Minnesota Twins

Tigers manager Jim Leyland and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen often praise their Twins counterpart as the best manager in baseball. On Nov. 18, though, members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America disagreed, if slightly.

For the fifth time in his eight seasons as manager of the Twins, Ron Gardenhire finished second in American League Manager of the Year voting, losing out to the Angels' Mike Scioscia, who led his team past the tragic loss of pitcher Nick Adenhart to the AL West title.

Gardenhire received six first-place votes, 12 second-place votes and six third-place votes. It's the second straight year Gardenhire has finished runner-up in the voting. He's never won the award, but he told the Twins' official Web site that he believed Scioscia was more deserving.

"I can't even begin to think of how hard that was losing a player during a season like that," Gardenhire said www.twinsbaseball.com. "For them to maintain and carry on with all the injuries they had to deal with, I mean, he just had a heck of a year managing a baseball team. I've said all along I (would have) voted for him. To do what he did through some really tough circumstances, wow, what a year."

Gardenhire's five second-place finishes are the most ever for an AL manager (Tony La Russa, who finished second this season, has finished second an NL-record six times).

The Minnesota skipper managed his team to 17-4 run to end the regular season, the 17th win coming in Game 163, the second straight year the Twins forced a one-game playoff to decide the AL Central. In 2008, the Twins lost to the White Sox in Game 163; this year they defeated Detroit in an epic, 12-inning contest. The Twins were swept, however, by the Yankees in the AL Division Series.

—C Joe Mauer was nearly a unanimous choice for American League Most Valuable Player. Mauer received 27 of 28 first-place votes and finished with 387 points, far ahead of runner-up Mark Teixeira of the Yankees, who had 225. Derek Jeter was third with 193.

Mauer previously won his third career Silver Slugger award. The 26-year-old catcher led the AL in average (.365), on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587) this season.

• RHP Deolis Guerra, RHP Rob Delaney, RHP Loek Van Mil, RHP Alex Burnett, INF Estarlin De Los Santos and INF Danny Valencia were added to the Twins' 40-man roster. Valencia, who hit a combined .285 with 14 homers and 70 RBIs in Class AA and Class AAA this year, might have a shot at cracking the opening-day roster. Van Mil is the tallest pitcher in professional baseball at 7-foot-1.

• INF Deibinson Romero was outrighted to Class AAA Rochester. The move cleared a spot on the Twins' 40-man roster.

• RHP Juan Morillo and INF Justin Huber were released by the Twins and signed contracts to play in Japan. Huber had been outrighted to Class AAA Rochester the week before, clearing him from the 40-man roster, and Morillo was placed on unconditional release waivers.

• CF Denard Span and RHP Scott Baker traveled to the Twin Cities in mid-November to model the Twins' new uniforms. The ballclub has slightly altered the home whites (a small change to the Twins font), dramatically changed the road grays (a different logo across the chest and no pinstripes) and added a throwback uniform (much like those worn by the 1961 Twins) to be featured on opening day and on all home Saturdays throughout the 2010 season.

• RHP Carl Pavano remained a priority for the Twins entering the beginning of baseball's hot stove season, Twins GM Bill Smith told the team's Web site. "We've expressed our interest, and he has interest," Smith was quoted as saying. "He wants to go through the process. As a veteran guy, he should do that, but he does have an interest in coming back."

• LHP Jarrod Washburn, a Wisconsin native, has, in the past, expressed his interest in pitching for the Twins. Days before free agency opened up, the starter told Foxsports.com that he's still interested in the Twins. "The Twins and Brewers are both on the radar for me," Washburn was quoted as saying. "The thought of playing close to home has always appealed to me, and I think both of those teams would be good fits for me. … I don't know yet if either of those teams have mutual interest, but we will see."

By The Numbers:

5—Times, in his eight seasons as Twins manager, that Ron Gardenhire has finished second in AL Manager of the Year voting. His 2009 second-place finish was his second straight. He's never won the award.

Quote To Note:

"I think you have to be a tremendous manager to finish second five times in eight years. I'd say (2009) is his best body of work, start to finish."

—Twins GM Bill Smith, on manager Ron Gardenhire's second-place finish in AL Manager of the Year voting.

The Twins addressed their need at shortstop by trading for J.J. Hardy and thinned out their outfield by sending CF Carlos Gomez in exchange. The trade also means that SS Orlando Cabrera will not return to the Twins in 2010.

Biggest Needs:

The Twins need to sign or trade C Joe Mauer this offseason. They need to search for one or two veteran starters, and mostly, they need to be aggressive in addressing their hole-riddled infield.

Arrival:

SS J.J. Hardy (trade with Brewers).

Departures:

OF Carlos Gomez (traded to Brewers), RHP Armando Gabino (claimed off waivers by Orioles), INF Justin Huber (minor league free agent, signed with Japanese team), RHP Juan Morillo (minor league free agent, signed with Japanese team).

Free Agents:

C Mike Redmond, RHP Carl Pavano, LHP Ron Mahay, SS Orlando Cabrera, 3B Joe Crede.

The Twins won't likely bring back Redmond or Crede, but might have an interest in re-signing Pavano and Cabrera.

Arbitration-eligible:

RHP Boof Bonser, RHP Jesse Crain, RHP Matt Guerrier, SS J.J. Hardy, INF Brendan Harris, LHP Francisco Liriano, RHP Pat Neshek, OF Delmon Young.

The Twins don't have a history of going to arbitration with their players, though this year Minnesota's front office will have a long list of arbitration-eligible players to address. It's likely all of these players will be offered arbitration.

In Limbo:

RHP Boof Bonser's injury-plagued season could make him a candidate to be non-tendered.

Medical Watch:

1B Justin Morneau (stress fracture in vertebra, right wrist surgery in October 2009) should be ready in time for spring training.

RHP Joe Nathan (minor elbow surgery in October 2009) is expected to be ready in time for spring training.

3B Joe Crede (back surgery in September 2009) said the procedure went very well and immediately provided pain relief. He's hoping to be ready to go by spring training.

C Joe Mauer (strained right hip flexor) is healing well.

RHP Kevin Slowey (right wrist surgery in August 2009) will continue to rehab in the offseason.