Twins streak of no salary arbitrations likely to end

A dearth of suitable salary comparisons for righty Kyle Gibson will push the Twins toward a hearing in Arizona, where assistant GM Rob Antony will be among those representing the team.

While the Twins submitted a figure of $4.2 million at last week's deadline, Gibson and his agent, Randy Rowley, countered at $4.55 million.

"I think everyone understands this is just the business aspect of it," Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. "Ultimately, it's not really about whether or not you like the guy or don't like the guy. This is always about just what you think the right rate is for that player. That won't change here. Kyle's a great guy. We don't have any question about that."

At least a third of big-league clubs retain an outside consulting firm to help prepare an arbitration case, and the Twins have joined that group. As Falvey recalled, when he was working in the Cleveland Indians' front office a 22-year hearing-free streak came to an end in early 2014 with pitchers Josh Tomlin and Vinnie Pestano.

The Indians saved $475,000 with their arbitration win over Pestano and $175,000 by defeating Tomlin. The losses to Lohse cost the Twins $250,000 and $550,000, respectively.

Gibson, a first-round draft pick out of the University of Missouri in 2009, received a community service award from Twins owner Jim Pohlad at Thursday night's Diamond Awards. Unlike 2015, when lefty Brian Duensing received the same award before settling at $2.7 million during TwinsFest, there was no joshing onstage about the salary gap with Gibson.

Since the start of 2014, Gibson ranks 25th in the majors with 117 starts and 34th with 679 1/3 innings. His 4.56 ERA, however, ranks 144th out of 177 qualifying pitchers, and his nine-inning strikeout rate of 6.32 ranks 149th.

HUGHES SETBACK

Hard-luck right-hander Phil Hughes was unable to attend TwinsFest after being diagnosed with a kidney stone early Friday.

Hughes, working back from a second surgery last July to remedy thoracic outlet syndrome, apologized to Twins fans on Twitter. This is at least the second time Hughes has dealt with the painful medical issue.

Hughes announced a $10,000 donation to the Twins Community Fund and said he would give away a signed game-used jersey.

PLAYING HURT

General manager Thad Levine is wearing a hard cast on his left hand after undergoing a second surgery on Dec. 22 to repair a torn ligament in his thumb.

Levine initially suffered the injury while playing pickup basketball at Texas Rangers spring training in 2015. A surprise pass from then-Rangers official A.J. Preller, now GM of the San Diego Padres, did the damage.

How is the cast affecting Levine's ability to negotiate trades and signings?

"It's affecting it now," Levine joked. "You see we don't have an extra starting pitcher yet."

NEW TRANSLATOR

Elvis Martinez, 31, has been hired as the Twins' new Spanish-language translator after spending the past year working in minor-league operations for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Martinez, a former college middle infielder at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, is a native of La Romana, Dominican Republic, who moved to the U.S. in 2006.

"I wasn't able to speak English," he said. "I know what it's like not being able to talk to your teammates or your coaches or your manager. My job is to be that bridge to help (Twins players) adjust to a new country and a new language."

Martinez replaces Carlos Font, who resigned after two seasons to attend law school.

BRIEFLY

The former Metropolitan Club down the right-field line at Target Field is being updated and rebranded Bat & Barrel. Previously open only to season-ticket holders, the area now will be open to all fans with a ticket. The concourse in the right-field corner is being expanded as well with all construction scheduled for completion by mid-March. ... Hall of famer Rod Carew is expected to return to Twins spring training this year after missing 2017 following a heart and kidney transplant. ... Season-ticket renewals are running "well north of 90 percent," according to team president and CEO Dave St. Peter. The team is projecting 2.25 million in home attendance this season.