Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- Though; Kyle Lohse struggled through most of the season, finishing 9-13 with a 5.34 ERA, he's on the long list of players who could receive significant raises in 2005.
Lohse is one of several players eligible for arbitration, a list that includes ace Johann Santana, 14-game winner Carlos Silva and second baseman Luis Rivas. Though he would prefer to sign a multiyear contract than go to arbitration, Lohse realizes he's lower on the Twins' priority list after his frustrating season.
"We'll see what happens," said Lohse, who won 27 games over the previous two years. "They've got a lot of other stuff they've got to take care of first."
Lohse learned a lot this season, and his starts down the stretch were better. Though his wild pitch let Alex Rodriguez score the winning run in Saturday's season-ending loss to the Yankees, Lohse struck out three in two innings and would have been in line to start Game 1 of the AL championship series had the Twins advanced.
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AROUND THE BASES: OF Lew Ford said he's going to work with a speed coach this winter.
"Maybe I can get to some of those balls I wasn't able to or beat out a hit that was very close," said Ford, who batted .299 with 15 homers, 72 RBIs, 31 doubles, 20 steals and a team-high 89 runs.
