3 percent andenergy companies also gained

The Minnesota Twins' magical run is over.After falling to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, the players can now head home for the winter, and the front officeled by General Manager Bill Smithcan begin the work of ensuring the Twins are a contender again in 2010. The pieces are already in place for a very good ballclub next season.Perennial All-Stars Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan should all be healthy and ready to contribute. The patchwork rotation the club marched onto the field in the second half should also be re-loaded, barring no setbacks for injured starters Kevin Slowey and Glen Perkins.Denard Span, Jose Morales, Matt Guerrier, Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer all took major steps forward this season, and figure to get even better in 2010.Undoubtedly, the biggest area of need this offseason is the same as it has been for much of the decadethe infield.Orlando Cabrera and Joe Crede are both free agents, and neither of them should be brought back for anything more than a one-year, incentive-laden deal. Nick Punto, Brendan Harris, Matt Tolbert, and Alexi Casilla havent done anything to prove they belong in the everyday lineup.Super prospect Danny Valencia hit .285/.337/.466 with stops in AA and AAA last season, but may not be quite ready to handle the everyday third base job out of Spring Training.Smith will no doubt make inquiries about potential trade targets, such as Milwaukees JJ Hardy, Floridas Dan Uggla and San Diegos Kevin Kouzmanoff, but should also be scouring the free-agent market for some potential buy-low bargains.While other teams are clamoring to sign pricier infield options like Mark DeRosa, Orlando Hudson and Chone Figgins, the Twins would be wise to take a chance on one or more of these five players who figure to be well within the Twins financial means.. 2009 Team(s): Tampa Bay Rays2009 Salary: $3.25 million2010 Age: 31Career Slash Line: .281/.354/.393Why He Makes Sense: Iwamura suffered a torn ACL and missed a large portion of the 2009 season.In his absence, Ben Zobrist took over the second base job and figures to hold it for the foreseeable future.The Rays currently have a young core of middle infielders including Jason Bartlett, Zobrist and Reid Brignac.All three figure to cost the Rays less than $3 million combined in 2010.As such, Iwamura and his $4.25 million option dont fit in going forward. Iwamuras defense could play well at both second and third for the Twins, and his reliable offensive production would fit in nicely to round out the otherwise punchless bottom of the lineup..

2009 Team(s): Arizona Diamondbacks2009 Salary: $4.75 million2010 Age: 30Career Slash Line: .280/.339/.453Why He Makes Sense: Although not technically a free-agent, Tracy has a $7 million club option for 2010 that will almost certainly be declined by the Diamondbacks.After putting up two very good seasons in 2005 and 2006, Tracy has struggled to produce since undergoing microfracture knee surgery in 2007.At-bats were hard to come by in an Arizona lineup that has been infused with younger and cheaper players in recent years, but Tracy still believes that, if given the chance, he can be a productive everyday player.His overall defensive prowess isnt anything to write home about, but he also isnt going to destroy a club either.Much like the incumbent Nick Punto, he can play multiple positions, and could be a sort of super-utility man for the Twins.Unlike Punto, however, Tracy has proven he has the ability to be a productive member of a Major League lineup. 2009 Team(s): Seattle Mariners2009 Salary: $12 million2010 Age: 31Career Slash Line: .270/.325/.453Why He Makes Sense: The Mariners, looking to get younger, dont figure to retain Beltre.The Twins, linked to Beltre in 2008, could still have interest in the slick-fielding third-sacker. Beltre is still a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the hot corner, and offers production similar to what the Twins received from Joe Crede this season, but with a much better track record in the health department. Beltre can probably be had on a short-term deal to re-establish his value after a down year and the Twins may only be looking for a one or two-year stopgap to keep the position warm for rapidly-rising prospect Danny Valencia..

2009 Team(s): Detroit Tigers2009 Salary: $4.6 million2010 Age: 34Career Slash Line: .303/.348/.414Why He Makes Sense: Polanco figures to have played his last game in a Tigers uniform as the club is ready to hand the reins to prospect Scott Sizemore in 2010.As such, it is unlikely Polanco will even be offered arbitration this offseason.Throughout his career, Polanco has gained a reputation for not only being a great teammate, but also for being one of the most consistent number two hitters in the game.Polanco would be the perfect complement to Denard Span and Joe Mauer at the top of the Twins lineup.In addition to his offensive prowess, Polanco is an accomplished glove man at the keystone corner.His defensive work earned him a Gold Glove award in 2007. His familiarity with the American League Central is another plus-benefit the veteran would bring to the Twins.. By Monica Vargas and Carlos Romero China SANTIAGO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Chilean stocks rose on Monday,tracking regional and global markets as they pulled back fromfalls last week, while higher copper prices andbetter-than-expected U.S data helped lift the peso against thedollar. Chile's blue-chip IPSA index .IPSA was up 0.58 percent at2,510 points and the all-market IGPA index .IGPA also rose,up 0.48 percent to 11,940 points in midafternoon trade.

"Volumes are a little low to talk about sector tendencies,but we are clearly in line with external markets," said RobertoGuzman of the FIT Research brokerage in Santiago. Strong performers on the Santiago bourse came fromcompanies like Soquimich SQMpb.SN, Chile's leading exporterof fertilizer and the world's biggest producer of iodine andlithium, up 1.51 percent. Chile's biggest steel and iron ore producer, CAP (CAP.SN),one of the top-weighted blue-chip stocks, rose 1.3 percent andenergy companies also gained. Chile regional energy group Enersis ENE.SN rose 1.66percent and No 1 Chile generator Endesa END.SN was up 1.46percent. Chile's peso CLPCL closed 0.6 percent stronger to end at616.50/617.00 per dollar, compared with the close on Friday at620.20/620.70 "The situation abroad has improved a lot .. The U.S. homesales data was good and that obviously lifted the Dow Jones.DJI and the local stock market," said one currency dealer."Also, copper really rose." The peso is up more than 3 percent in the year-to-dateafter weakening 22.3 percent against the dollar in 2008 (Editing by Leslie Adler) China. for NASCAR) In the shadows of Hollywood, where the stars of the screen are always in front of a camera, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series took center stage.