--OF Jason Kubel filed for arbitration by the Jan. 15 deadline, but there are signs that the Twins are discussing a multi-year contract for the left-handed hitter. Kubel, who earned $1.3 million in 2008 and hit 20 home runs, second-most on the Twins, will serve as the team's regular DH and occasional outfielder in 2009. He has two more seasons left until he reaches free agency.
--RHP Matt Guerrier filed for arbitration on the heels of a disappointing season, though the setup man still might be in line for a raise from the bullpen-thin Twins. Guerrier posted a 10.45 ERA after July 30 but could see an increase over his $950,000 salary in 2008. His 2.35 ERA in 2007 gives the Twins reason to believe he can still be an effective seventh-inning reliever and that he was simply handed too big a role behind closer Joe Nathan after setup man Pat Neshek was injured. --RHP Pat Neshek has begun light rehab work as he recovers from surgery to replace a ligament in his pitching elbow. Neshek, who underwent Tommy John surgery in November and will miss the 2009 season, is still wearing a brace on his right arm, but he is able to do conditioning workouts.
--Jim Pohlad attended the major league owners meetings Jan. 13-15 in Phoenix, his first act as new owner of the Twins in the wake of his father Carl's death on Jan. 5. Pohlad, who had represented his father for the last two years whenever health problems prevented him from attending, is expected to be formally approved as the team's operating owner later this spring. Commissioner Bud Selig opened the meetings with a tribute to Carl Pohlad, his close friend.
--OF Luis Matos, who hit 30 home runs over seven seasons with the Orioles, was signed to a minor league contract and invited to the Twins' spring camp. Matos is the only non-pitcher among five free agents with big-league experience issued an invitation. The others are LHP Mike Gosling and Sean Henn, and RHPs R.A. Dickey and Bobby Keppel. In addition, 10 non-roster players from the Twins' farm system will join the team in camp, mostly notably RHP Kevin Mulvey, who was acquired from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade a year ago.
BY THE NUMBERS: minus-39 degrees -- Temperature when manager Ron Gardenhire, LHP Glen Perkins and the Twins' annual caravan arrived in Crookston, Minn., for a public appearance.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everybody agrees this is the fairer way. It's just one year too late." -- Twins president Dave St. Peter, on a rule change for 2009 that determines home-field advantage for one-game playoffs via head-to-head records rather than a coin flip. The Twins' 1-0 playoff loss in October was played in Chicago despite Minnesota's 10-8 advantage in the season series against the White Sox.
