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Some sad and alarming news to report this morning out of Venezuela.

According to the Associated Press , the mother of former Mets pitcher Victor Zambrano was kidnapped from the pitcher’s property late last night.

Details of the incident are still very sketchy.

The Minnesota Twins announced today that the club has exercised Michael Cuddyer’s 2011 option valued at $10.5 million.

The option is part of the four-year deal Cuddyer signed in 2008. The right fielder will make $8.5 million in 2010, the third year of the $33.5 million pact.

On Sept. 30, 2009, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez stated Jeremy Hermida wouldn’t be playing anytime soon. Apparently, Hermida had injured an oblique muscle, and was scratched from the lineup indefinitely. I read a piece on FishStripes on the SB NationWeb site stated Hermida would probably “not make another start for the Marlins...”

In a meeting today, Ruben Amaro Jr. informed Brett Myers that they would not attempt to renegotiate.

Amaro did not give a reason as to why he will not renew Myers' contract, though the $12 million in cap space may be a factor.

Myers said that he felt it coming and is not as disappointed as he expected.

Myers is willing to negotiate to be a starter or reliever with a new team.

The Twins wasted no time making offseason moves, dealing CF Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers for SS JJ Hardy.

Gomez, who was acquired in the 2007 Johan Santana trade, had 900 AB for the Twins during his two years in Minnesota. Although he was heralded for his speed, he only hit .248 as a Twin, and .229 during the 2009 season.

Gomez started the season in center field for the Twins in '09, but was benched due to his slumping bat. He was used mainly as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for the second half of the season.

Shelley Duncan has seen brief success when he has played for The New York Yankees from 2007 to 2009.  It is a completely different story when he gets full time play with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the Triple-A affiliate of the 27 time World Champs.

Duncan lead the International League in home runs (30) RBI (99), runs and extra base hits, thus being honored by the Topps Company of New York, as their Player of the Year.

That didn’t take long at all.

On Friday morning, the Milwaukee Brewers traded shortstop J.J. Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Carlos Gomez.

Gomez likely has the inside track to replace free agent Mike Cameron in center field for Milwaukee and doesn't turn 24 until December. He batted only .229 last year but is one of the fastest players in all of baseball.