--1B Justin Morneau became only the third baseball player to be selected Canadian Athlete of the Year when the nation's sports writers and broadcasters' voting was announced Dec. 28. Morneau joined former MVP outfielder Larry Walker and Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins as honorees by the Canadian press, whose top award, presented annually since 1932, normally goes to a hockey player. Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby, who won in 2007, finished second to Morneau, who was runner-up in American League MVP voting after batting .300 with 23 home runs and 129 RBIs.
--SS Nick Punto won't be paired with 2B Mark DeRosa, as some rumors had suggested at the winter meetings, when the Twins pursued a trade with the Cubs for the 33-year-old infielder. Chicago sent DeRosa to Cleveland instead on Dec. 31, receiving three minor league pitchers in return. --RHP Loek Van Mil, the tallest pitcher in professional baseball, isn't expected to take part in the World Baseball Classic. A native of the Netherlands, the 7-foot-1 Van Mil is recovering from a strained elbow he suffered last season while with Class A Beloit, an injury that also cost him an Olympic roster spot on the Dutch team. Van Mil hopes to be able to pitch from a mound again sometime in March.
--OF Garrett Jones, who batted .208 with two home runs in 31 games for the Twins in 2007, has signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old Jones, who signed with the Twins' organization as a free agent in 2002, spent six years in the organization but made Minnesota's roster only for two short stints in 2007.
--LHP Eddie Guardado, acquired from Texas for the stretch run in August, has had discussions with the Rangers about a return in 2009. Guardado became a free agent after posting a 7.71 ERA in nine appearances for the Twins. The Rangers recently gave a minor league deal to former Twins RHP Casey Daigle, who was released by Class AAA Rochester in August.
BY THE NUMBERS: $59 million -- Twins' projected payroll for 2009, the lowest in the AL Central.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Anytime you can beat out a hockey player in anything in Canada, it's an accomplishment." -- 1B Justin Morneau, after being named Canadian Athlete of the Year.
