Twins' Kubel near two-year deal with option

The contract, which includes a team option for 2011, would clear up one of the Twins' many arbitration-eligibles.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: January 21, 2009 - 7:26 AM

The Twins have the framework in place on a two-year contract for outfielder Jason Kubel that will include a team option for the 2011 season.

A few details need to be ironed out -- and Kubel needs to pass a physical this weekend during TwinsFest -- but all indications are that the Twins will be able to take care of one of their arbitration-eligible players.

"I don't want to talk too much about it because some things still need to be taken care of," Kubel said Tuesday from his home near San Diego, "but it's almost done."

Kubel, 26, batted .272 last season with 20 homers and 78 RBI and began to settle in as the Twins designated hitter. He was the second-leading home run hitter on a team that could use more.

More importantly, the Twins were able to lock up Kubel while facing a potential onslaught of arbitration cases following the 2009 season.

Counting Kubel, the Twins could have as many as 11 arbitration-eligible players next offseason: Scott Baker, Boof Bonser, Jesse Crain, Carlos Gomez, Matt Guerrier, Brendan Harris, Francisco Liriano, Pat Neshek, Glen Perkins and Delmon Young. So getting Kubel done would rid them of one potential headache -- and the option year would cover his first year of free agency.

"What we have done historically is to do deals with players as they get to two, three and four years in, and we will continue to," Twins General Manager Bill Smith said. "We have a big group of players who are eligible for arbitration [soon], and we'll look at each one individually."

Players and clubs exchanged arbitration figures Tuesday, as required by the league.

Kubel requested a $3.4 million contract for the upcoming season, while the Twins offered $2.4 million. Guerrier, the only other Twins player eligible for arbitration this year, filed for $1.75 million, while the Twins offered $1.2 million.

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