According to ESPN’s free agent tracker, there are 107 of 171 free agents still unsigned. Names like Jason Varitek, Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez are still looking for homes.

Seamheads (that’s what we call ourselves) usually are taking it easy during the final few weeks of spring training, making arragements to head to Florida or Arizona and getting some down time before the run of 10-12 hour days from the time pitchers and catchers report to Opening Day. Not this year.

The ecomony is hitting free agency hard, and teams have sat back and waited for the market to adjust to them. So the daily calls to agents and sources continues. (Sigh)

The Twins still would like to improve at third and in the bullpen but I get the sense that the Twins are closer to getting relief help. They are interested in Brandon Lyon but I was told last week they are not one of the teams to have made this offer. If you are Brando Lyon, do you go to the Twins to set up or look to hook up with Detroit or St. Louis as a closer?

I think the Twins are really trying to land Eric Gagne. Gagne was terrible with Boston a couple years ago and for a half season with Milwaukee last year. If the Twins can sign him for $3-4 million it’s worth a shot, especially if he can pitch like he did the second half of last season. And maybe pitching coach Rick Anderson can get a little more out of him.

Here’s something to watch out for if that doesn’t work out: Chad Cordero’s agent told  me that his client will throw off a mound sometime in mid-February. The Twins were one of several teams at his long toss session recently, so I expect them to show up when Cordero is ready throw a bullpen session.

That’s where we stand as baseball slowly moves back to the forefront in the Twin Cities this week.

Thursday: There’s the annual Minnesota Diamond Awards at the Marriott City Center. Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Denard Span and other Twins will be on hand to accept awards, talk about the upcoming season and raise money for a good cause.

Friday: TwinsFest begins.

Saturday: There’s the Second Annual Last Hot Stove League Banquet, held at the Harriet Island Pavillion. Corey Koskie, Tim Tschida and others will be in attendance.

So there will be plenty of baseball talk going on this week in town. The Twins haven’t given us much to talk about - so we can talk about why the Twins haven’t given us much to talk about!

As I reported in today’s ink-on-paper version, the Twins are interested in reliever Eric Gagne.

Injuries have affected Gagne, 33, in recent years, but while his days as a closer might be over, the Twins obviously think he could be effective as a set-man.

His numbers last season don’t look too good but he did pitch better late in the season, which could be why the Twins are taking a look at him.

I sent an e-mail to longtime Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel baseball writer Tom Haudricourt (one of the funnier guys in the business) and asked him how Gagne fared last year.

“He pitched a lot better once he addressed a shoulder problem and then was moved to a set-up role. Still gave up too many homers but was serviceable for the most part in that role.” Haudricourt wrote back.

We’ll see how this one develops…..

About the non-roster invites

Here are some things I found out about some of the non-roster invites who are coming to camp.

First of all, both Jeff Manship and Anthony Slama were considered for the list. But the Twins felt they had too many players in camp last season and it would be hard for Manship and Slama to get on the field. If I were them, I would show up early and work out on one of the back fields. All it takes is a couple early injuries for one or both of them to be added to camp - see Matt Garza, 2006.

Sean Henn - Always thought to have a lot of talent but has struggled with command. The Twins hope that working with Rick Anderson and Bobby Cuellar during camp will help him get closer to realizing his potential.

Ben Julianel - I clashed with the Twins over Julianel last season because he was 28 years old at the double-A level and I felt he was blocking Anthony Slama, who was tearing up Class A. But I was told this week that Julianel has two solid pitches and can get lefties out. So I’ll back off if he looks OK in camp - but if that’s the case then he should have been moved to Rochester last year because it sounds like he could have been better than someone like Carmen Cali.

Mike Gosling - has had some time in the bigs with the Reds. Throws 91-92, which isn’t bad for a lefty.

Kevin Mulvey - Will come to camp as a starter for now.

Dustin Martin - If you’re coming down for spring training this year, get a good look at this guy. While at the minor league camp last year, I spotted a player in the middle of drills and asked a coach, “who’s the specimen?” It was Martin. He’s put together - and is coming off of a strong Arizona Fall League run.

Etc.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told fans during a winter caravan stop what I mentioned here earlier - that they are kicking the tires on Joe Crede.

If you want to hear baseball talk and support a good cause, please consider attending this event next Thursday.

I will also be in attendance at this event on the 24th. This group is nuts. Especially Sammy and Julian.

I leave for spring training in 25 days - why do we live up here again?

All indications are that Joe C. - who has been in post-baby hubris - will return to blogging next week.

Just got a break from training and checked e-mail. Found out the Twins announced their non-roster invites.

Here’s the list. I don’t have time to break this down, although I’m glad they are bringing Delaney into camp.

 The spring training invite list includes seven pitchers: lefthanders Mike Gosling, who has spent part of two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Sean Henn, who has made 36 appearances for the New York Yankees (2005-07), and Ben Julianel, who had 26 saves for Double-A New Britain last season.  Righthanders Rob Delaney, who was signed by the Twins as a non-drafted free agent out of St. Johns (NY) University in 2006, R.A. Dickey, who has over three years of Major League service (Texas and Seattle), Bobby Keppel, who has Major League experience with Kansas City (2006) and Colorado (2007), and Kevin Mulvey, who was acquired by the Twins from the New York Mets in exchange for Johan Santana, February 2, 2008. 

Two catchers have been invited to camp: Jeff Christy, the Twins’ sixth round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, and Danny Lehmann, the Twins’ eighth round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Three infielders have been invited to camp: Alejandro Machado, who was selected by the Twins in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft, then signed to a minor league contract, October 20, 2007, Brock Peterson, the Twins’ 49th round pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, and Danny Valencia, the Twins’ 19th round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.  

Three outfielders have been invited to camp: Dustin Martin, who was acquired by the Twins from the New York Mets in exchange for Luis Castillo, July 30, 2007, Luis Matos, who has over five years of Major League experience with the Baltimore Orioles, and David Winfree, the Twins’ 13th round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

Discuss….

Update: Tom Kelly, Tony Oliva, Terry Steinbach, Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew and Paul Molitor will be down at various times during camp as special instructors.

I worked the phones today as much as possible but found nothing earth-shattering. I couldn’t spend as much time making calls as I wanted to because we spent part of today looking head to February and spring training.

Just had a brain-storming session with my editors about covering TwinsFest, the first couple weeks of spring training and even threw out ideas for our baseball section. I’m just happy we’re able to publish a baseball preview section this year. I’m sure you’ll like it!

One thing we grumbled about: Our list of story ideas doesn’t include profiles of new players in camp because the Twins haven’t added anyone this offseason!! 

It’s been the running theme this offseason, and I’m guessing it will be the No. 1 topic during the Twins’ annual winter caravan. Bill Smith was grilled about roster moves in Duluth last night, and it looks like Ron Gardenhire faced the same line of questioning here.

With nothing really juicy to report, here are some random notes:

Michael Young:   Here’s one person’s belief that the Twins are a good match for Michael Young. Young’s name first came up during the winter meetings but the feeling I got from the Twins was that his contract was a hindrance. Since then, there have been stories published in which scouts were noted as saying Young no longer has the range to play short and doesn’t have the power to play third. I still get the feeling the Twins aren’t interested.

Relief pitchers: I mentioned last week that the Twins kicked around names like Takashi Saito and Guillermo Mota as relief options. Both are now off the market, as Saito has signed an incentive-laden deal with Boston and Mota is back with the Dodgers. Mota had a real nice ERA after the All-Star break last year. I’ve heard Saito could earn as much as $15 million if he’s healthy, pitches well and convinces the Sawx to pick up a 2010 option. I can see where $15  million over two years would be too much for the Twins for someone who by all accounts needed Tommy John surgery but declined to have it.

Rickey Henderson: I’m glad he’s in the Hall. At first, I wondered how 28 voters could leave him off the ballot. Then I read Jayson Stark and learned that Henderson received a higher percentage of votes than DiMaggio, Williams, Musial, Mantle and Mays. The numbers of voters in the 1960’s and 1970’s might have been fewer but, geez. After being part of the Hall of Fame voting for several years, I am convinced more than ever that we are a strange group of people.

Fort Myers Orioles?: Lee County has agreed to build the Red Sox a new spring training facility and now are trying to lure a team to move into City of Palms Park in a few years.

And Baltimore could be the team.

Heard the Orioles checked out Vero Beach but didn’t like it. Heard they spoke with officials in Sarasota but couldn’t get a deal similar to what the city was willing to offer the Red Sox. For those of you who come down to spring training, this is worth watching. Fort Myers seems clustered enough with two teams - although I need to get down there in four weeks to see how the economy has affected things since we left.

Looking ahead: Still waiting for the Twins to release their spring training roster. Makes me wonder if they are trying to sign someone to a minor league deal with the promise of a camp invite.

I will be out of pocket for most of the day tomorrow. I have to attend an all-day video training session. We’re learning about some new gizmo that will help reporters shoot video. Oh joy! Just kidding. Whatever it takes to keep the Strib going, I’m all for. I BET the Twins announce something tomorrow on the one day I’ll be locked down.

Thursday: I will be at KFAN from 9-12 a.m. to co-host the morning show with Paul Allen. Feel free to call in with Twins/baseball/soccer questions!

Two Twins players are eligible for arbitration, outfielder-DH Jason Kubel and righthander Matt Guerrier. One of them could get a two-year contract, the other will hope to avoid going to arbitration.

It’s not hard to figure out the player the Twins are interested in signing for more than one year. It’s Kubel, who’s coming off of career highs in homers (20) RBI (78), hits (126) and walks (47). He began to take hold of the DH role last season and is a candidate for a breakout season.

He avoided arbitration last season by signing a $1.3 million contract and stands to get a nice bump in salary for 2009. Players and teams began filing arbitration numbers on Jan. 5 (Kubel hasn’t filed yet) and have until Thursday. Figures are officially exchanged on Monday.

The Twins are interested in signing Kubel to a two-year deal that would take care of his final two years of arbitration. Kubel confirmed on Monday that the Twins have approached his agent on the subject.

“If it happens, I hope it happens quick,” Kubel said by phone from his home near San Diego.

It makes sense. There’s nothing wrong with cost certainty. The Twins already have $50 million committed to Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer and Nick Punto in 2010 and likely will be locked into contract negotiations with Mauer by then. Trying to get Kubel locked up now is a no-brainer.

As for Guerrier, he’s coming off of a poor season and would be better served to try to improve his numbers for arbitration next year. The Twins only want to sign him to a one-year deal anyway.