The Minnesota Twins purchased the contract of veteran Ruben Sierra on
Sunday and optioned rookie outfielder Jason Kubel to the Rochester Red
Wings.

Sierra stayed behind for extended spring training in Florida while he
rehabilitated a strained quadriceps, and went 3-for-12 with a double and
one RBI in three games with Single-A Fort Myers.

He will be available for Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles
Angels. His primary role will be as a bat off the bench, but manager Ron
Gardenhire said he also could platoon in right field.

Kubel, a promising rookie on the mend from a serious knee injury last
year, appeared in seven of the Twins' first 12 games, going 3-for-16
(.188) with one RBI.

"We're really happy with where he's at," Gardenhire said. "He needs to go
down and get some consistent at-bats on an everyday basis."

— The Associated Press

April 17, 2006