First of all, an announcement:

The last thing you want me to do is to start policing this blog for impostors and improper posts. This is meant to be a banquet of baseball chatter. But I just blacklisted two posters today for inappropriate behavior and I can keep going if I have to.

Back to baseball…                     

I had a nice chat with Rod Carew today during TwinsFest about the mental challenge required to consistently produce for a whole season. Then we talked about Craig Monroe and Delmon Young.

Torii Hunter, who works out with Monroe, has told him to join Carew at the hip for the two weeks Carew is down at spring training as a special instructor.

Carew already has a mental dossier on Monroe and has some ideas to help his game.

I told Carew about something a scout (not a Twins scout) told me during the winter meetings - that Delmon Young could put up Frank Robinson-like numbers (I know, I know. That’s a big name).

“I’ve heard the same thing about his potential,” Carew said.

Carew is looking forward to working with both Monroe and Young this spring - as long as Joe Vavra doesn’t mind. I don’t think he will.

I wish I knew more about hitting to talk to Carew about hitting…..

I called Dave St. Peter earlier in the offseason and told him about concerns I’ve heard from fans around town and on this blog about what they WEREN’T doing this winter.

“There’s still a lot of time left in the offseason.” St. Peter said. “Let’s see. What happens if we head to camp with Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau signed to long-term deals?”

I was skeptical because of last year’s talk of signing people only to back off because of sticker shock.

But the Twins were finally proactive on Friday in signing both players. Especially Morneau, who gave up three years of free agency to remain with the club.

“This was a very very good negotiation,” Twins GM Bill Smith said. “It went quietly and under the radar. The spirit of this thing was that both players wanted to stay in the organization and we wanted to keep them in the organization.

Gotta give the Twins credit for working so quickly. And new assistant GM Rob Antony sounded like he’s done thousands of these things as he spoke.

“We tried to cut out a lot of the things that could drag it out,” Antony said. “They told us what they were looking for. We told them what we could do and I think we found common ground, which usually is the element that can allow you to get these deals done.”

Many posters here are wondering how this affects the Johan Santana situation. I know Smith said that they’ve tried to sign the two-time Cy Young winner to a long-term deal, but indications are that a trade is more likely. I was told today that next week is a big week in terms of determining if and where Santana will be dealt. Some in the organization feel the Twins can be a factor in a tough AL Central and entertain thoughts of keeping Santana in his walk year and making a run at the postseason.

I still expect Johan to be dealt. 

By the way, Cuddyer is still trying to figure out if Ron Gardenhire really wants him to try out center field this season.

“I don’t know if he’s just saying stuff and throwing it out there,” Cuddyer said. “(But) hey, I’m up for any challenge put out there.” 

I reported last week that the Twins were expected to approach Justin Morneau in the near future about a long-term deal and that talks were just starting with Michael Cuddyer.

The club certainly worked as fast and as aggressive as they ever have in getting both deals done.

Sources have confirmed that Morneau will make $80 million over six years - a club record in length and total value - and Cuddyer will earn $23 over three years with a club option for a fourth year and another $12 million. 

Twins officials said there was mutual agreement all the way to Carl Pohlad’s office that this wasn’t the time to mess around. They want to make a statement that they are trying to remain competitive. 

The club almost announced the deals during last night’s Diamond Awards but a couple details needed to be ironed out and Morneau wasn’t in town.

Morneau landed at the airport just after 2 p.m. and will be at the press conference.

The Third Annual Diamond Awards took place Thursday night at the Depot in downtown Minneapolis. This year’s event was a little strange because many of the award winners (Torii Hunter, Carlos Silva, Matt Garza) are no longer with the team. But it still was a fun event and made everyone look forward to spring training that much more.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the event. Here are some highlights:

Phil Miller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press delivered an enjoyable introduction of the Bob Allison leadership award, given to Mike Redmond. He pointed out that most of Redmond’s conversations with Ron Gardenhire last season took place with him lying on the ground after being injured, and Gardy hovering over him going, “Can you play?”

Tony Oliva won the Twins Alumni Community Service Award, which was presented to him by Rod Carew. It led to a wonderful exchange between two great men.

Gotta give props to Michael Cuddyer, who did his research and pulled off good interviews with new Twins Brendan Harris, Delmon Young, Adam Everett, Mike Lamb and Craig Monroe. Not an easy task.  

I hammed it up big time as I presented awards to Johan Santana for being the Twins’ pitcher of the year as well as the winner of the Carl R. Pohlad Award for outstanding community service. (Gardy accepted the awards on Johan’s behalf).

I brought my cellphone up the stage and had someone call me with trade updates during my speech. “Hank Steinbrenner just called, the Yankees are back in trade talks for Johan Santana,” then a few seconds later I pretended to get another call. “The Yankees have just pulled OUT of trade talks.”

I then implored the Twins’ triangle of authority - Bill Smith, Terry Ryan and Mike Radcliff - to get something done. Some people felt it was over the top, but I had to get my shot in for the Twins ruining my offseason with Santana developments.

The best part of the night: We raised over $500,000 for Ataxia, ALS and Parkinson’s research. Once again, thanks to everyone who helped make this a great event.

The Twins have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to terms with righthander Matt Guerrier on a one-year contract.

Guerrier filed for $1.15 million while the Twins offered $750,000.

The Twins also announced the signings of Bobby Korecky, Jose Mijares, Matt Macri, Matt Tolbert, Jason Pridie and Denard Span.