Like Dangerfield, Twins get no respect

Michael Cuddyer received a $3.575 million one-year deal on Thursday, just before his case was to go to arbitration

That's great. The Twins' creme – Cuddyer – between the cookies – the M-boys – in the middle of their lineup proved last year that he can produce, if given a chance.

Now he has to prove it wasn't a one-year fluke.

Mauer and Punto both received multi-year deals, while Rincon, Morneau, Cuddyer, and Ford all received one-year deals. The Twins avoided arbitration with all eligible players, and saved some money. They also OKed option years for Hunter and Silva and signed Ortiz and Cirillo to contracts for 2007. A bunch of players received minor league deals and will compete for spots this spring.

All in all, none of what the Twins have done has garnered national news – which is just the way the like to Twins operate. Many national pundits have already written off the Twins in 2007, without a single spring training game played yet. Again, very much like the way the Twins operate – under the national radar. Yet ESPN is scheduled to air two Twins games in the first eight days of the season. That's something, given the lack of confidence some ESPN staffers have given concerning the team.

Just like Comedian Rodney Dangerfield, the Twins get no respect.

Well, maybe just a little...

Signings pinings

Signings pinings...

Joe Mauer... Justin Morneau... Michael Cuddyer... Johan Santana... Joe Nathan... and even Torii Hunter. They all have several things in common – they're great players. They will be potentially EXPEN$IVE to sign to long-term contracts... They all (supposedly) want to stay in Minnesota... They have all played with a lot of heart here.

The big question is, can Minnesota afford to keep them all? Probably not. But who can we afford to lose? An MVP? A batting champ? A Cy Young winner? One of the best center fielders (and former Gold Glove winner) in the game? One of the best closers in the game? Or how about one of the most productive No. 4 hitters in a Twins uniforms since the likes of Herby, Kirby and Gaetti?

I look for the Twins to sign Mauer and Cuddyer to long-term deals this spring, and (I hope) the other four this summer or fall. Who will get left out? Maybe Hunter. If he's smart he would go to the Twins and ask for a low-ball extension (like 6M a year for four years), with lots of incentives, and hope the team will bite. He's a great player, but too often injured, and it's hard to justify spending millions more on a part-time player.

I think Cuddyer could also be signed to a relatively low-priced deal, in the neighborhood of $5-7 million per year.

Mauer was mentioned first, in part because the Twins HAVE to sign him. He's the hometown boy made good; and he's the face of the organization to come.

Morneau, Santana, and Nathan also deserve their chances to have lt contracts. It just remains to be seen who the Twins can afford.