The Return of LeCroy, and the pains of arbitration

Yes, if you didn't hear, the Twins signed DH/1B/sort of C Matthew LeeeCroy to a minor-league contract.
He's no guarantee to make the team, but I like him better than Ken Harvey. He'd be a great guy to have in Triple-A if he doesn't make the squad.
LeCroy spent last year in Washington, but any Twins fan knows he had no business in the NL, where glovework is required. His catching outing that ended with Frank Robinson in tears was probably the final straw in his catching career.
But dude can still hit lefties. I hope he makes the squad.

*Arbitration figures have been exchanged, and one thing is official: Lew Ford is as dumb as he is crappy.
If I were in charge of the Twins, Ford would've been told the day after the season ended in Oakland to turn in his Twinkie pinstripes, but not only are the Twins intent on bringing him back, they've offered him $800,000.
Ford, whose batting average has gone from .329 to .299 to .264 to .226, asked for $1.3 million.
I realize $1.3 million isn't a huge amount of money in today's game, but when you're on a budget like the Twins are, with the prospect of having to pay Joe Mauer, Johan Santana, Justin Morneau, Jason Bartlett, Torii Hunter, Joe Nathan and many others, why would you pay even 800k for numbers you could get from your typical Northern Leaguer?
They should cut him loose. With Torii, Cuddy, Rondell White, Jason Tyner, Josh Raabe and sort of Jason Kubel, there is no need for Ford to remain employed by the Twins.

*As for the other guys, here's where the figures stand.
Joe Mauer has asked for 4.5 million, the Twins have offered 3.3
Morneau has asked for 5 million, the Twins have offered 4.
Cuddyer has asked for 4.25 million, the Twins are offering 3.
Nick Punto has asked for 2.1 million, the Twins are offering 1.6
Juan Rincon has asked for 2.4 million, the Twins are offering 1.6

The teams can continue to negotiate, but if they dont come to a deal, a 3-man panel of arbiters will rule, and their decision is binding. Recent history suggests the arbiters would side with the players (see Lohse, Kyle) except probably for Lew Ford. I don't think anyone would think he's worth 1.3 million.

Likely the Twins will avoid arbitration with Mauer and Morneau, and sign them to long-term deals. But not too long term, because the players want to be able to get another big pay-day down the road. A 4-year, $25 million or so deal is probably likely for those two.
My guess is they'll try to work out a deal for Cuddyer, too, but if they can't come to terms, they'll probably just accept the arbitration ruling.
I'm not sure if they view Rincon as a candidate for a long-term deal, or if they'll go to arbitration and just try to get another good year out of him.

With Punto, I'm pretty sure they're going straight to arbitration, and whatever they decide, they'll live with it. They don't want to lose Punto, but they're definitely not ready to sign him to a long-term deal. Because they, like the rest of us, remain unconvinced that Punto's 2006 season was for real.