The Twins just announced something I got wind of this morning: They have outrighted pitchers Errol Simonitsch and Ricky Barrett off the 40-man roster and assigned them to Class AAA Rochester.

The pitchers had to clear waivers to do so, which means all 29 teams passed on them. They are eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft, but if no one wanted them now it’s unlikely they’ll be selected next month because Rule 5 draftees must remain on the 25-man roster the entire season.

The the timing of this move is very curious. The Twins now have 37 players on their 40-man roster - 36 if they non-tender Craig Monroe. The Twins usually keep a space open on their 40-man roster just in case they see someone they like in the Rule 5 draft. But three spots? It looks like they are clearing room to add players as next week’s winter meetings approach.

Then again, maybe  the Twins won’t wait until next week, as they try to fill holes in center field, third base and DH and are now listening to offers for Johan Santana.

The Boston Globe reported today that the Twins have stepped up efforts to obtain Coco Crisp - but it was the final sentence of a notebook in which the lead item was about spring training reporting dates.

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What’s up! Got back from Chicago on Sunday after spending the holiday with my family. Felt terrible for Joe C. on Thursday when the Torii Hunter news went down. Heard he threw a few objects and choice comments around the house. I wanted to do the same but I try not to swear in front of my sister.

Hunter, by the way, got a $2.5 million signing bonus as part of the deal. Based on my math, Hunter will earn $135 million in salary for his career by the time his deal with the Angels expires. Not bad for a kid from Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

So now we’re in the trade rumor meat grinder for a couple weeks as all sorts of Johan Santana trade rumors will fly around. We’ll do our best to keep you informed during what will be a critical period for the franchise.

One aspect that can’t be overlooked: There’s a chance that the Twins could be asked to buy out Santana’s no-trade clause. The only reason I point this out is because the Phillies gave Bob Abreu about $1.5 million to waive his no-trade so he could be dealt to the Yankees, and Peter Greenberg represents both players. 

Can’t remember if we’ve reported it, but the Twins have signed a few minor league free agents: Catcher Eli Whiteside, first baseman/outfielder Randy Ruiz, veteran Howie Clark and first baseman/outfielder Jon Knott.

Heard that former Twin Michael Restovich has signed a minor league deal with the Phillies. 

One final Torii story, then I’ll leave you alone,

I needed a glove to during spring training to play in a media softball game. Asked a clubhouse attendant if there was an old beat up glove I could borrow. “Let’s see what Torii has,” the attendant said. I really wasn’t looking to borrow one from a player.

Anyway, we went to Hunter, who had only one glove. “Use this,” he said. I looked at the glove. It was his Rawlings Golf Glove model, complete with, `T-Nutts,’ sewn on the outside. “I’m not taking your gamer!” I said. “Just take it…but you better not make any errors.”

I played in the game and gave him his glove back. “Hey, you make any errors?” he said. “Nope,” I said.

That was a lie, Torii. I committed five errors in the game. I didn’t want to tell you and make you think I jinxed your glove. Now that you know, you may want to order a new one with your new team. 

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The indications I received last week were that the Texas Rangers were falling behind in their pursuit of free agent center fielder Torii Hunter.

However (sorry Stephen A.) it appears that Hunter has big dinner plans tonight.

This concerns me because Hicks indicated last week that it would take more to get Hunter than any of us realized.

Hicks, of course, signed off on the $252-million contract for Alex Rodriguez that was enough money to buy the entire Twins franchise at the time.

Maybe Hunter is asking for seven years so he can get six. Maybe Hunter is asking for seven because he can get it. After all, Luis Castillo is close to signing a four-year, $25 million contract with the Mets - although he must first pass a physical and is coming off of offseason surgery.

If Castillo can get four, Hunter may be able to squeeze six out of Hicks. And if Hunter gets seven years….props to his agent. Under these terms, it wouldn’t be hard for the Twins to say, “thanks for everything, Torii, now where are our draft picks?”

I’m still expecting this to play out until the winter meetings that begin on Dec. 3. Hunter and his agent will have collected every offer by then and can decide on where the best fit is.

I don’t have any major news at the moment, but a couple Twins pitching prospects did rather well this weekend.

Brian Duensing, whom I hope to see in spring training, helped Team USA win the World Cup.

And Nick Blackburn led the Phoenix Desert Dogs to the Arizona Fall League title.

I know that Grandfather Sports (Sid) reported over the weekend that the Twins made a five-year, $93 million offer to Johan Santana. I haven’t heard that, but it’s possible that it’s true. This way, the Twins can at least say they tried to keep Santana if things don’t work out.

Found out today that the Twins are interested in Tony Clark. He’s older, but if you have Clark and Craig Monroe and the Twins come up with a decent third baseman, is that enough to improve the Twins’ offense……without Torii Hunter back?

Check out my story tomorrow in the Strib.

BTW, here’s the work schedule for next week. I’m on the clock Monday. Joe C. has the rest of the week. I’m driving to Chicago next week for Thanksgiving. We ordered that turkey-stuffed-with-a-duck-stuffed-with-a-chicken thing. Unless there’s big news on Monday, gobble gobble my peeps and I’ll blog at you before I head to Nashville for the winter meetings!!!