Correia to start Grapefruit League opener

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Kevin Correia is slated to start Minnesota's Grapefruit League opener against the Orioles on Saturday in Sarasota, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire announced Wednesday.

Correia, who signed a two-year, $10 million deal to join the Twins this offseason, is set to make the start because the club wants him to make two starts before he departs for San Diego on Feb. 27 to be with his wife, who is due to give birth.

"We're going to get him out there a couple times before that," Gardenhire said. "Then he's going to head out. It's all planned. He'll come back after that. Right now, we'll get him out there first and go from there."

After Correia, Shairon Martis, Ryan Pressly, Josh Roenicke, Tim Wood, Anthony Slama, Luis Perdomo and Bryan Augenstein are on the list to throw against the Orioles.

The Twins, however, have yet to announce a starter for Opening Day against the Tigers on April 1 at Target Field. Left-hander Scott Diamond is the frontrunner but it'll depend on his health, as he's just starting to throw off a mound after undergoing surgery in December to have a bone chip removed from his elbow.