Report From the Fort: 3/22 News and Notes

[Ted Schwerzler]

Fort Myers, FL - Today was a big day for the Minnesota Twins down in Fort Myers. They officially announced Carlos Correa signing the largest contract for an infielder in MLB history. A game against the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves was also on tap.

The news of the day was definitely Carlos Correa’s signing being made official. Minnesota put out a few different social media posts and noted that they had designated reliever Ralph Garza Jr. to make room for Correa on the 40-man roster. He will be formally announced to the media tomorrow at 9 am EST. Stay tuned to @tlschwerz on Twitter for live updates from that event.

It’s also arbitration deadline day in which players must be tendered contracts to avoid a hearing. As Matthew Lenz wrote up at Twins Daily, Minnesota has three players needing to be sorted out. In that process, Taylor Rogers and Luis Arraez are joined by new backstop Gary Sanchez.

Joe Ryan made his Spring Training debut for the Twins. Now working as an assumed big-league starter, this is his first spring with a place on the 26-man roster. Last season Ryan worked just three innings in three games for the Rays. He pitched two innings for Minnesota and worked around three hits. In the first inning, a bit of loud contact was generated, and newly extended centerfielder Byron Buxton kept a two-spot off the board when he robbed a homer from Atlanta’s free-agent first basemen, Matt Olson.

Devin Smeltzer was a standout on the mound today for Minnesota. He worked three innings allowing just a single hit and punching out two. Smeltzer never topped 90 mph, but continues to make the lower velocity work. He's no longer on the 40-man roster, but could factor in as a depth rotation arm or someone out of the pen. Despite it being just his second outing of the spring he was stretched out to 46 pitches.

Royce Lewis took over at shortstop today for Nick Gordon when substitutions were made. He was wearing his new number 23 uniform, after ceding number 4 to Correa. 23 was last worn by Nelson Cruz, and then Mitch Garver prior to that.

Wrapping up the game that didn't count today, Minnesota lost 4-0 to the Atlanta Braves. Spencer Strider came in for Atlanta late and was pumping 100 mph pitches with regularity. It was fun seeing former Twins reliever Michael Tonkin back on the mound. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2017 but is trying his hand with Atlanta. 

It seems we’ll have expanded rosters heading into Opening Day. There had been questions as to whether this would be necessary given the shortened Spring Training slate. Two extra roster spots will give Minnesota an option to carry additional arms or bench players. It also appears we will have a runner start on second base in extra innings again.

The Twins first arbitration deal from deadline day is reported on. Taylor Rogers jumps $1.3 million from his 2021 salary.

Both Gary Sánchez and Luis Arraez will have arbitration hearings with the Twins. Sanchez was projected for $7.9 million and filed at $9.5 million while Arraez was projected for $2.0 million and filed at $2.4 million. The hearings will take place during the season. If the player loses, they’ll be paid the Minnesota proposed amount.

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[wsnydes]

Good to be talking baseball from Ft Myers!

Having been unable to actually catch any visuals, how have Martin and Lewis looked in their limited action this far?

[mikelink45]

Thanks for real baseball.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

And thanks for this here update for those of us who couldn't be there.

[USAFChief]

Nitpic, but Carlos Correa's contract is not the largest in history for an infielder.

Largest annual salary, but not the largest contract. 

[The Mad King]

Poor Ralph. He pukes on the mound after one pitch Sunday and gets dfa today. 

I'm still rooting for Smeltzer. Glad he pitched good today.

[twinstalker]

One thing is clear after ten years of watching Buxton:  he must totally suck at basketball.

[The Mad King]

And really bad at dodgeball...

[gil4]

ESPN headline for the video clip: "Buxton crashes into the wall to rob Olson of extra bases"

Me: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[h2oface]

Buxton seems to have forgotten it is ST. No need to take that kind of chance at the wall. Smarten up, Byron. One catch is not worth being out of the lineup.

Good to see some starters and 26 man roster players getting in games. Did you see Max Scherzer pitches 5 innings, 72 pitches and 55 strikes yesterday. Talk about ready. Our guys need work, but haven't even been playing in the games! And not scoring runs. Not hitting much either.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, h2oface said:

Buxton seems to have forgotten it is ST. No need to take that kind of chance at the wall. Smarten up, Byron. One catch is not worth being out of the lineup.

Good to see some starters and 26 man roster players getting in games. Did you see Max Scherzer pitches 5 innings, 72 pitches and 55 strikes yesterday. Talk about ready. Our guys need work, but haven't even been playing in the games! And not scoring runs. Not hitting much either.

Buxton might as well get his 1/2 a year on the IL taken care of now. At least he'll be more likely available if the Twins surprise the league and make the playoffs then.

[stringer bell]

Thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear information about players. I sat next to Tonkin when he was in the Twins organization at a minor league exhibition game in Fort Myers. He had been sent down the day before and wasn't very talkative, to say the least. Big guy (6'7"). 

Do players still get hard feelings when going through arbitration? It looks like the Twins went slightly above the midpoint for both Sanchez and Arraez. I'm guessing either the players settle or the Twins win if they go all the way through the process.