THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a US$7.4-million, one-year contract.
The Twins also reached one-year deals with reliever Juan Rincon ($2,475,000) on Friday and outfielder-designated hitter Jason Kubel ($1.3 million) late Thursday.
Right fielder Michael Cuddyer, who made $3.75 million last season, and right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier, who made $407,500 last season, are Minnesota’s two remaining arbitration-eligible players. Arbitration hearings are held throughout February, but teams typically reach agreements with players before that point.
Cuddyer asked for $6.2 million for 2008, and the Twins offered $4.7 million. Guerrier asked for $1.15 million, and the Twins offered $750,000.
Morneau, a New Westminster, B.C., native and the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 2006, received a raise of nearly $3 million from the $4.5 million he made last year while hitting .271 with 31 home runs and 111 RBIs.
Though he matched his MVP season in power, he dropped 50 points on his average. He’s not eligible for free agency until after the 2010 season.
The first Twins player to hit 30 homers in consecutive seasons since Gary Gaetti in 1986 and 1987, Morneau has said previously he’s open to a long-term extension but that he’d also like to see how the Twins put together their roster. Last spring, Morneau expressed disappointment that the two sides didn’t reach an agreement on a long-term deal.
Assistant general manager Rob Antony said Friday there have been discussions about a long-term extension for Morneau this winter. The Twins will continue to explore that option this spring, he said, as well as with Cuddyer.
"With arbitration staring us in the face, we decided it was best to get this done now," Antony said..
Talks could get going once the team decides what to do with left-hander Johan Santana. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has been on the trade market for months, and his $13.25 million salary for 2008 would be a big chunk of money off the books if he’s dealt.
Earlier this week, general manager Bill Smith said the Santana situation does not affect potential contract extension talks involving Morneau or any of the other arbitration-eligible players.
"They’re completely independent of the other," Smith said.
Mark Pieper, Morneau’s agent, didn’t return a call on Friday.
Rincon, who made $2 million last season, can earn an additional $25,000 if he appears in at least 65 games. The right-hander was one of baseball’s best setup men from 2003 through 2006, but last year he slumped to a 5.13 ERA in 59 2-3 innings. His 290 appearances over the past four seasons are most in the AL.
"We need to get him back to where he was in ’04, ’05, ’06," Smith said.
