"Once the World Series ends, teams have an exclusive five-day negotiating window with their own free agents, but this figures to be a quiet period for the Twins, who plan to let Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, Joe Nathan and Matt Capps test the market.

"You've waited this long, you might as well wait a few more days," Kubel said Friday.

This is the first time Kubel, Cuddyer and Nathan have reached free agency. Capps hit the open market after the 2009 season, when he was non-tendered by the Pirates and wound up signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Nationals.

He made $7.15 million this year with the Twins, thanks to arbitration, and went 4-7 with a 4.25 ERA and 15 saves in 69 appearances. Capps' struggles were well-documented, but he quietly pitched through some right wrist tendinitis and avoided the disabled list.

Kubel was having one of his best seasons before spraining his left foot on May 30. He returned after missing 46 games, but the injury never fully healed, as he batted .273 with a .332 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage.

Kubel said the foot is no longer a problem. He installed a new batting cage at his home in Calabasas, Calif., and started taking swings this week."