Big Shooters on Friday

It's friggin' cold. O.K. enough of that. Let's get to a Joe Mauer update.

What we are hearing is that no deal is close - there's still a ways to go before we can even write that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

But...

Ron Shapiro, Mauer's agent, remains in Fort Myers this weekend and the sides remain in discussions about a contract extension for the defending AL MVP. Also heard that Twins GM Bill Smith cancelled an appearance in front of a group of fans who have traveled here from Mankato to attend, `a meeting' this afternoon,

Wish we could chisel some details from one of the sides as that what the holdups are. For now, all we are getting is that the sides are talking this weekend but Shapiro's appearance should not be read as a sign that a deal is close.

Stay tuned....

Here are the starting lineups:

Mike Cameron, CF

Bill Hall, RF

Victor Martinez, C

J.D. Drew, DH

Jed Lowrie, 2B

Ryan Kalish, LF

Yamarco Navarro, 3B

Jose Iglesias, SS

Jon Lester, LHP

Twins

Orlando Hudson, 2B

Joe Mauer, C

Justin Morneau, 1B

Michael Cuddyer, RF

Jim Thome, DH

J.J. Hardy, SS

Danny Valencia, 3B

Carl Pavano, RHP,with Matt Guerrier. Jon Rauch, Clay Condrey and Rob Delaney among the scheduled relievers.

Couple minor league notes:

The Twins have signed righthander Yoslan Herrera to a minor league deal Herrera, 28, was 11-1 with a 3.23 ERA at Class AA Altoona and 1-1, 2.30 at Class AAA Indianapolis. A Cuban defector, Herrera signed with the Pirates for three-years and $1.9M in 2006. Got five starts with the Pirates in 2008, going 1-1, 9.82.