--RHP Pat Neshek, hoping to avoid surgery and return next spring from a partially torn elbow ligament, completely tore the ulnar collateral ligament during a rehab session in Florida in early November. Instead of easing back into a setup role in the Twins bullpen next year, Neshek will have Tommy John surgery before Thanksgiving and miss the entire 2009 season. Neshek has a career 2.19 ERA and had taken over as the primary reliever in front of closer Joe Nathan before injuring his arm May 9 at Chicago.
--C Joe Mauer's second AL batting title made him an easy choice for the Silver Slugger award, given to the best offensive player at each position. Mauer, whose .328 average led all American League hitters, also won the award in 2006. --LHP Dennys Reyes' bargaining position with the Twins improved just before the opening of free agency when RHP Pat Neshek re-injured his pitching elbow. With their primary setup reliever lost for the season, the Twins are expected to make a more vigorous attempt to keep Reyes, who owns a 2.14 ERA in three seasons in Minnesota, from walking away as a free agent.
--1B Justin Morneau is a contender for a second American League MVP award, to be announced Nov. 18. The Canadian slugger, who batted .300 with 23 home runs and 129 RBIs, won the award in 2006. He has already repeated as the Silver Slugger winner at first base, adding the 2008 award, voted on by managers and coaches, to his 2006 honor.
--1B Garrett Jones, who batted .262 with two home runs in a pair of stints with the Twins in 2007 but failed to make the 2008 team, is one of 14 Twins minor-leaguers to declare free agency. Longtime Reds closer Danny Graves, who resurrected his career with the Twins' Class AAA team in Rochester, is also among the free agents. Others with major league experience include LHP Carmen Cali, RHP Julio DePaula, LHP Jason Miller, INF Howie Clark, OF Darnell McDonald and INF Tommy Watkins.
BY THE NUMBERS: 622 -- Victories in seven seasons managed by Ron Gardenhire (to go with 512 losses), second most in Minnesota history behind Tom Kelly's 1,140.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I can't say our free agents paid off as expected, but there still was some benefit. We had several players who improved by spending additional time in the minor leagues." -- Twins general manager Bill Smith, on free agent fizzles Mike Lamb, Adam Everett and Livan Hernandez.
