Associated Press

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

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 the 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."

Last update: April 16, 2006