"Start with this premise: The Twins are better off as a franchise moving forward with Josh Willingham than Michael Cuddyer, and that takes into account everything Cuddyer meant on and off the field.

Willingham is practically a Cuddyer clone -- same age, a similar righthanded hitter, comparable outfield skills and by all reports a good guy -- and Willingham's three-year, $21 million deal will save the Twins about $3 million per year compared to what the Rockies will be paying Cuddyer.

The Twins lose Cuddyer's versatility and the insurance he gave them at first base, but his departure gives them two compensatory picks between No. 31 and No. 65 in next June's draft.

All that said, the lineup still has a serious lack of power, which is why the Twins continued pursuing Cuddyer until he agreed to his reported three-year, $30 million deal with Colorado on Friday.

And this is why they intensified efforts to re-sign Jason Kubel once Cuddyer's intentions became clear.

General Manager Terry Ryan said the team's top priority is adding pitching -- both starting and relief -- but said, "If Jason Kubel ultimately lands here, somehow, some way, we've got to be open to that."

At 29, Kubel is three years younger than Willingham and Cuddyer. Like them, Kubel's outfield range is limited, but the Twins could stick him in right field, allowing Willingham to play left field, where he's more comfortable; 94 percent of the innings Willingham has played defensively in the majors have come in left.

"My comfort level for right field is not great right now," Willingham said Friday. "I played [35] games there in '09; that's all the experience I've had. ... I'm not really worried about playing right field that much because I know I'm going to get a lot of work prior to the season."

The Twins have options. They could use Willingham in left, Ben Revere in center and Denard Span in right field, where he thrived in 2008."