Twins rumors: Minnesota seeking three SP's this winter

The Minnesota Twins will spend much of their available offseason budget on pitching, as they’d like to acquire three starters this winter, reports Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com:

The majority of the Twins' available offseason budget -- no exact figure has been determined -- will likely be spent on starting pitching. Trades will also be in play.

As they prepare for the 2013 season, the Twins only have one starter, left-hander Scott Diamond, penciled into their rotation.

While top free agent targets such as right-hander Zack Greinke haven’t been ruled out, Mackey expects the Twins to pursue "two or three competitive starting pitchers as opposed to one top-of-the-rotation guy." He adds that the Twins focus will be on "affordable pitchers who can provide quality starts, give the offense a chance and make the bullpen better."

Twins starters finished second to last in the majors in combined ERA (5.40) and total innings pitched.

Beyond Greinke, the free agent market for starting pitchers will include arms such as Brandon McCarthy, Anibal Sanchez, Shaun Marcum, Joe Saunders and Ryan Dempster. Others, such as Los Angeles Angels right-handers Dan Haren and Ervin Santana and Chicago White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy, will join the ranks if their options aren’t exercised for 2013.