A year after doing a near-total overhaul of their roster, and obsessing for four months over a Johan Santana trade, the Twins enter the offseason with far less work to do on a team that nearly won the AL Central. The rotation, and perhaps as many as eight spots in the lineup, could carry over intact into 2009, making this winter perhaps one of the quietest in years.
ARRIVAL: RHP Jason Jones (Rule 5 selection from Yankees). DEPARTURES: DH Randy Ruiz (free agent, signed with Blue Jays), SS Adam Everett (free agent, signed with Tigers).
FREE AGENTS: LHP Dennys Reyes, LHP Eddie Guardado.
Reyes will seek a big raise from his $1 million salary, and after posting a 2.33 ERA, the Twins suspect they will be outbid. Guardado, whose September stint was largely unsuccessful, won't be offered a contract by the Twins.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: RHP Matt Guerrier.
The reliever had an up-and-down season in 2008.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Pat Neshek, who missed most of the 2008 season because of a torn elbow ligament, re-injured the elbow in a November throwing session. He had Tommy John surgery on Nov. 18, and he will miss the entire 2009 season.
