Twins target every starting pitcher available

Here's your partial list of of the pitchers the Twins have been linked with so far at the winter meetings: Joe Blanton, Kevin Correia, Mike Pelfrey, Vicente Padilla, Jair Jurrjens, John Lannan, Francisco Liriano, Brett Myers, Brandon McCarthy, and Ryan Dempster.

Here's who the Twins are actually interested in: everybody.

Minnesota has repeatedly said that they are ruling nothing out when it comes to starting pitching, and though few expect them to make a major splash for the top-end free-agents, everyone else is certainly in play. If nothing else, this goes a long way towards explaining the team's pursuit, half-hearted though it may be, of Francisco Liriano, who had disappointed and frustrated the team more than any three other players put together over his Twins tenure.

Blanton, of course, is the guy who appeared to be such a natural fit for the Twins that I assumed the universe would self-correct and make it happen, so I still think that's a major possibility.

Expect more of the same on Day 2, as the Twins continue to try to cure their biggest ailment - starting pitching.

Another prediction: the Twins will sign St. Paul native Jack Hannahan to "provide competition" for Trevor Plouffe at third base.