--RF Michael Cuddyer, the Twins' player representative, said the culture of steroids may have been wide-spread in the early 2000s, but it was never mentioned in the Twins' clubhouse. "In Minnesota, it wasn't very prevalent," said Cuddyer, who volunteered that he had never taken a performance-enhancing drug. "We didn't exactly have a bunch of guys hitting 40 home runs." Still, RHP Juan Rincon was suspended for failing a steroid test, and OF Matt Lawton failed a test a year after leaving Minnesota.
--LF Delmon Young will be paid 20 percent less in 2009 than he was in 2008, but the Twins don't view the third-year outfielder's $1,152,000 salary to be a decrease. Young, who signed the contract Feb. 11 with no complaints, according to Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony, earned $700,000 last season, but he was paid an additional $740,000 as a prorated portion of the contract he signed as a No. 1 overall pick with the Rays. --RHP Luis Ayala has agreed to a $1.3 million contract with the Twins, but the team has yet to formally sign the former Mets and Nationals reliever. The Twins need to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the free-agent signee, a transaction the team prefers to put off until training camp's opening day, Feb. 16.
--C Jose Morales severely sprained his right ankle while sliding into second base during his only major league game, but the 26-year-old Puerto Rican reports to camp with a decent shot at making the Twins. Mike Redmond will serve as the primary backup to batting champion Joe Mauer behind the plate, but Mauer's offseason kidney surgery and Redmond's rapidly approaching 38th birthday might cause manager Ron Gardenhire to keep three catchers.
--LHP Dennys Reyes remained unsigned on the eve of training camp, despite enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career in 2008. Reyes, who posted a 2.33 ERA in short-relief situations, is unlikely to return to the Twins, who have turned to less expensive alternatives for left-handed specialty work. Craig Breslow and Jose Mijares, both of whom earn the major league minimum, are expected to assume Reyes' former role.
BY THE NUMBERS: $7 million -- Salary sought by free agent 3B Joe Crede, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, believed to be more than the Twins are willing to pay.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm nervous to take Vitamin C. Everyone is looking over their shoulders." -- 3B Brendan Harris, on the fear in baseball's clubhouses of failing a steroids test.
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