chicago white sox

The Minnesota Twins have signed manager Ron Gardenhire to a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season.

Despite trading ace Johan Santana, the Twins went 88-75 and nearly made the playoffs, losing a tiebreaker to the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central title.

Gardenhire has led the Twins to four division titles in seven seasons, and the team has finished with a winning record six times.

Ken Griffey Jr.'s $16.5 million option was declined Thursday by the Chicago White Sox, making the No. 5 home run hitter in major league history eligible for free agency.

Griffey is owed a $4 million buyout, which completes a $116.5 million, nine-year contract that he agreed to with the Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season.

Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena was scratched from the lineup for Game 2 of the Rays' first-round playoff series against the Chicago White Sox because of slightly blurred vision in his left eye Friday.

The slugger, who led the AL East champions with 31 homers and 102 RBIs this season, scratched his cornea at home Wednesday and was removed from Game 1 of the series after two innings on Thursday.

Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival was left off the Rays' roster for their AL division series against the Chicago White Sox due to back tightness.

Percival had 28 saves this season, but just one came after Aug. 13. In addition to the back injury, the 39-year old right-hander missed 42 games during three stints on the disabled list with left hamstring and right knee injuries.

Fresh legs and arms on one side, experience and momentum on the other. The Tampa Bay Rays rested while the Chicago White Sox worked overtime to secure a playoff berth.

No one can be sure what that will mean when their AL division series begins Thursday at Tropicana Field.

"I don't think there's any advantage to the way they got here," Rays manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday.