Steve Howe Signs With the Twins, Says They’ll Respect His Privacy

Relief pitcher Steve Howe, released by the Dodgers earlier this season at his own request, signed a contract Sunday with the Minnesota Twins.

Howe has been treated twice for chemical dependency and was suspended Dec. 15, 1983, for the entire 1984 season by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

“We are pleased to be able to offer Steve this opportunity to resume his career,” Howard Fox, Twins president said. “We feel that playing in the Minnesota area will enhance his chance of making a strong comeback.”

Howe has thrown batting practice since Friday with the Twins.

“After watching Steve Howe work out with our ballclub for the past several days and after earnest discussions with our manager . . . we’ve made the decision to sign Howe to a contract with the Twins,” Fox said.

Howe, 27, had expressed an interest in the Twins this season, working out a couple weeks ago.

“Minnesota is exactly what I wanted,” Howe said Thursday.

“They’re a ‘we’ oriented club and the focus has been on ‘I’ for the last few years,” he said.

“They (Twins) want me to pitch and that’s what I want to do and they want to leave my private life to me,” he said.