Arizona Diamondbacks’ Jason Marquis throws against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Ross D. Franklin)

With only a few million dollars left to spend under their $100 million budget, the Twins have been searching for a veteran starting pitcher to complement their rotation.

They officially landed one today.

The team announced early this afternoon it had agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with right-hander Jason Marquis, adding a stable veteran to a rotation with plenty of uncertainty.

The 33-year-old went 8-6 with a 4.43 ERA last season for Washington and Arizona, and has won 104 games in 12 major league seasons. He broke a bone in his leg toward the end of last season and missed much of the 2010 season after surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, but had never been on the disabled list before that.

In many ways, Marquis is the quintessential Twins pitcher: a pitch-to-contact sinkerballer who relies on a two-seam fastball, slider and changeup to get quick outs. He won’t be much more than a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but if he’s healthy, he can be a low-maintenance option for the Twins.

Marquis’ entire career has been spent in the National League. Before coming to Washington in 2010, he had pitched for a playoff team in 10 straight seasons, posting double-digit wins six years in a row.

Published: Dec. 7, 2011 at 8:13 PM

DALLAS, Dec. 7 (UPI) — The Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday they have signed right-handed reliever Matt Capps to a one-year deal.

Capps was Minnesota’s full-time closer after he was acquired from Washington in a 2010 trade, but struggled last season and was demoted in July after injured all-time Twins saves leader Joe Nathan returned from the disabled list.

Struggling with forearm and wrist problems, Capps went just 4-7 with 15 saves and a 4.25 ERA in 69 games for the Twins last season.

Nathan has since left Minnesota for Texas as a free agent and Capps is likely to be counted on once again as Minnesota’s closer for the 2012 season.

He has a 28-29 career record with 124 saves and a 3.51 ERA in 414 games for the Pirates, Nationals and Twins.

By Ted Glover

– Assistant Editor

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Aug 22, 2011 – The Minnesota Twins have been slammed with injury after injury this season, and that theme continued yesterday.  Starting pitcher Nick Blackburn didn’t make it out of the second inning before experiencing discomfort in his pitching elbow, and all indications are that he will go on the disabled list–again.  Anthony Swarzak is expected to replace his spot in the rotation.

Fortunately, there’s a team that’s had more difficulty than the Twins finding the win column this year coming to town for a four game set, the Baltimore Orioles.  With the Twins 16 games under .500, it’s obvious that this has been a disappointing season.  But at least they’re not 30 games under, which is where Baltimore finds itself today.

The O’s are consistently bad at everything, and the Twins have a very favorable pitching match up.  Carl Pavano takes the mound for the Twins, and has pitched very well over the last couple weeks.  Opposing him is Zach Britton (6-9, 4.66 ERA), who will be activated from the DL in time to make the start.  Britton seems to be a candidate for the Twins rotation, as he is unable to get through siz innings, something he hasn’t done since June 22.

First pitch is 7:10 PM.

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CLEVELAND — The Minnesota Twins put infielder Alexi Casilla back on the disabled list Saturday with a strained right hamstring.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Casilla had difficulty running when he tested his legs before the Twins played the Cleveland Indians.

The Twins could not get a player to Cleveland in time to fill in for Casilla, who was activated Friday but hurt his hamstring trying to beat out a bunt during Minnesota’s 3-2 loss. The Twins announced that infielder Trevor Plouffe officially was to be recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

“We’ll play with a two-man bench. Our backup catcher and Paul Revere will ride alone,” Gardenhire said, referring to catcher Drew Butera and outfielder Ben Revere.

Gardenhire injected a little more levity into the situation when he said Casilla was still complaining that he beat the throw and should have been ruled safe on the bunt play.

“He was safe then, but now he’s out again,” Gardenhire said.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer and Josh Tomlin pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.

Cabrera connected in the third, driving a 1-0 pitch from Brian Duensing (8-11) over the wall in left for his 20th homer. Shin-Soo Choo hit a leadoff single and Jason Donald walked before Cabrera went deep.

Tomlin (12-5) and four relievers combined for a five-hitter, with Chris Perez pitching a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.

Tomlin moved to 1-1 in five starts since losing 7-5 at Minnesota on July 20. The right-hander was charged with one run and four hits in 6 1-3 innings, leaving with Twins on first and second after issuing his only walk, to Jim Thome.

Joe Smith came in and got Danny Valencia on a short fly to right-center before Delmon Young blooped an RBI single to right, scoring Justin Morneau from second to make it 3-1. Rafael Perez then struck out Tsuyoshi Nishioka to strand two runners.

Tony Sipp worked a perfect eighth to get the ball to Perez.

Minnesota has lost 11 of 13, while second-place Cleveland earned its fourth win in five games to keep up the pressure on AL Central leader Detroit.

By taking the first two of three games against Minnesota after winning two of three from the Tigers, Cleveland has won consecutive series for the first time since winning three in a row over Arizona, Cincinnati and the New York Yankees from June 27 to July 6.

Thome remained two homers shy of becoming the eighth player to hit 600. The 40-year-old former Indians star went 0 for 3 with a walk for the second consecutive night. He was called out on strikes to end the game.

With a little luck, Tomlin could have taken a perfect game into the sixth. The Twins’ first two hits were sharply struck, but within range of being caught. Nishioka singled with two outs in the third when his line drive ticked off the glove of leaping second baseman Donald. Joe Mauer got a one-out single in the fourth when his hard shot went past Cabrera’s glove at shortstop on a wicked short hop.

Minnesota outfielder Denard Span singled to center in the sixth to snap an 0-for-27 slide. Morneau got a leadoff double in the seventh when his sharp grounder just inside the bag went off first baseman Matt LaPorta’s glove.

Duensing fell to 3-1 in four career starts against Cleveland. The left-hander gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings, striking out a career-high nine. He dropped to 1-4 overall in five starts since July 22.

NOTES: Indians OF Michael Brantley did not take batting practice due to a sore right wrist that may sideline him at least through Tuesday, according to manager Manny Acta. “They’ve done an MRI and everything and it’s nothing that serious according to the doctor,” Acta said. “But it still kind of bothers him when he swings.” A trip to the disabled list is possible if Brantley does not improve. … Twins 2B Alexi Casilla went back on the disabled list after aggravating his right hamstring running to first base Friday, when he was activated. Minnesota will recall INF Trevor Plouffe from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday to take his place. … Twins OF Michael Cuddyer remains day to day after straining his neck in early batting practice Friday. … Twins RHP Kevin Slowey will make his first start of 2011 on Sunday. Cleveland is expected to recall LHP David Huff from Triple-A Columbus to oppose him. Slowey, 13-6 a year ago as a starter, worked in relief for Minnesota six times this season before being sidelined with an abdominal strain May 20. He was activated July 21 and sent to Rochester, where he was 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA in seven starts. Huff has been up and down in 2011, going 1-1 with a 0.51 ERA in three starts for the Indians and 9-3, 3.87 ERA at Columbus.