--CF Carlos Gomez, intent upon improving his pitch selection after finishing with a .296 on-base percentage last season, drew 10 walks in 21 games during the Dominican Winter League season. His secret: Batting practice without the batting. Gomez spends several hours a week, he said, standing in the batter's box watching pitches go by, hoping to better learn the strike zone.
--RHP Matt Guerrier hoped to settle on a new contract when he came to Minneapolis for TwinsFest, but left without a deal, making it increasingly likely he could take part in the Twins' first arbitration hearing in three years. "He's asking for half-again what we've offered," pointed out general manager Bill Smith, who has spoken to Guerrier's agent, Joe Bick, several times. Guerrier, who earned $950,000 last season and went 6-9 with a 5.19 ERA, is seeking a raise to $1.75 million from an arbitrator. The Twins have proposed a salary of $1.2 million. --RHP Eric Gagne was inclined to accept the Twins' offer of a one-year, $3 million contract to become the team's setup man, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. But by the time the Brewers' free agent reliever contacted the team, the Twins had decided on another course of action. The Twins are still seeking another reliable arm to handle eighth-inning chores.
--RHP Joe Nathan signed a $47 million, four-year contract last March, and believed he was likely settling for a smaller contract than he could have gotten by becoming a free agent. But "we're very happy now that we signed when we did," Nathan said last week, noting that Francisco Rodriguez, who would have been his chief free-agent competition, accepted only $37 million over three years from the Mets, an indication of the weakening economy and a glut of free-agent closers.
--LHP Jose Mijares, expected to earn a spot in the Twins' bullpen this spring, left his Venezuelan League team for several days in January after a conflict with manager Buddy Bailey, and was dropped from the postseason roster when he returned. Mijares went 4-1 with a 1.40 ERA in the Venezuelan regular season, but was not allowed to pitch again after he failed to show up the next couple of days following a disastrous four-batter outing Jan. 7 and an argument with his manager.
BY THE NUMBERS: .364 -- Winter-league on-base percentage for CF Carlos Gomez, a significant improvement on his .296 success rate for the Twins in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would say it doesn't look like anybody's job is safe. Everybody better come (to spring training) ready to play. I know I plan to make Gardy's decision as tough as possible." -- RF Denard Span, on the Twins' surplus of outfielders
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