FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) &045; While Francisco Liriano’s pitches and potential have drawn the interest of teams around the league, Scott Baker might be better poised to win the No. 5 starter job with Minnesota.

Liriano is planning to play for the Dominican Republic in next month’s World Baseball Classic, a &8220;stupid&8221; decision in teammate Torii Hunter’s view that the veteran center fielder said he would give the left-handed Liriano his take on.

Hunter’s general distaste for the tournament aside, Liriano is a little more raw than Baker and the time away from camp &045; assuming he’s on the Dominicans’ final roster &045; probably won’t help his chances.

So the right-handed Baker, who shined in nine starts with the Twins last season, should have the inside track to make the rotation. This spring, his mindset has drastically changed from camps past.

&8220;It’s a totally different feeling. It really is,&8221; said Baker, a 24-year-old native of Louisiana. &8220;Once you get some major league hitters out, it’s definitely a confidence booster.&8221;

He went 3-3 with a 3.42 ERA as a starter last season, excluding one relief appearance.

&8220;Baker threw the ball great,&8221; manager Ron Gardenhire said. &8220;He pitched very well in some big games.&8221;

Boof Bonser, Willie Eyre, J.D. Durbin and Dave Gassner will also be considered for the final starter spot. Because the team would prefer he &045; and Liriano &045; get regular innings, Baker will go back to Triple-A Rochester if he doesn’t make the 25-man roster.

&8220;We’re not giving him a spot by any means,&8221; Gardenhire said. &8220;He has a good edge in there. … But he still has to come out.&8221;

SAME OLD TORII: Hunter is nearly back to 100 percent after breaking his ankle while trying to make a leaping catch against the wall in Fenway Park last July. The five-time Gold Glove winner

won’t be playing it safe in center, either.

&8220;If I have to run up and jump and catch the ball against the wall again, I’m going to do it,&8221; he said.

&8220;If I break my ankle again, that’s OK. I’m not going to let that ball drop. I can tell you that.&8221;

That’s fine by the manager.

&8220;There’s only one way Torii knows how to play the game, and that’s all-out, diving,&8221; Gardenhire

said. &8220;He’s made his name like that. That’s his history, and that’s the way it will always be with

him.&8221;

AROUND THE BASES: The Twins agreed to terms on one-year contracts with nine players: RHPs Boof Bonser, J.D. Durbin, Willie Eyre and Adam Harben; LHP Jose Mijares; C Rob Bowen; 1B Garrett

Jones; and OFs Jason Pridie and Alex Romero. Ten players on the 40-man roster remain unsigned for 2006. … Ruben Sierra and Tony Batista were among the veterans who showed up Friday.