The Twins have picked up 28-year old lefty swinging RF Jason Kubel’s option for 2011 valued at $5.25 million bucks. Kubel played in 143 games for the Twins last season and he was 129 of 518 (.249 avg, .750 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 21 homers and 92 RBIs. He has now played in 654 games in six years with the Twins and he is 594 of 2,193 (.271 avg, .798 OPS) with 297 runs scored, 92 homers, 371 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Kubel might not have had his best season in 2010 but he still is a power hitter that the Twins can depend on so it was a good move to pick up his option.

The Twins have declined 32-year old switch hitting infielder Nick Punto’s $5.5 million dollar option for the 2011 season. Punto played in 88 games for the Twins last season and he was 60 for 252 (.238 avg, .615 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 20 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Punto played 7 years for the Twins appearing in 747 games in which he was 587 for 2,365 (.248 avg, .648 OPS) with 311 runs scored, 12 homers, 194 RBIs and 89 stolen bases. Punto only had 2 good years out of his 7 with the Twins so it is smart to let him go. Mike Tolbert or Alexi Casilla are more than talented enough to replace Punto at around 1/10 of the cost.

This is a staggering number but at least the Twins have options on three of these guys (Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto and Jason Kubel) making the front office’s work a little bit easier. This is how I would handle the free agent decisions that need to be made on these 13 guys:

Michael Cuddyer: 31-year old OF/1B Michael Cuddyer played in 157 games for the Twins last season and he was 165 of 609 (.271 avg, .753 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 14 homers, 81 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Cuddyer is a very versatile player in the field and he’s still a solid hitter. VERDICT: I would pick up his option.

Jason Kubel: 28-year old lefty swinging DH/OF Jason Kubel is a solid power hitter for the Twins. He played in 143 games for the Twins last season and he was 129 of 518 (.249 avg, .750 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 21 homers and 92 RBIs. The option for 2011 is valued at $5.25 million bucks with a $350,000 buyout. VERDICT: I would pick up his option.

Nick Punto: 32-year old switch hitting infielder Nick Punto played in 88 games for the Twins last season and he was 60 of 252 (.238 avg, .615 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 20 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. He has a $5 million dollar club option with a $500,000 buyout. VERDICT: Buy him out and let him sign with another team.

Jim Thome: 40-year old lefty swinging DH Jim Thome played in 108 games for the Twins last season and he was 78 of 276 (.283 avg, 1.039 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 25 homers and 59 RBIs. Thome was a lifesaver for the Twins when Justin Morneau went down due to a severe concussion. VERDICT: I would offer Thome about $3 million bucks to return to Minnesota.

Orlando Hudson: 32-year old switch hitting 2B Orlando Hudson played in 126 games for the Twins last season and he was 133 of 497 (.268 avg, .710 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 6 homers, 37 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Hudson is a unselfish player who is also an outstanding defensive player. VERDICT: I would try to re-sign Hudson as long as the bidding on his services didn’t go too high.

J.J. Hardy: 28-year old righty swinging shortstop J.J. Hardy played o.k. when healthy. He played in 101 games for the Twins last season and he was 91 of 340 (.268 avg, .714 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 6 homers and 38 RBIs. VERDICT: Like Hudson, I would make Hardy a decent offer to come back but I wouldn’t go overboard.

Carl Pavano: 34-year old righty starting pitcher Carl Pavano was outstanding for the Twins last season. He started 32 games for the Twins last year and he was 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The last time Pavano had a great year like that he signed a long term deal with the Yankees and proceeded to stink and not stay healthy. VERDICT: I think Pavano’s going to get a lot more money on the open market then I would feel comfortable paying him. I would let him go.

Jesse Crain: 29-year old righty reliever Jesse Crain had a great comeback year for the Twins in 2010. He pitched in 71 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 3.04 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. VERDICT: I would offer Crain a small raise and let him make the decision on whether to come back or not for 2011.

Randy Flores: 35-year old lefty reliever Randy Flores didn’t pitch too well for the Twins. Flores pitched in 11 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA and a 3.27 WHIP. He pitched in 58 games (0 starts) overall for the Twins & Rockies and he was 2-0 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. VERDICT: I would let him walk.

Brian Fuentes: 35-year old lefty reliever Brian Fuentes pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.52 WHIP. He pitched in 48 games (0 starts) overall for the Twins & Angels last season and he was 4-1 with 24 saves, a 2.81 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. VERDICT: I would offer Fuentes around $3.5 million bucks to return as a set up man. But I have a feeling that he’s going to attempt to find another closer’s job on the open market.

Matt Guerrier: 32-year old righty reliever Matt Guerrier pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 5-7 with 1 save, a 3.17 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. VERDICT: Guerrier is a solid reliever so I would offer him a small raise and put the ball in his court.

Ron Mahay: 39-year old lefty reliever Ron Mahay pitched in 41 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. VERDICT: I would probably offer Mahay a minor league deal.

Jon Rauch: 32-year old righty reliever Jon Rauch pitched in 59 games (0 starts) for the Twins last season and he was 3-1 with 21 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. VERDICT: Rauch is the kind of guy who will get a good deal to be a set up man and I believe the Twins’ funds would be spent better elsewhere.

The Twins didn’t have much of a chance in this game as they didn’t hit much and the Yankees got to starting pitcher Brian Duensing quickly. Duensing pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing 7 hits and 5 earned runs as he earned the loss last night. Scott Baker worked 2 1/3 innings giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run while whiffing 2 batters and walking none. Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares and Brian Fuentes combined to work 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball hoping to allow the team a chance to make a comeback which they didn’t. Denard Span (2 for 4) and Orlando Hudson (2 for 4 with a RBI) did their best to spark the offense at the top. Joe Mauer pitched in offensively as he was 1 for 3 with a walk and rookie Danny Valencia was 1 for 4 with a double. The Twins were overmatched once again by the Evil Empire as they were swept 3-0 against the Yankees.

Things were looking good for the Twins when Orlando Hudson whacked a solo homer to tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the sixth inning. But in the top of the 7th the Yankees got to Carl Pavano. Pavano worked the first 6 innings of this game allowing 10 hits and 4 earned runs as he was the losing pitcher. Jose Mijares, Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier combined to work 2 scoreless innings for the Twins following Pavano. Matt Capps gave up a run on 2 hits in the 9th inning really hurting any chance of a comeback against Mariano Rivera. Delmon Young was the only guy besides Hudson who brought his hitting shoes last night as he was 2 for 4 with a triple and 1 run scored. The Twins are now down 2-0 in this series.