--C Joe Mauer has begun swinging off a tee in the batting cage, his first step toward rejoining the Twins on the field sometime in March. The two-time batting champion, recovering from surgery to remove a kidney blockage, also put on the catcher's gear for the first time on Feb. 26, catching pitchers in the bullpen. "It's still sore, but it's getting a little better each day," Mauer said of his abdomen. "I can see progress."
--OF Denard Span played left field in his first spring game, and it's a position he could see a lot of this season. With the Twins trying to find playing time for four outfielders, at least one of them will have to move around, and Span -- who spent most of 2008 in right field, filling in for the injured Michael Cuddyer -- is the most likely candidate. "He can run it down just about anywhere," manager Ron Gardenhire said. --RHP Philip Humber is perhaps the leading contender to replace Boof Bonser in the Twins' bullpen, but the former No. 3 draft pick was battered for four runs in one inning against Cincinnati in his spring debut. Humber is out of options and isn't likely to pass through waivers unclaimed if he doesn't make the Twins' roster.
--RHP Boof Bonser had small tears in his labrum and rotator cuff that didn't show up on a pair of MRI exams, surgeons discovered during an arthroscopic procedure on Feb. 25. They fixed the damage, but Bonser, the frontrunner for a long relief role in the Twins' bullpen, will miss the 2009 season.
--LHP Francisco Liriano discussed his plans with the Dominican Republic national team and with their blessing made it official: He's skipping this year's World Baseball Classic. "It's better that I stay here," said Liriano, two years removed from Tommy John surgery. "I need to be ready for the season. I hope to play next time."
BY THE NUMBERS: $2.5 million -- Amount guaranteed to 3B Joe Crede this season, less than half of the $5.1 million he earned with the White Sox in 2008. Crede can collect as much as $4.5 million more by reaching a series of at-bat benchmarks, starting with his 250th of the season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Welcome, Mr. Crede. Now that you've killed us as much as you have, it's time for you to help us kill other people." -- Manager Ron Gardenhire's first words to new Twins third baseman Joe Crede, who hit seven home runs and collected 17 runs batted in over 11 games against Minnesota last season
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