Twins Sign Toe-Tapping Reliever Cory Gearrin to Minor-League Deal
By Adam Weinrib
Cory Gearrin would love to find a singular home this season to avoid the slight drama he encountered in 2019.
After splitting the season between Seattle and New York, being caught in a war of words along the way, Gearrin has inked a minor-league deal with the Twins for 2020.
The #Twins sign RHP Cory Gearrin to a minor-league deal that will pay him $1 million if he makes their #MLB team with $900,000 in incentives.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 19, 2020
Gearrin posted a solid first half for the Mariners in '19 (41.1 innings, 39 Ks, 3.92 ERA) before losing his roster spot and finding his way to the Yankees -- and that's where the dramatics started.
His first outing in his new road New York grays came...in Seattle, of all places, against his former team. As Gearrin arrived on the mound, Mariners manager Scott Servais clued the umpires into his patented toe tap, fingering it as a balk (when it had gone uncalled for months during his time with the M's). Sure enough, the umpires flagged Gearrin, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone went ballistic.
All the best to my Rhea County brother! @CoryGearrin! https://t.co/fMvfqshy2V
— C H O P. O N. C O R E Y. ??? (@ChopOnCorey) February 18, 2020
All told, Gearrin posted a 4.50 mark for the Yanks in 14 innings, proving he was an arm who could at least be trusted in big-time mop-up scenarios.
Hopefully, for the Twins, his nerves of steel hold up the next time he's scrutinized by a jealous ex.