Minnesota Twins Talk

With teams "colluding" since they finally woke up to the fact nobody should be getting 10 years deals when they are 25+ anymore. I don't expect the Twins to sign top notch players but they should be signing players to minor league deals with invites to Spring Training (what Martin Perez should have got instead of $4M guaranteed.) They also should have signed players that could easily be flipped for prospects at the trade deadline. So much talent out there still that would be better than players projected to make the 25 man roster.

The Athletic's Dan Hayes traveled to Rhode Island last month to visit with Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and people around his life. https://theathletic.com/802803/2019/02/11/rocco-baldelli-twins-manager-baseball-life-woonsocket-rocket/ The article also talks about his legendary high school years: He was taken with the 6th overall pick in 1999. Mike Radcliff remembered scouting him. There is more on his playing career, the injuries, the World Series and life since he retired as a player.

MLB Trade Rumors has an item saying an extension is in the works for Jorge Polanco. Seems like a good idea, assuming that our normally cautious front office is not suddenly agreeing to crazy terms.

I don’t fully understand why we are waiting to sign these two players. I get the idea of the front office wanting to see how Sano and Buxton perform, but we will fill those spots IF those guys collapse, but we need some pitching foundation. We have the money. These two fill our need. Let’s sign em. Go Twins!

Not really a current Minnesota Twins topic, but I think this is probably the right forum for this. Not sure if anyone listens to the Crime in Sports podcast. Each week, a couple of comedians take to the mic and talk about some criminals who used to be in sports. They discuss the player's career and then their crimes... (There is a lot of swearing, so it's definitely not for everyone) This week, their target is former Twins second baseman, Chuck Knoblauch. Was just a matter of time. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/crime-in-sports/ Other former #MNTwins that they've profiled: Steve Howe Otis Nixon Others with Minnesota ties: JR Rider Rafer Alston "Sk…

Hallelujia! Spring training is about to start and will be better in the world with baseball! Especially for those of us who live in the northern hemisphere! To those who dont...welll...I will be polite and just wish a silly emoji with his tongue out and wish you a good day. Lol But what I find so interesting in these last glowing coals of the Hot Stove League is rumors. And we all know what you can do with rumors! We've heard rumors the Twins were looking at Grandal, at least briefly, which meant more money spent. There have been reports the Twins may be in on Kimbrel for their bullpen on a short term deal for 2yrs at $20M. There have been opions, rumors, that the Twins…

Dustin Morse of the Twins tweeted out the full list of Twins non-roster invites this morning. The one new name on the list is 1B/OF Lucas Duda. https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1094310002792181760 Pitchers: LHP - Tim Collins, Justin Nicolino RHP - Chase De Jong, Ryan Eades, Preston Guilmet, Ryne Harper, Mike Morin, Jake Reed Catchers: Brian Navarreto, Ben Rortvedt, Wynston Sawyer and Tomas Telis Infielders: Dean Anna, Randy Cesar, Lucas Duda, Royce Lewis, and Adam Rosales Outfielders: Alex Kirilloff, Luke Raley, and Brent Rooker The Twins also announced EIGHT guest instructors: Rod Carew, Bert Blyleven, Michael Cuddyer, LaTroy Hawkins, Torii Hunter, J…

Apologies if someone posted this earlier, in which case moderators can feel free to delete, but I hadn't seen anyone mention what I think is very happy news, and could help alleviate some (but not all) of my dissapointment with this offseason's free agent signings. According to the Pioneer Press, Falvey and Levine are actively talking with at least some of their young core about extensions. https://www.twincities.com/2019/01/27/twins-gm-thad-levine-talks-mega-free-agents-extensions/ My own order of priority for signing extensions would be: (1) Berrios, (2) Rosario, (3) Buxton, (4) Kepler, (5) Polanco, (6) May, (7) Sano. I don't think we should extend Gibson, alth…

Did you renew your season tickets from last year? If you renewed, did the Twins raise the price? Keep it the same? Or, try not to laugh, discount from last year? I get the feeling it's a very tough year to sell the Twins to fans. Just curious if they recognize the apathy and changing course? Or if they have their heads in the sand saying sorry, new year higher price!

Bloomberg is reporting that Jim Pohlad, along with the owners of the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Braves, may be making a bid to buy FSN and some other Fox Sports regional networks. Bring Me the News wrote much more about it here: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/report-twins-owner-jim-pohlad-bidding-to-buy-fox-sports-north There are 21 regional stations that 21st Century Fox is trying to sell and want to sell them in bulk. Should be interesting.

Don't see any way the Twins break camp with both of these guys on the roster. Will it be a true competition in Ft. Meyers between these two for the 1B gig, or does Cron's salary commitment give him the spot? At almost two years younger and with considerably less ML experience, I prefer Austin's upside. I see nothing wrong with pitting these two against each other in Spring Training and seeing who emerges.

C: Castro 1B: Cron 2B: Schoop SS: Polanco 3B: Sano RF: Kepler CF: Buxton LF: Rosario DH: Cruz Bench: Garver, Cave, Adrianza, Austin SP: Berrios SP: Gibson SP: Odorozzi SP: Perez SP: Gonsalves RP: May RP: Reed RP: Romero RP: Parker RP: Rogers RP: hildenberger RP: Vazquez DL: Pineda I really struggled for the last 2 spots on the roster. Ultimately went with Vazquez and Austin. It’s going to be hard not to carry 13 pitchers. Mejia should have a spot on the team but Vazquez may be too hard to pass up. I went with Austin because he can provide some pop off the bench and a little more flexibility resting our core power hitters. I initially penciled in Aust…

Your recent Twitter thread should be promoted to all fans. I'm so tired of LEN3 and other media personalities tearing down fans that want to see a bold move.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!! Make sure to stop by the site to find loads of new content dropping all through the day leading up to kickoff to the Super Bowl. There will be articles from all sorts of voices outside of the usual TD crew, as well as a few you're already familiar with here. This is something we did last year as sort of an ice breaker/blowout to kick things into high gear at the site. So if the last thing you can handle is anymore pregame coverage for the big game, come hang out here instead. But it's not like these articles are going anywhere, of course, so if you've got plans for Sunday, just drop on by Monday to see what you missed.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlbs-best-player-at-each-uniform-number-from-no-1-ozzie-smith-to-no-99-manny-ramirez-and-every-digit-in-between/?ftag=SPM-16-10abi8e Check out #64.

From MLB trade rumors. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/twins-front-office-discusses-spending-plans.html Sums up what many on this site have discussed. Thought it was a pretty thorough and interesting analysis.

There has been an outcry about the Twins spending this offseason. According to Forbes, the Twins had operating income profit of $23 million last year. My question is really about that number. Is that $23 million account for the ML franchise only? What role does the ML franchise have in operating and/or funding the minor league affiliates, baseball academies, etc? Does the $23 million includes any of those costs? I also read something yesterday that MLB was considering a bid for the regional fox sports channels which have to be sold before the fox merger will be approved by the federal government. That seems like that could be another huge source of revenue by t…

Looks like he signed a one-year deal with Arizona for $3.25M guaranteed, with up to $3.5M more in incentives. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/diamondbacks-to-sign-greg-holland.html I would've much rather had the Twins take a shot on a bounce-back season from Holland than the $3.5M they spent on the medium-risk, low upside move of Martin Perez. Yes I know he was bad with the Cardinals last year, but he was pretty solid with Washington.

Today is the 11th anniversary of the Johan Santana trade according to my facebook feed. Interestingly enough, Johan’s B-R page shows it on 2-8-08.

5 weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Ft. Myers. The clock is ticking... Falvine should learn from their mistake last year waiting too long into spring training to sign players.

http://www.baseballessential.com/news/2019/01/18/mlb-already-has-a-two-sport-star-in-trevor-may/

Just find it a little odd that he is not "officially signed" yet. Probably not as odd as the fact it was to a major league contract and not a minor league deal with a Spring invite like he should have got in the first place. Just wanted to see which one of the 7 unworthy players gets axed from the 40 man roster.

So says the Athletic's Dan Hayes: https://theathletic.com/784109/2019/01/24/byron-buxton-twins-moving-on-reset-button-rocco-baldelli-paul-molitor/ Buxton says he's done so to provide more padding for every time he runs into a wall at full speed or dives for a sinking liner up the middle. Holy crap. Also reports that he's been spending 5 hours a day in the weight room and 90 minutes a day hitting. His agent says it is the hardest he's ever seen him working out. Rowson says the muscle/weight he's put on is quite noticeable.

With all the talk about openers and stacking pitchers, and the Twins having several starting pitchers close to the bigs and on the 40 man roster, I was wondering if they would consider a rotating set of stackers for the fifth spot. Maybe Romero/Thorpe, Stewart/ Gonsalves, and Littell/deJonge. You could send them down after they pitch, call up two bats until the fifth spot is up again, and then recall the next pair. After ten days, I believe, they could be recalled. This would lengthen the bench for the first four starters. It would also give all the young pitchers exposure and better prepare them for 2020, when we lose three starters. What do you think?

Piggybacking off of the other thread right now that says we are one of the possible mystery teams in on Harper or Machado. Let's say by either adding extra years, more $/year and/or opt out clauses, you can sign one of them. Harper has been a little injury prone. Machado with the "attitude." Who do you choose?? What does the new lineup look like?

I was watching the MLB channel and Ripken said that Rocco Baldelli is in the best position to do well as a first year manager. Just some positive stuff to see.

Let me begin by stating I am using the term "bench" rather loosely. I have always believed in constructing the deepest and most versatile club you can. Use the term "reserve" if you prefer that designation. In building any ballclub, even the best and deepest you can, there will always be a number of players who will see the majority of playing time. "Starters", if you will. Days off, injuries, even in regard to some situational matchups, I have always held the belief your "non starters" should be players you can count on to perform at a quality level. What they may bring to the table as their best assets is arguable, but I've never been in favor of a glove only, Mendoza h…

I ask this and I just want to compare, so far, what they have this year as opposed to last year. C 2018 Garver Astrudillo C 2019 Castro Garver 1B 2018 Mauer 1B 2019 Cron 2B 2018 Dozier 2B 2019 Schoop 3B 2018 Sano/Escobar 3B 2019 Sano SS 2018 Escobar/Polanco SS 2019 Polanco LF 2018 Rosario LF 2019 Rosario CF 2018 Buxton/Cave CF 2019 Buxton RF 2018 Kepler RF 2019 Kepler Rotation 2018 (Santana) Berrios Gibson Odorizzi Lynn (Romero, Stewart, Mejia, Gonsalves) 2019 Berrios Gibson Odorizzi Pineda Romero, Mejia, Perez) In comparison are they better than last year??

I have not seen this posted yet.... https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-sports/report-the-twins-are-a-mystery-team-in-on-harper-and-machado

The Twins announced tonight that they've acquired minor-league infielder Daniel Ozoria from the Angels in exchange for RHP John Curtiss, who was DFA'ed to make room on the roster for Blake Parker. Ozoria is an 18-year-old infielder who is listed at 5'9" and an almost impossibly tiny 135 lbs. He has a .222/.293/.263 line in around 500 rookie-league at-bats but the Twins are obviously hoping he gets bigger and stronger. Here's a Baseball America report from when he signed for $125K back in 2016: Definitely a lotto ticket, but nice to at least get that for Curtiss as opposed to nothing. Curtiss joins J.T. Chargois as promising Twins relievers lost to LA in roster crunch…