--RHP Pat Neshek underwent surgery Nov. 18 to replace a ligament in his pitching elbow, and his arm was placed in a cast after the operation. He will switch to a brace in early December and should be able to begin rehabilitation work by late spring. As most Tommy John surgery patients, Neshek will miss an entire season, but the Twins' primary setup man should return in time for the 2010 season.
--C Joe Mauer's league-leading batting average of .328 wasn't quite as gaudy as his .347 mark two seasons earlier, but his 2008 season was judged even more valuable by Baseball Writers' Association of America voters. Mauer finished fourth in the MVP voting, an improvement from his seventh-place finish in 2006, and he received a pair of first-place votes. --1B Justin Morneau was perhaps the leading contender for the AL MVP award in mid-September, but his 10-for-59 slump with no homers in Minnesota's final 15 games probably cost him the second MVP trophy of his career. Minnesota fell one victory short of the playoffs, and not making the postseason really affects the voting, Morneau said. Still, the four-year veteran received seven first-place votes and finished as runner-up to Boston's Dustin Pedroia.
--C Drew Butera, acquired from the Mets in a 2007 trade for 2B Luis Castillo, batted only .219 with seven home runs at Class AA New Britain last season, but the Twins were so impressed by his defense, the team added him to its 40-man roster rather than risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft. Butera, 25, is the son of former Twin Sal Butera. Also added to the roster on Nov. 19: LHP Brian Duensing, C Wilson Ramos, RHP Anthony Swarzak, and INFs Trevor Plouffe, Luke Hughes, Deibinson Romero and Steve Tolleson.
--John Gordon, who has broadcast Twins games since 1987, has signed a two-year contract to remain the radio voice of the franchise. Gordon's new deal will allow him to take a small number of games off, particularly during spring training.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 -- Runner-up finishes by Minnesota Twins in MVP voting, after Justin Morneau ranked second behind Boston's Dustin Pedroia. Tony Oliva (twice), Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett also finished second in years past; Morneau and Killebrew also won the award once.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think I may have been a better player this year in terms of leadership and my role on this team. I was probably more consistent this year than in 2006. But it doesn't feel like 2006, because we didn't make the playoffs." -- 1B Justin Morneau, correctly predicting that he would not win the 2008 MVP award.
