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Minnesota Twins Inside Pitch

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Updated Dec 11, 2009 6:01 AM ET
     
 
General manager Bill Smith's biggest move of the winter meetings had little to do with the meetings at all. Instead, the GM's starting staff grew by one veteran when right-hander Carl Pavano accepted the team's offer of arbitration.

Pavano's decision did set off Minnesota's only other deal of the week in Indianapolis -- to make room for Pavano on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated right-hander Boof Bonser for assignment, then traded him to the Red Sox for a player to be named.

Smith was scheduled to return to the Twin Cities still in need of a third baseman, a right-handed hitting utility player and maybe one more veteran starter to round out the staff. The ballclub expressed interest in a trade with San Diego for Kevin Kouzmanoff and in signing free agent Mark DeRosa. Joe Crede, Smith said, is still a candidate for the third-base job as well.

Minnesota has $62 million committed to eight players in 2010 and has seven who are eligible for arbitration. Factoring in those raises, it's likely the Twins' payroll will jump to around $90 million during the team's first season in Target Field. Minnesota's previous payroll high was in 2007, when it reached about $71 million.

"There will be limitations, but our ownership has set out what we think are certainly substantial funds to get our club ready for the start of the season," Smith said of the payroll increase. "We're going to have a ceiling to all of this, but we've been able to make a couple of moves so far, adding (shortstop) J.J. Hardy and bringing Carl Pavano back. We're very pleased with those moves."

Asked if the team will now turn its attention to signing catcher Joe Mauer to a contract extension, Smith said, "We've got a lot on our plate, and we'll tackle all of those things at the appropriate time."
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