26-year old lefty swinging catcher Joe Mauer has won the American League MVP Award. He played in 138 games this season and he was 191 for 523 (.365 avg, 1.031 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 28 homers, 96 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Mauer has now played in 699 games in his major league career and he is 844 for 2,852 (.327 avg, .891 OPS) with 419 runs scored, 72 homers, 397 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. Mauer is nowhere near his prime yet and if his power continues to improve he might win more awards like this one.

Ron Gardenhire of the Minnesota Twins finished 2nd behind Mike Scioscia for the Manager of the Year Award in the American League. Gardenhire led the Twins to a 87-76 record (53.4%) last season as they won the A.L. Central once again. In his 8 years in Minnesota, Gardenhire has compiled a 709-588 (54.7%) record during the regular season. With the Twins likely to bump up the payroll moving into a new stadium look for Gardenhire to continue to pile up wins.

26-year old righty reliever has signed a contract to play in Japan next season. Morillo pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 0-0 with a 22.50 ERA and a 3.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 46 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 6-6 with 5 saves, a 3.90 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. The Twins won’t miss Morillo as he walks way too many batters for their taste despite him having a outstanding arm.

The Twins have lost 26-year old righty reliever/starter Armando Gabino on waivers to the Orioles. Gabino pitched in 2 games (1 start) for the Twins last season and he was 0-0 with a 17.18 ERA and a 4.91 WHIP. He gave up 9 hits and walked 5 batters in only 3 2/3 innings for the Twins last season and that was probably enough to convince them to let him go. Gabino also pitched in 38 games (7 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 6-4 with 1 save, a 2.94 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

The Twins have picked up 30-year old righty swinging RF Michael Cuddyer’s option for the 2011 season valued at $10.5 million bucks. Cuddyer really had a great year for the Twins in 2009 as he played in 153 games in which he was 162 for 588 (.276 avg, .862 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 32 homers, 94 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Cuddyer really stepped up for the Twins last season when Justin Morneau went down for the year as he replaced him at both 1B and in the cleanup spot in the lineup. Cuddyer has now played nine years with the Twins in which he has played in 843 games and he is 791 for 2,934 (.270 avg, .801 OPS) with 443 runs scored, 107 homers, 429 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. This was a good move for the Twins to reward a player who has been with them and productive for a long time.

UPDATE: Michael Cuddyer finished in a tie for 21st in the MVP voting in the A.L. He was tied with C.C. Sabathia and Victor Martinez.