--It's no surprise the Twins offered arbitration to RHP Carl Pavano, 35, at the deadline. He was the Twins' most reliable starter last season (17-11, 3.75 ERA) and is one of the best available on the open market. Pavano indicated that he will test the market.

Last season, Pavano accepted arbitration and agreed to a $7 million, one-year deal after making $1.5 million in 2009. On the open market, he expected to command a deal similar to the three-year, $33 million deal Ted Lilly, who turns 35 in January, signed with the Dodgers.

--The decision to offer arbitration to 2B Orlando Hudson had some people scratching their heads and indicates the team is willing to use INF Alexi Casilla at shortstop next season. General manager Bill Smith said shortly after the season ended that it's time to see if Casilla is a full-time major-leaguer. Hudson (.268, 19 doubles, 37 RBIs) was a reliable fielder and No. 2 hitter while playing on a one-year, $5 million contract. He also drew the ire of manager Ron Gardenhire on more than one occasion for insisting on playing through injuries that required rest.

--RHP Kyle Gibson, the Twins' top draft pick in 2009, is the team's top prospect, according to Baseball America. Gibson, 23, pitched at Class A, AA and AAA last season, compiling a combined record of 11-6 and 2.96 ERA in 152 innings. Gibson, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, was shut down early so he could rest his surgically repaired forearm. He is expected to be invited to big-league camp and likely to start the season at Class AAA Rochester. If all goes well, he'll make his major league debut in 2011.

--OF/1B Chris Parmalee, 22, was added to the 40-man roster after he hit .339 with 11 doubles and 13 RBI in the Arizona Fall League. He ended the regular season in Class AA New Britain, where he batted .275 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 11 games.

--LHP Jose Mijares, who reported to the Aragua Tigres of the Venezuelan League on Nov. 19, was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five games (six innings) through Nov. 23.

--The Twins will play their final spring training exhibitions against the Braves at Atlanta's Turner Field March 29-30 before starting the regular season April 1-3 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.

--Twins pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Fort Myers, Fla., for spring training on Feb. 17, with the first workout scheduled for the following day, the team announced. The rest of the team is scheduled to report Feb. 22, with full-squad workouts beginning the next day, and the first game is set for Feb. 27 against the Red Sox at Hammond Stadium.

BY THE NUMBERS
12 -- Strikeouts in 123 plate appearances for OF Ben Revere during the just completed Arizona Fall League season, best ratio among all players. He was 13-for-13 in stolen base attempts.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"If you don't want the player, you'd better not offer him arbitration." -- General manager Bill Smith, on his decision to offer arbitration to free agents Carl Pavano, Orlando Hudson and Jesse Crain.

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