The Twins formally resolved one of their two salary arbitration cases Thursday by completing the two-year, $7.2 million contract with Jason Kubel they worked out last week, but their other pending negotiation is taking a little longer.
Matt Guerrier's request for $1.75 million next season "is almost half-again what we've offered," Twins general manager Bill Smith pointed out, raising the possibility that the Twins might end up in an arbitration hearing for the first time in three years. The sides have "had some good conversations" since the Twins proposed a $1.2 million contract last week, Guerrier's agent, Joe Bick, said. "But these things are hard to predict."
The Twins enjoy predicting Kubel's future, given that his home run production has steadily grown every year of his career, from two to eight to 13 to 20 last season, second most on the team. Now they have ensured that the 26-year-old will be in Minnesota through his first season of free-agent eligibility.
Kubel asked for $3.4 million in his arbitration filing but settled for $2.75 million this season, $4.1 million in 2010 and, if the Twins exercise an option, $5.25 million in 2011. He would receive $350,000 if the Twins don't trigger that option.
"It will be nice not having to worry about (his contract) for a couple of years," Kubel said last weekend at TwinsFest. "It's nice to have a little security."
And on a team that hit fewer home runs than any American League club, the Twins figure he's nice to have around, too.
"We're thrilled," Smith said. "A key point in this is that Jason stepped up and said, 'I want to be a Twin.' We're a good fit for each other."
The Twins are still seeking out another good fit for their bullpen, in particular an eighth-inning specialist, but one free-agent option, former Milwaukee right-hander Eric Gagne, apparently is out. "We're not currently negotiating with Eric Gagne," Smith said, but he declined further comment.
Guerrier was the primary eighth-inning reliever last year after Pat Neshek went on the disabled list in May, and through July 6, he had a 3.05 earned-run average in 47 innings. But his numbers crashed under a heavy workload.
"To a degree, Matt's a victim of his own grit and determination," Bick said.
Guerrier and the Twins reached a quick settlement just days after exchanging contract proposals last winter, but that hasn't happened this time. "We'd like to find" a salary that's acceptable to both sides, Bick said, "but it's taken some time."
