MINNEAPOLIS - After joining Cleveland for the final month, Jason Kubel found himself in a familiar place in Minnesota when the Indians finished the regular season. Kelvin Benjamin Youth Jersey . During that series with the Twins, Kubel stopped in the home clubhouse to see some of his old teammates and coaches. Manager Ron Gardenhire got to the point. "I said, Why arent you in this clubhouse?" Gardenhire recalled. "He said, Well, lets talk over the winter. And we talked." Less than three months later, Kubel signed with the Twins. Hell be at spring training next month on a minor league contract, but if he is added to the 40-man roster he would receive a $2 million base salary. There are bonuses built in, too: $150,000 each for 300 and 350 plate appearances and $200,000 for 400 plate appearances; and $150,000 each for 30 and 60 days on the active major league roster, excluding time on the disabled list, and $200,000 for 90 days on the active major league roster. Thats an extra $1 million waiting for him if hes healthy and productive enough to re-establish himself as an everyday player. "The guy can put some swings on the ball and put it in the seats. He can carry a ballclub," Gardenhire said. "Im not saying hes here to do that, but I think hes going to be very valuable for us if he comes and proves that in spring training that hes still good and healthy." Kubel isnt the only former Twins standout whos back for a second time. Shortstop Jason Bartlett was signed to a minor league deal and will be in camp vying for a spot. General manager Terry Ryan also confirmed over the weekend the team has maintained interest in two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who is recovering from a second surgery on the left shoulder that kept him out of the 2011 and 2013 seasons. Santana probably wont be ready to pitch until the summer, and hed surely have other teams to pick from. But the theme the Twins are following is clear: leadership ability and winning experience, two important traits theyve largely lacked the last three years while losing at least 96 games each time. Bartlett and Kubel are past their prime, a decline accelerated by injuries, but if theyre healthy they could help enhance the roster. Pedro Florimon is a slick fielder, but even for a shortstop a .278 career on-base percentage wont cut it for long. If the 27-year-old wins the job again, Bartlett could still be in line for a utility spot, competing with Eduardo Escobar. "I feel like a rookie again," Bartlett said over the weekend at the teams annual fan festival, held at Target Field for the first time. Bartlett was traded to Tampa Bay before the 2008 season. He went to the World Series that fall and had a career year in 2009. But his production sharply decreased in 2010, and he was traded to San Diego. Limited by a sprained right knee in 2012, Bartlett was released that summer batting just .133. He didnt play at all in 2013, and he thought his career could be over. He had surgery to fix the knee, though, and the 34-year-old said hes been working out pain-free since. Before choosing the Twins, however, he had to talk to the boss. "He was concerned about if he had a chance to make the club, and I said, Absolutely. You come into my spring training and you prove youre healthy, I know youre a winner. I know you know how to play," Gardenhire said. Kubel signed shortly after Bartlett. "Jason Tyner called me and said, Whats going on? Is this an old-timers game? Do I need to pack my bag or what?" Bartlett said. "That was funny. We have good memories here." Including, of course, the 2006 season when the Twins went 96-66, one game behind the New York Mets and Yankees for the best record in baseball. "We both have been on this team when we were doing well," said Kubel, who also spent time at TwinsFest. "They kind of wanted to bring that attitude back. Theyve got the right guys to do that with." Kubel signed with Arizona for two years and $15 million prior to the 2012 season, but last year he was bothered by knee and quadriceps trouble on his left leg and stumbled to career lows in every significant statistical category. He was designated for assignment and then traded to Cleveland. Just two years ago, though, he hit 30 homers and drove in 90 runs for the Diamondbacks. There are openings in the outfield for him to fill. "It just didnt work out last year," he said. "Healthy now. No issues. ... Im just really excited to get started." Dwan Edwards Camo Jersey. And, though it was against an overmatched Austrian opponent on Friday evening, there was obvious progression, albeit with a hiccup or two, from the Canadians at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. Jason Avant Authentic Jersey . -- Earl Thomas is the latest member of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to be locked up for the future.SALT LAKE CITY -- Damian Lillard scored 22 points and Mo Williams came off the bench to add 17 to help the Portland Trail Blazers rally from a 12-point second-half deficit for a 99-92 victory over the Utah Jazz in a preseason game Wednesday night. LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 points for the Blazers (2-2) and Robin Lopez had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Both of the teams preseason victories have come against Utah. Enes Kanter scored 23 points and Gordon Hayward added 20 to lead the Jazz (1-3), who have lost three straight. The Blazers outrebounded the Jazz 57-43. Utah also struggled to find consistency on offence against Portlands defence. The Jazz shot 31 of 80 from the field (38.8 per cent) and had only two players shoot better than 50 per cent from the floor. Kanter turned the first quarter into a personal layup drill. He made eight straight baskets in the quarter before missing a shot. Kanters 16 first-quarter points helped shore up a sagging offensive effort from the rest of Utahs starters. It helped the Jazz keep pace with Portland even after the Blazers jumped out to a 16-11 lead behind three early baskets from Aldridge. The Jazz rallied and finnally took a 27-24 lead when Hayward converted a fast-break layup and a free throw in the final second of the first quarter. Jerricho Cotchery Youth Jersey. Portland went back ahead 37-32 in the second quarter on Aldridges shooting. Utah overtook the Blazers again when Lester Hudson made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Jazz a one-point lead. Hayward followed up with a pair of baskets and three free throws during the final two minutes of the quarter to give Utah a 49-41 halftime lead. The Jazz carved out their largest lead at 64-52 on back-to-back jumpers from Richard Jefferson and Derrick Favours midway through the third quarter. Thats when things began to unravel. Lillard and Williams took turns making plays to rally the Blazers. Lillard put Portland ahead 71-70 on a driving layup with 1:00 left in the third quarter. Williams put the Blazers ahead for good by closing the third quarter with a long jumper and opening the fourth quarter with a layup. Utah rallied at different points in the fourth quarter, getting to 91-89 on Favours layup with 2:58 left. But the Blazers pulled away by holding the Jazz without another field goal until Favours scored with 20 seconds left. ' ' '
