The Twins have signed 31-year old lefty swinging 3B Sean Burroughs to a minor league deal. Burroughs played in 78 games last year for the Diamondbacks and he was 30 for 110 (.273 avg, .626 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 518 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 461 of 1,647 (.280 avg, .694 OPS) with 187 runs scored, 12 homers, 142 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Burroughs will have a decent shot of winning a bench job with the Twins next spring.

The Twins have re-signed 28-year old righty swinging catcher Rene Rivera to a minor league deal. Rivera played in 45 games for the Twins last year and he was 15 of 104 (.144 avg, .412 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. He has now played in 98 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 49 for 254 (.193 avg, .514 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Rivera will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

The Twins have signed 26-year old starter/reliever P.J. Walters to a minor league deal. Walters pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Blue Jays & Cardinals last year and he was 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He also pitched in 24 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 8-7 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Walters has now pitched in 20 games (4 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 2-0 with a 7.24 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Walters will compete for a job in the Twins’ bullpen next spring.

The Twins have signed 32-year old righty swinging LF Josh Willingham to a 3-year, $21 million dollar deal. Willingham played in 136 games for the A’s last year and he was 120 for 488 (.246 avg, .810 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 29 homers, 98 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 799 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 708 for 2,707 (.262 avg, .836 OPS) with 389 runs scored, 134 homers, 434 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. This is a great signing for the Twins as they need some thump in the lineup and Willingham will certainly provide that. Whoever is playing CF will have to shade towards LF though as Willingham is a butcher in the outfield.

The Twins have decided not to tender a 2012 contract to 27-year old lefty reliever Jose Mijares, making him a free agent. Mijares pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-2 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He pitched in 186 games (0 starts) in his four years with the Twins and he was 3-6 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The Twins will be on the hunt for another lefty reliever before the 2012 season begins.