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Joel Zumaya | Relief Pitcher

Team: Minnesota Twins
Age / DOB:  (28) / 11/9/1984
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 210
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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Twins released RHP Joel Zumaya.
The move officially clears him from the Twins' 40-man roster. Zumaya is set to undergo Tommy John surgery later this week, but the injury-prone right-hander fully intends to continue his playing career. Wed, Mar 28, 2012 07:45:00 AM

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Date:
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya is scheduled to undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery on March 29.

Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation. Zumaya tore the UCL in his right elbow after throwing just 13 pitches in Twins camp and seems likely to be released from Minnesota's 40-man roster before Opening Day. The 27-year-old right-hander will keep $400,000 of the $850,000 contract that he agreed to back in January.
Source: Rhett Bollinger on Twitter
Tue, Mar 6, 2012 11:24:00 AM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya intends to continue his playing career following Tommy John surgery at the end of March.

The procedure will be performed by Dr. James Andrews. The oft-injured right-hander tore his UCL after throwing just 13 pitches in Twins camp and will likely be released by the team prior to Opening Day. Zumaya will have missed two straight full seasons and not appeared in more than 31 games since his rookie season back in 2006. It's a longshot that he'll ever make it back and be an effective reliever again.
Source: John Shipley on Twitter
Sun, Mar 4, 2012 01:34:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya told reporters Monday that he hasn't decided whether he's going to retire.

Zumaya called it a "family decision" and said that he will speak with other pitchers who have undergone Tommy John surgery to get a gauge on what the recovery process is like. The 27-year-old tore his UCL after throwing just 13 pitches in Twins camp. He'll keep $400,000 of the $850,000 deal he agreed to in January.
Source: Phil Mackey on Twitter
Mon, Feb 27, 2012 08:44:00 AM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya will undergo Tommy John surgery, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports.

Zumaya tore the UCL in his right elbow Sunday during a bullpen session, lasting just 13 pitches. He will visit Dr. James Andrews soon and will likely go under the knife shortly thereafter. Passan writes that Zumaya is "far from certain (to attempt) another comeback." Zumaya missed last season due to major elbow surgery and hasn't appeared in more than 31 games since his rookie year in 2006. The Twins, all but certain to release Zumaya after the lottery ticket didn't hit, will only have to pay him $400,000 of his $850,000 contract.
Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter
Sun, Feb 26, 2012 06:02:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Will Carroll of SI.com reports that Joel Zumaya will visit Dr. James Andrews and is likely to need Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow.

As expected. Zumaya lasted just 13 pitches for the Twins before his ligament snapped during a bullpen session. Assuming Tommy John is indeed required, the Twins will likely release him and avoid paying $450,000 of the $850,000 owed to the right-hander.
Source: Will Carroll on Twitter
Sun, Feb 26, 2012 01:28:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com reports that an MRI on Joel Zumaya's right elbow has revealed a torn UCL.

Just terrible. The oft-injured right-hander was hurt during a bullpen session Saturday, this after he missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery in spring training. It's not clear at this point what the next step is, but Tommy John surgery is usually required for a torn UCL. It's an injury that might cost Zumaya his career. In all likelihood, the Twins will release him in order to avoid paying $450,000 of the $850,000 owed to the right-hander.
Source: Phil Mackey on Twitter
Sun, Feb 26, 2012 12:59:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Updating a previous item, Joel Zumaya was forced from his bullpen session on Saturday with an apparent right elbow injury.

Zumaya, who missed all of last season after undergoing elbow surgery in spring training, is scheduled for an MRI on Sunday. The Twins will only have to pay $400,000 of his $850,000 contract if they decide to release him due to injury.
Source: Twins.mlb.com
Sat, Feb 25, 2012 02:10:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

According to Phil Mackey of ESPN Twin Cities, Joel Zumaya ended his throwing session early on Saturday and walked off with head trainer Rick McWane.

Zumaya declined to speak with the media, but reportedly showed good velocity in the five minutes he was able to throw. The severity or extent of the injury is not yet known. MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger notes that the Twins will only have to pay Zumaya $400,000 if they decide to cut him in spring training.
Source: Phil Mackey on Twitter
Sat, Feb 25, 2012 12:12:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya threw a 40 pitch bullpen session on Sunday.

The session went well, according to Zumaya, who signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Twins this winter after missing the entire 2011 season due to major elbow surgery. He hasn't appeared in more than 31 games since his rookie year in 2006, but Zumaya has been throwing in the mid-90s and, on the off-chance he avoids the disabled list this season, could easily work his way up the pecking order in the Twins' terrible bullpen. Owners in deep AL-only leagues will want to take a low-cost gamble on him.
Source: MLB.com
Sun, Feb 19, 2012 04:20:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Twins signed RHP Joel Zumaya to a one-year, $800,000 contract.

The deal was agreed upon over the weekend, then announced on Wednesday. It contains nearly $900,000 worth of performance-based incentives that Zumaya can earn on top of the $800,000 base salary. He missed the entire 2011 season due to major elbow surgery, but the 26-year-old was clocked in the mid-90s during a recent workout and could rebound up in Minnesota.
Source: Jon Paul Morosi on Twitter
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 06:09:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Free agent reliever Joel Zumaya has told Jason Beck of MLB.com that he's agreed to a one-year deal with the Twins.

Zumaya said he has "good offers" from three other clubs, but he chose the Twins because they offered him guaranteed money rather than a minor league deal with a spring training invite. The injury-prone right-hander will earn at least $800,000, with the possibility of getting $1.7 million if he reaches all of his incentives. Zumaya missed the entire 2011 season due to elbow surgery and hasn't appeared in more than 31 games since his rookie year in 2006. He was throwing in the mid-90s during a recent workout, though, and isn't a bad gamble on what looks to be a reasonable deal.
Related: Twins
Source: MLBlogs.com
Sun, Jan 15, 2012 02:42:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes that the Red Sox are "very interested" in free agent right-hander Joel Zumaya.

He also notes that Zumaya's hometown Padres are "very excited about him" and are one of three teams "pushing hard for him." Cafardo wrote last month that some teams were worried about the right-hander passing a physical, but he's now saying clubs "have accessed his records are willing to take the risk after he threw in the mid-90s" during his December workout. Zumaya, who is coming back from a season lost to elbow surgery, will likely get an incentive-laden one-year deal.
Related: Red Sox, Padres
Source: Boston Globe
Sun, Jan 15, 2012 08:41:00 AM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

One American League general manager told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe of Joel Zumaya that "our doctors don’t think he would pass the physical based on what they see.’’

It may very well be true. Zumaya is currently making his way back from exploratory surgery on his right elbow and has a long history of injury issues. But, he was throwing in the mid-90s during a workout earlier this month and some team will be willing to take a chance on him no matter what the medicals show. He's a poor bet to stay healthy and contribute, though.
Source: Boston Globe
Sun, Dec 25, 2011 12:12:00 PM
Joel Zumaya - R - Twins

Joel Zumaya (elbow) threw for more than 50 scouts in Houston on Wednesday, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.

Zumaya sat in the 93-96 mph range with his fastball and one scout told Rosenthal that he expects him to land a job. We're guessing a minor league deal with a spring training invite will be the best he can do. The 27-year-old right-hander is currently making his way back from exploratory surgery on his historically-troubled elbow.
Source: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 12:51:00 PM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1Joe Mauer
1B1Justin Morneau
2B1Brian Dozier
2Jamey Carroll
SS1Pedro Florimon Jr.
2Eduardo Escobar
3B1Trevor Plouffe
LF1Josh Willingham
2Wilkin Ramirez
CF1Aaron Hicks
2Darin Mastroianni
RF1Oswaldo Arcia
2Chris Parmelee
DH1Ryan Doumit
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Scott Diamond
2Vance Worley
3Kevin Correia
4Mike Pelfrey
5Pedro Hernandez
6Cole De Vries
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Glen Perkins
2Jared Burton
3Josh Roenicke
4Casey Fien
5Brian Duensing
6Anthony Swarzak
7Ryan Pressly
8Tim Wood