The Twins announced that they claimed right-hander Jeff Gray off of waivers from the Mariners. They also confirmed that they claimed left-hander Matt Maloney off of waivers from the Reds.

Gray, 29, spent the 2011 season with the Mariners and White Sox. He posted a 4.28 ERA with 4.3 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in 48 1/3 innings of relief.

3:50pm: The Reds announced that the Twins claimed Maloney off of waivers (Twitter link).

1:08pm: The Twins appear to have acquired 27-year-old lefty Matt Maloney from the Reds, as Maloney tweeted today, "Thanks for everything Reds...but i am now a Minnesota Twin!!! Looking forward to a great new opportunity!!"

Maloney spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 2.99 ERA, 5.6 K/9, 1.2 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 81 1/3 innings, missing much of the season with a cracked rib.  Baseball America ranked him eighth among Reds prospects a few years ago, noting that his ceiling was that of a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Joe Nathan's agent Dave Pepe says his client is excited about free agency and seeks a closer job in 2012, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  Nathan is apparently not interested in an eighth inning gig after dominating as the Twins' closer from 2004-09.

Yesterday the Twins made the obvious call of declining Nathan's $12.5MM club option, but they have interest in re-signing the righty.  The Twins can offer him a chance to close, but the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, and Cubs could be in the market as well.

Nathan, 36, had Tommy John surgery in March of 2010, returning this year to mixed results.  He had some issues with the longball at times, but his peripherals were solid.  For fantasy baseball analysis on Nathan, check out Dan Mennella's latest at CloserNews.

The Twins announced today that they've declined their club option on reliever Joe Nathan.  The option was worth $12.5MM, but the team will pay a $2MM buyout.  GM Bill Smith said, "I spoke with Joe and his agent this morning, and expressed our interest in re-signing Joe.  We will remain in contact with them as we move forward into the free agent process."

Nathan signed a four-year contract extension for $47MM in March of 2008, and the total remains the record for a reliever.  Nathan, 36, had been dominant as the Twins' closer from 2004-09, racking up a 1.87 ERA, 11.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 246 saves in 418 2/3 innings.  He had Tommy John surgery in March of 2010, returning this year to mixed results.  Further removed from the surgery, he'll be a popular free agent target on a one-year deal.

The Twins announced that they outrighted utility player Brian Dinkelman and left-hander Phil Dumatrait to Triple-A. They now have 36 players on their 40-man roster.

Dinkelman, 27, made his Major League debut this year, appearing in 23 games and getting regular playing time in September. He played second, left and right and finished the season with a .301/.346/.315 line in 78 plate appearances. In 526 Triple-A plate appearances this year, the 2006 draft pick posted a .243/.316/.324 line.

Dumatrait, 30, appeared in 45 games for the Twins this year, posting a 3.92 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 41 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. MLBTR's Steve Adams noted in early September that the success of Glen Perkins and Brian Duensing's likely move to the 'pen made Dumatrait expendable.

MLBTR has the rundown on your team's arbitration eligible players. Be sure to read Tim Dierkes' series for insight into how each team's offseason will develop. Here are the latest links from around MLB...

• Manager Don Mattingly said the Dodgers need offense this offseason in an interview on 710 ESPN's Mason & Ireland Show (link at ESPNLosAngeles.com) and he acknowledged that Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are on Los Angeles' radar. "Those are nice thoughts, there's a lot of teams talking about those type of guys ... but you gotta have a Plan B, a Plan C."
• Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi looks back at the trade that sent Marc Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel to St. Louis. Though critics panned the Cardinals' decision at the time, it has proven to be crucial to the team's late-season surge and postseason success.
  
• Matthew Leach of MLB.com credits GM John Mozeliak for constructing the Cardinals' roster. MLBTR's Transaction Tracker provides a look back at Mozeliak's moves.
• A number of teams are targeting Michael Cuddyer, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). It's likely that the Red Sox will show interest in the versatile free agent, according to Olney.
  

The Twins will likely pursue starting pitching, relief pitching, a backup catcher and middle infield help this offseason after finishing with the worst record in the American League. Here are some notes on the club's offseason plans...

• La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune hears from people in the Twins’ front office that the club recently examined the free agent market for starting pitchers and shortstops. They’re determined to find a reliable shortstop this offseason and Neal suggests free agents Ramon Santiago and Alex Gonzalez could be targets.
• The Twins will “push hard” to re-sign Michael Cuddyer, according to Neal.
• Earlier today, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian suggested the Indians will likely "kick the tires" on Cuddyer once he reaches the open market.
• Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com explained why the Twins traded Delmon Young to the Tigers in August. He was struggling in Minnesota and the Twins weren't likely to tender him a contract through arbitration.
• I looked ahead to the Twins’ offseason earlier in the month.