MINNEAPOLIS - After joining Cleveland for the final month, Jason Kubel found himself in a familiar place in Minnesota when the Indians finished the regular season. During that series with the Twins, Kubel stopped in the home clubhouse to see some of his old teammates and coaches. Manager Ron Gardenhire got to the point. "I said, Why arent you in this clubhouse?" Gardenhire recalled. "He said, Well, lets talk over the winter. And we talked." Less than three months later, Kubel signed with the Twins. Hell be at spring training next month on a minor league contract, but if he is added to the 40-man roster he would receive a $2 million base salary. There are bonuses built in, too: $150,000 each for 300 and 350 plate appearances and $200,000 for 400 plate appearances; and $150,000 each for 30 and 60 days on the active major league roster, excluding time on the disabled list, and $200,000 for 90 days on the active major league roster. Thats an extra $1 million waiting for him if hes healthy and productive enough to re-establish himself as an everyday player. "The guy can put some swings on the ball and put it in the seats. He can carry a ballclub," Gardenhire said. "Im not saying hes here to do that, but I think hes going to be very valuable for us if he comes and proves that in spring training that hes still good and healthy." Kubel isnt the only former Twins standout whos back for a second time. Shortstop Jason Bartlett was signed to a minor league deal and will be in camp vying for a spot. General manager Terry Ryan also confirmed over the weekend the team has maintained interest in two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, who is recovering from a second surgery on the left shoulder that kept him out of the 2011 and 2013 seasons. Santana probably wont be ready to pitch until the summer, and hed surely have other teams to pick from. But the theme the Twins are following is clear: leadership ability and winning experience, two important traits theyve largely lacked the last three years while losing at least 96 games each time. Bartlett and Kubel are past their prime, a decline accelerated by injuries, but if theyre healthy they could help enhance the roster. Pedro Florimon is a slick fielder, but even for a shortstop a .278 career on-base percentage wont cut it for long. If the 27-year-old wins the job again, Bartlett could still be in line for a utility spot, competing with Eduardo Escobar. "I feel like a rookie again," Bartlett said over the weekend at the teams annual fan festival, held at Target Field for the first time. Bartlett was traded to Tampa Bay before the 2008 season. He went to the World Series that fall and had a career year in 2009. But his production sharply decreased in 2010, and he was traded to San Diego. Limited by a sprained right knee in 2012, Bartlett was released that summer batting just .133. He didnt play at all in 2013, and he thought his career could be over. He had surgery to fix the knee, though, and the 34-year-old said hes been working out pain-free since. Before choosing the Twins, however, he had to talk to the boss. "He was concerned about if he had a chance to make the club, and I said, Absolutely. You come into my spring training and you prove youre healthy, I know youre a winner. I know you know how to play," Gardenhire said. Kubel signed shortly after Bartlett. "Jason Tyner called me and said, Whats going on? Is this an old-timers game? Do I need to pack my bag or what?" Bartlett said. "That was funny. We have good memories here." Including, of course, the 2006 season when the Twins went 96-66, one game behind the New York Mets and Yankees for the best record in baseball. "We both have been on this team when we were doing well," said Kubel, who also spent time at TwinsFest. "They kind of wanted to bring that attitude back. Theyve got the right guys to do that with." Kubel signed with Arizona for two years and $15 million prior to the 2012 season, but last year he was bothered by knee and quadriceps trouble on his left leg and stumbled to career lows in every significant statistical category. He was designated for assignment and then traded to Cleveland. Just two years ago, though, he hit 30 homers and drove in 90 runs for the Diamondbacks. There are openings in the outfield for him to fill. "It just didnt work out last year," he said. "Healthy now. No issues. ... Im just really excited to get started." Bru... Smith Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. 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Ragland Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times.GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The second Jeff Driskel started waving for help, Florida coach Will Muschamp knew it was bad. It turned out to be the worst-case scenario. Driskel broke his lower right leg Saturday in the first quarter of the 19th-ranked Gators 31-17 victory over Tennessee, a season-ending injury that thrust seldom-used backup Tyler Murphy onto the field for the most significant action of his four-year career. Murphy responded better than anyone could have realistically expected. He had a 52-yard touchdown throw to Solomon Patton, a swing pass that went the distance, and made several huge plays with his legs as Florida (2-1, 1-0 SEC) won its ninth consecutive game in the series. Driskel, who was playing with a brace on his sprained left knee, broke his right leg while throwing an interception in the first quarter. Devaun Swafford picked off the pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Marlon Walls pulled Driskel to the ground and landed on his leg as he released the ball. Driskel tried to get up, but then dropped back to the turf and called for trainers. He limped off the field a few minutes later, got checked on the sideline and then used crutches to get to the locker room. "I hurt for him and I hurt for us right now," Muschamp said. "Its going to hurt us. Hes a guy thats won a lot of ballgames here, and its disappointing for him right now." It was a solid debut for Murphy, a junior whose only pass attempt came on a 2-point attempt two weeks ago. "It was always in the back of my mind that I might never play," Murphy said. "I just kept working hard and kept fighting and kept faith in myself and kept praying for an opportunity. It wasnt the way I wanted it, but an opportunity is an opportunity." Murphys 7-yard TD scamper in the fourth quarter made it 31-10 and sent fans scrambling for the exits. The Volunteers (2-2, 0-1) had hoped to rebound from an embarrassing, 59-14 loss at No. 2 Oregon a week ago. Instead, Tennessee and first-year coach Butch Jones left Gainesville with another double-digit setback. Jones strangest decision might have been to bench Justin Worley and give redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman his first career start on the road and in front of 90,000. Peterman, who grew up in nearby Jacksonville, had three turnovers in a 17-minute spaan in the first half and was benched at the break.dddddddddddd He completed 4 of 11 passes for 5 yards, with two interceptions and a fumble. "To beat a team at home, you cant turn the football over," Jones said. "Way too many turnovers." Worley wasnt a whole lot better against a Florida defence which has been mostly dominant through three games. Worley, who started the first three games, finished 10 of 23 for 149 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. "Losing is never accepted or tolerated at Tennessee," Jones said. "But Im proud of our team. They showed resiliency. They didnt quit. They gave us an opportunity to be in the game at the end of the game. We have to keep getting better. We have to keep things in perspective as we continue to build this football program. We took some small steps, but we have a long way to go." Where Florida goes from here will largely depend on Murphy. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 134 yards. He ran 10 times for 84 yards. "He didnt just manage our team," Muschamp said. "He produced in critical situations." Murphy made a few mistakes, but only one costly one. He wasnt looking and took a snap off his facemask, a botched play that resulted in a fumble. That was one of nine turnovers on the day. The Volunteers had six -- four in the first half. Peterman had three, and Raijon Neal fumbled on the teams second play. Dante Fowler Jr. wrecked the exchange, his first of several big plays. Florida had three turnovers in the first half, including running back Matt Jones second in two games. Jones was benched in favour of Mack Brown, who ran 24 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Muschamp said hes going to go with the "hot hand" at running back beginning next week at Kentucky. This much is certain: Murphy will be under centre. Murphy has been buried on the depth chart, watching from the sideline as Driskel, Jacoby Brissett, John Brantley, Jordan Reed and Trey Burton all took snaps ahead of him the last three years. He considered transferring, but refused to listen to all the people urging him to change positions. "I just didnt want to give up," Murphy said. "I felt like if I changed positions, I would have gave up on myself and I probably wouldnt be able to live with myself." 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