The Twins and righthander Kevin Slowey have agreed to a one-year, $2.7 million contract to avoid going to arbitration.

It was a midpoint deal, as the Twins filed for $2.3 million and Slowey filed for $3.1. Good for both sides, because there are times when egos get involved and one side just has to get a little over or a little under the midpoint just to prove a point.

Slowey, 26, was 13-6 last season with a 4,45 ERA. He's 39-21 in four seasons but will have to fight for a spot in the rotation. Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano and Scott Baker should be locks with Slowey, Brian Duensing and Nick Blackburn left having to prove themselves.

UPDATE: I think Duensing should be a lock too, but you never know how spring will turn out. Unfortunately, Duensing has proven he can be that swingman. Don't agree with the negativity toward Baker. He twice needed shots in his elbiw during last season. When healthy, he was 15-9 in 2009. He's 55-42 in his career. You don't vote someone off the island with those numbers......

That leaves Francisco Liriano and Delmon Young as the two remaining arbitration cases.

For Young, the Twins filed at $4.65 million. He filed at $6.25 million. (Midpoint is $5.45 million). For Liriano, the Twins filed at $3.6 million. He filed at $5.0 million. (Midpoint is $4.3 million).

Arbitration hearings take place Feb. 1-18 and teams have negotiated with their players right up until the start of the hearing before agreeing to deals. Torii Hunter tells the story of when he had one foot in the hearing room when the Twins finally said the number he wanted to hear.