The Twins, which previously signed free agent starters Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco, have agreed to re-sign RHP Mike Pelfrey to a two-year, $11-million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. In all, the team has given out $84 million in guaranteed money to three pitchers this offseason.

And they may not be done: The team is "strongly interested" in signing free agent RHP Bronson Arroyo, reports Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

After missing most of 2012 following Tommy John surgery, Pelfrey was awful in 2013, going 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.552 WHIP for the Twins. But the Twins are rolling the dice he can rebuild his career enough to at least help the Twins rebound from the piching woes that plagued the entire rotation in 2013.

"He's good for the clubhouse," manager Ron Gardenhire told Berardino. "He came a long ways last year off his surgery. ... We went through this process. Now we'd like to see the benefits and fruits of it going forward."

The team still wants to add another arm, with Arroyo and Matt Garza on the radar. Arroyo is the more likely option given he will come cheaper.

The former All-Star, who turns 37 in Februrary, is one of baseball's most durable pitchers, having started at least 32 games nine straight seasons.

Combine that with his solid 2013 season with the Cincinnati Reds 2013 stats (14-12, 3.79 ERA, 1.153 WHIP, 34 BB, 124 Ks), and he has received substantial interest this offseason.


GARDNER WON'T BE TRADED


Brett Gardner has been the subject of trade rumors for awhile now, especially since the New York Yankees signed free-agent outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran.

In fact, recent reports indicate the Cincinnati Reds tried to pry Gardner away from the Yankees by offering up Brandon Phillips as a replacement for Robinson Cano at second base. The Yankees declined the deal.

Now the Yankees apparently have pulled the 30-year-old Gardner from the trade market altogether. Team president Randy Levine says the team has "absolutely no intention of trading" Gardner.

"We think he's going to be on the roster," Levine told ESPN Radio. "One of the reasons the baseball people signed Jacoby Ellsbury is the two of them together present a tremendous dynamic one-two or nine-one, whatever Joe Girardi decides to write in at the top of the lineup.

"One will play left, one will play center, and it's a tremendous defensive situation."

Gardner hit .273/.344/.416 with 24 steals and a league-leading 10 triples in 2013.


ORIOLES EYEING FREE AGENT BURNETT


The Baltimore Orioles are interested in free agent RHP A.J. Burnett — if the veteran decides to keep pitching, MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko reports.

Burnett, who turns 37 in less than a month, may retire after 15 seasons in the big leagues. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates the past two seasons, going 10-11 with a 3.30 ERA and 1.215 WHIP in 2013. His strikeouts-per-nine led the NL, and his 2.80 FIP was fifth in the league.

The Orioles met with Burnett's reprsentatives at last week's winter meetings, Kubatko reports. They want to have further talks if Burnett opts to pitch in 2014.

Baltimore, as usual, is in need of pitching help. The team finished 10th in the AL with a 4.20 ERA. The Orioles allowed 709 runs, more than any other team in the league that finished above .500.


ELLIS, CARDINALS AGREE TO DEAL


The St. Louis Cardinals and free-agent 2B Mark Ellis have agreed to a one-year deal, which should be announced early this week, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports .

Ellis, 36, hit just .270/.323/.351 with six home runs as the everyday second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013. But he has put up stellar defensive numbers throughout his career.

In St. Louis, look for him to share time at second with super prospect Kolten Wong. The Cardinals will shift 2013 2B Matt Carpenter to third base to replace David Freese, who they traded to the Los Angeles Angels.


BRAVES, FLOYD CLOSE TO DEAL


The Atlanta Braves could have a deal in place with free-agent RHP Gavin Floyd by Monday, ESPN.com reports.

Floyd, 30, missed most of 2013 after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in May. He opens to be back in action by this May. He was 0-4 with a 5.18 ERA before his season ended last year.

If healthy, the veteran Floyd could compete with Alex Wood and David Hale for the fifth spot in Atlanta's rotation. More likely he will end up in the Braves' bullpen.

Floyd debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004. He pitched for the Chicago White Sox from 2007 to last season.

He is 70-70 with a 4.48 ERA over 199 games in his career.

Contributor: Justin McGuire, The Associated Press