Jason Kubel Clears Waivers, To Refuse Outright Assignment

2:16pm: Kubel will refuse the outright assignment, according to an update from Zach (Twitter link). Minnesota is likely to release him, leaving the club on the hook for the rest of his $2MM salary.

Kubel also earned $300K in roster bonuses under the minor league deal he signed over the offseason.

FRIDAY, 1:23pm: MLBTR’s Zach Links reports that Kubel has cleared waivers (Twitter link). Reports earlier in the week indicated that Kubel would not accept an assignment to Triple-A Rochester in the event that he cleared waivers, so it seems likely that he will instead elect free agency.

SUNDAY: The Twins have designated Jason Kubel for assignment, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter).  The move will help create room on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Kendrys Morales.

Kubel, 32, signed a minor league deal with Minnesota in December and made the big league club out of Spring Training.  Unfortunately, Kubel hasn’t been able to regain the form he displayed for much of his original stint with the Twins.  In 176 plate appearances this season, Kubel has slashed .224/.313/.295 with one homer.

For his career, Kubel owns a .262/.330/.448 slash line across ten seasons for the Twins, D’Backs, and Indians.  Kubel is represented by Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media Group, as shown in the MLBTR Agency Database.