHER good fit that Bill Smith wouldn't pay. Jesus he's worthless.