Ted Schwerzler

Over 17 hours and 13 separate meetings commenced from Monday, February 28 into the early hours of Tuesday, March 1. Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have made significant progress on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The deadline to avoid cancellation of regular season games has been pushed to 5pm on Tuesday. A deal looks to be close. Check back often for updates as we have them. Continue to check back as this article will be updated with any new news or updates, or even when the title gets changed to Baseball is Back! ------------------------------------------ Following the 11th discussion of the day, with MLB lead negotiator Dan Halem as the centerpiece for the league, Bob Nightengale has officially sounded the alarm. We have more movement than we’ve had in months, and baseball may soon be back. The players have agreed to an expanded postseason situation that adds two teams, less than the league’s desire for a total of 14. The league has also agreed to a Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) structure similar to the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which sunset following the expiration of that deal. We don’t yet have an announcement of “Play Ball” by Commissioner Rob Manfred, but also are trending away from the cancellation of up to a month’s worth of games that was suggested earlier in the day. We are about to turn the page on February, and Spring Training games have been cancelled, but the hope would be that this is where the tide turns. It appears numbers continue needing to be exchanged regarding the pre-arbitration bonus pool. Something in the $20-$40 million range could make sense with the players conceding on two addition Postseason teams. There's a path forward but no agreed upon figure at this point. No matter what official updates trickle out, or how much is agreed to in principle, the CBA doesn't become legal until ratified. From the league's vantage point that requires "yes" votes from 23 of the 30 owners. Opposition from just eight organizations could hold up the sport. Although the February 28th deadline has past on the East Coast, it's still alive and well everywhere else. Rob Manfred and MLB looks to be desiring a resolution yet tonight. Lots of work being done by both sides following the 42 day waiting period imposed by the league after December 2. No sleep til Brooklyn! Or at least until MLB has a deal done it seems. A 12th meeting took place with four members, including Dick Monfort, from the owners contingent heading over to the union side. Things are progressing, but as Nightengale notes, there's still plenty to iron out. The 12th meeting between the league and players was easily the longest of the night. Lots of moving pieces right now. Is 13 lucky or unlucky? We've reached the next meeting and now the discussion has evolved to bring in rule changes such as shift restrictions. At this point it seems the sides are making these conversations comprehensive. The luxury tax is also rising something like $20 million at this stage, which is a multiple of 20 over what the league proposed in their last deal. Nearing 2am central time, Jeff Passan noted no deal would be coming in the wee hours of the morning. Major League Baseball has pushed back the deadline in which regular season games would be cancelled to 5pm eastern time, March 1. With enough of a framework in place, a deal appears imminent soon. A few more details surrounding the parameters of the current proposal have emerged. The union has also dropped the desire to increase the Super 2 class. Here’s some industry perspective to start off deadline day 2.0. We don’t have a deal yet, but maybe, possibly? The players have bent quite a bit regarding the Super 2 eligibility and that could wind up being a point of contention today. More than rule changes, this has an opportunity to blow things up today. Here's some context on how the expanded postseason would work. It's going to water down regular season competition regardless, but it's good to note that there will be an emphasis put on the winningest records. No in person meetings have taken place between the sides in the first two hours today, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there hasn’t been dialogue. We’re roughly three and a half hours shy of the newly imposed deadline by MLB early this morning. The league continues to push for a 14 team postseason, but this would water down the impact of the regular season. Players don’t want that as it would lessen the incentive to compete through spending in the offseason. The additional two teams are also a future bargaining chip. According to New York Post’s Andrew Marchand the difference in revenue from ESPN comes out to little more than $500k per team. That should be a pretty insignificant amount. The first movement of the day has commenced! The first proposal of the day has happened. Less than three hours until MLB’s new deadline. This is opinion, but the union lowering their ask on the bonus pool at this juncture seems more about gaining additional funds than it does closing the gap. This is a positive step towards resolution in my mind. And now it may all be for nothing? Or posturing? Or tempting how far we can push tiredness? The league may now be done negotiating. Three hours from the deadline…where do we go from here? Certainly sounds like the owners aren’t up for another late night and it’s in the union’s court at this point. Maybe a take it or leave it offer. Less than three hours until Rob Manfred’s newly imposed deadline and all progress from yesterday appears lost. The union may need to stand strong in the face of cancelled games to force action. MLB pitcher Alex Wood couldn’t be more spot on with regards to how the conversation has changed today. Reporters have blitzed towards a deal being likely last night and early into the morning. With the deadline remaining in tact and a “final offer” being presented, it’s an opportunity for the leave to place blame on the players should a bad deal be turned down. Some details on the proposal from the union have emerged. The difference on the minimum salary is negligible at this point, that should not be a sticking point. These points are where the league is at however, and the ball is now in the players court. And now this. Things went south...in a hurry. And now after over a week of meetings in Florida, this is where we are... Stay tuned for more updates as they happen! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook , or email View full article

Yeah, I don't think that's the straightforward causation and suggestion at all here. (Also, Mitch didn't have a poor season in 2021).

Despite a pandemic that severely altered expectations for how the 2020 Major League Baseball season would go, Minnesota returned to the diamond with a catching duo expected to turn heads. It didn’t go that way, but hope returns for 2022, and Mitch Garver looks as primed as ever. After a breakout in 2019 as a member of the Bomba Squad, Garver dealt with an injury that severely limited effectiveness in 2020. While the team took a step backward last year, the New Mexico native returned to the upper-tier among catchers and could be considered as one of the best in the game. With baseball currently locked out, the Twins backstop hasn’t yet begun the journey to prove 2021 was again the real deal. He’s offered quips on social media, alluding to frustration there is no action, and he’s chomping at the bit with readiness to go. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with him, and we covered a handful of topics. Here’s what Garver had to say: Twins Daily: The 2021 season didn’t go as planned, but much of the talent there in 2019 and 2020 remained. What was the toughest aspect of the year? Mitch Garver: The hardest part was balancing the off-field issues that many of us were dealing with. We lost our bench coach Mike Bell during spring training which affected everyone differently. There was a lot of mourning for him and his family as he was an amazing person and baseball mind. With less than a week until the regular season started, I think many of the guys that played for him really felt the hole that was empty in our organization. Early in the year, there was also a lot of concern with Covid and the social injustices in Minneapolis that were weighing heavy on our team. Covid itself was its own monster because of the strict protocols and the uncertainty of what the virus could be (as you can see from our canceled series with LA and the doubleheaders with Oakland). TD: You dealt with some unfortunate injuries but more than established yourself as among the best catchers in baseball when you were out there. What led to the offensive resurgence last season? MG: Baseball is such a funny sport; you can be on top of the world one week and feel like the worst hitter in baseball the next. It's a game of constant physical, mental, and emotional struggles. I had a poor showing in 2020 and didn't quite get off to the start I wanted in 2021, but with the help of our staff, I was able to feel more comfortable in the box and make some adjustments I had been needing to make. It also helps when you have such a potent offense surrounding you that some of the pressure is taken off. TD: With the lockout expected since the World Series, how has this offseason been different for you? Has it been challenging to prepare for a season that has an undecided start date? MG: I think it's been difficult for a lot of guys. We, as players, want to be on the field, and some of the issues we are fighting for are for the greater good of the next generation of players. There has been obvious stalling from the league to get the season started. After locking out the players, the league waited a month and a half to meet us (players) at the bargaining table to get some things worked out. The people it hurts the most are the fans. I feel like baseball is at a really good point right now with some real star players being in their prime. We could be potentially missing out on Ohtani repeating as an MVP, we are yet to see the best of guys like Soto, Bichette, De Grom, and the list goes on and on. These are the players that have changed the game at a level of talent we have never seen before in this sport. As for me personally, my offseason program has been designed with the lockout in mind. I am currently working up to game speed by taking live at-bats and catching bullpens a few times a week. I also get a little more time with my seven-month-old son, Gamble. TD: Eventually, the sport will return. What are you most looking forward to personally for the 2022 season? What individually would make your year a success? MG: I know all players look to get back on the field and play the game we love. I try not to set my expectations on reaching statistical goals or accolades. My career has been riddled with some injuries over the past few years, some I can control, and others that are out of my hands. I'm doing my best to prepare my body and mind to be healthy the whole year and be on the field with my teammates. TD: How do the Twins get back on top of the AL Central? It’s been fun to see that rivalry with Chicago renewed. MG: We have one of the best offenses in baseball, and when we are all on the same page, everyone 1-9 can do damage. I think we have some really good young pitching that will take a step forward this year, and I am excited to see them grow as individuals and a staff. The rivalry with Chicago is a fun one; they have a really strong team with a good offensive and a pitching staff to respect. I think we all rise to the occasion to play each other, which makes games pretty fun. TD: To wrap it up, what’s the one thing you’re most focused on improving for yourself in the year ahead? MG: I have come to the point in my career where I know what I need to do each day to be successful. It started in the offseason, and as we approach the season, I am prepared for the year ahead. However many games we get to play this year, I'd like to say I have prepared in a way that allows me to stay on the field. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook , or email View full article

This week could be argued as the most significant of the entire Major League Baseball offseason. It’s the first in which the owners and union have committed to interacting every day. Unfortunately, it’s produced a whole lot of nothing. A contingent for both the owners and players arrived at Roger Dean Stadium in Florida on Monday. The respective sides have spent time meeting both separately and together. A handful of notes have been cycled through the days that have come and gone. Most notably, we’ve seen the players continuing to move ever so slightly on their already negotiated proposals. The league has done little to counter and close the gap, but there has been no movement on the suggestion that February 28 is a hard deadline for Opening Day to go as planned. The league has suggested that any games missed will not result in rescheduling and that players will simply lose pay with the schedule picking up where it left off. Before spending 42 days with no action, Rob Manfred penned a letter to fans saying the lockout he instituted was designed to jumpstart negotiations and was done with the utmost desire to protect the integrity of the schedule. As we sit not, that letter doesn’t look good (to be fair, it didn’t then either). After being let go from MLB Network due to minor criticisms of Major League Baseball’s Commissioner, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal has continued to produce excellent writing. This week he took the kid gloves off, put out a framework for a deal, and called the league out for the lunacy that is taking place. Further tilting the scales towards the already known realities, financials for the Atlanta Braves ownership group were released today. Despite Rob Manfred suggesting owning a team is not all that profitable and the stock market producing better returns, every bit of data continues to laugh at that idea. There’s no denying the owners will come out ahead in any CBA, and they probably should, but clawing for every dollar in an effort to win over the players have only the consumers losing. Although the next two days are non-business days, it would benefit both sides to continue with their discussions. Monday’s deadline looms large, and while the only real leverage the players have is lost games, fans watch as a season hangs in the balance. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Few players possess the raw talent of Twins prospect Royce Lewis. There are question marks after a long layoff, but there's no player in the system with a higher ceiling. Ready to announce his return in a big way, 2022 could be the best year yet for the former first overall pick. Age: 22 (DOB: 6/5/1999) 2021 Stats: Did not play - ACL injury ETA: 2022 2021 Ranking: 2nd National Top 100 Rankings BA: 82 | MLB: 17 | ATH: NR | BP: NR What’s To Like The same things that made Royce Lewis the 1st overall pick in 2017 are reasons to like him now. The athleticism is off the charts, and makeup has been something that will sell anyone. He’s still got a home at shortstop for now and will play up the middle somewhere regardless. His speed has always been among his greatest assets, and a recent interview suggests he’s gotten even faster. At the dish, there’s plenty to like about Lewis. He’s got the ability to be a plus hitter who makes plenty of contact. He began to find his power stroke in 2019 and has only gained muscle since then. If everything settles back into where he was the last time we saw him in game action during the Arizona Fall League, he’s going to be an absolute problem for the opposition. What’s Left To Work On Refinement is the name of the game for Lewis. He instituted a leg kick into his swing, and timing with it has seen him struggle to have full plate coverage. He’ll need to show that he can get the foot down and drive the baseball to all fields. There are still questions as to whether Lewis can stick at shortstop in the field. His arm strength shouldn’t be a problem, but instincts and reactions could take him off of the position. Minnesota remains committed to him in the role, and keeping him on the dirt would be a big win for all involved. If he can push away those doubts, that would go a long way to getting him to the highest level more quickly. What’s Next Lewis needs to see game action; it’s that simple. He hasn’t played in a professional game since 2019 and was out of action altogether last season. Getting back on the field and showing everyone where he’s at is a must. Depending on how that goes, he could be in line for very quick promotions. Double-A wasn’t a level he mastered at all, but the talent to be above the competition remains. Minnesota isn’t going to be too aggressive with a guy they need to work out, but his talent could force the organization’s hand. Lewis continues to bet on himself, and doubting him would seem to be a bad stance to take. Previous Rankings Honorable Mentions Prospects 16-20 Prospects 11-15 #10: Josh Winder, RHP #9: Chase Petty, RHP #8: Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP #7: Jhoan Duran, RHP #6: Matt Canterino, RHP #5: Joe Ryan, RHP #4: Jordan Balazovic, RHP #3: Jose Miranda, INF #2: Royce Lewis, SS #1: Coming tomorrow View full article

When Derek Falvey was brought into the Twins organization, it was with a belief he would develop a pitching pipeline similar to what he did in Cleveland. While we haven’t yet seen that bear fruit, this front office has seen success on the trade market. A perfect storm post-lockout could be brewing, knowing what the organization needs, and seeing where we’re at this offseason. The Minnesota Twins' starting rotation is in shambles at this point. Dylan Bundy is the only starter signed before the lockout, and Carlos Rodon is the only realistic upper-tier target that still seems plausible. With those parameters, it seems a good bet that the Twins turn to the trade market, a place they’ve been expected to dabble all along. For Falvey, this is probably the optimal outcome. While free agency has been a malady of misses, the trade front has actually worked out well for this front office. I’m still baffled how an aging Nelson Cruz was parlayed for two legitimate arms, and that was after the Jake Odorizzi trade had already tipped the scales against the Rays for Minnesota. Throw in getting a haul for Jose Berrios when the organization had decided against extending him, and you have to be happy with the results. Looking at the prospect rankings and, more importantly, the organizational location for Minnesota, it’s clear they need external help. The Twins farm system shows up consistently at the bottom of the teens, and outside of Jordan Balazovic, there isn’t an arm on the farm that’s a top 100 talent and ready to immediately contribute. An explanation for much of the feelings regarding the Twins system relates to the missed time the past few seasons. The depth is there, while the floor currently trumps many of the ceilings. Parlaying a few arms into one big one could be the ideal action plan. Oakland has plenty of arms on the block, and stud Frankie Montas is among the best of them. Cincinnati could be a willing partner with either Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, or Tyler Mahle. Houston might be willing to flip Odorizzi back to Minnesota. There is any number of possibilities for the front office to explore. It would be wise to assume that frameworks have been discussed before the lockout, and things should come together quickly when we get a resumption. If and when Minnesota swings a deal, there should be a level of trust built from how Falvey has constructed previous swaps. There’s going to be hurt in prospect capital, especially for a top-level arm, but betting on the Twins knowing their talents and the warts they may have is an earned belief. An ideal trade has both sides winning when the deal is struck, but Minnesota continuing to come out on top, in the long run, is something every fan can get on board with. Derek Falvey needs to keep stacking the positive results in that category. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Since they developed Jose Berrios, the Minnesota Twins have been looking for their next starting pitching talent. This time around, it may come from an arm that hails from north of the border. Age: 23 (DOB: 9/17/1998) 2021 Stats: (Double-A): 97 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.402 WHIP, 102 K, 38 BB ETA: 2022 2021 Ranking: 3rd National Top 100 Rankings BA: 85 | MLB: 95 | ATH: 43 | BP: 78 What’s To Like Velocity has long been the name of the game on the mound, and it’s something the Twins haven’t seen from a starter they developed in a long time, maybe ever. Balazovic was sitting at 95 mph last year on his fastball, even after missing time to start the season due to injury. He pushed it up to 97 mph at times, and the electricity behind the pitch is something to drool over. With a starter’s mix, Balazovic also has a strong slider and has turned the changeup into an out pitch as well. Double-A was a new test for Balazovic last season, and he did take a slight step backward in terms of numbers, but the elite stuff is still all there. A rough three-start stretch at the end of July made things look more mediocre than they were. Over his final eight starts, Balazovic posted a 2.72 ERA allowing just a .672 OPS against. What’s Left To Work On It’s not to say that Balazovic is a finished product, but he’s very close. Even with the time missed due to the pandemic, the Canadian is knocking on the door to the big leagues. A return to Double-A could be in the cards at the beginning of 2022, but he should quickly move up to Triple-A St. Paul. Balazovic has done a good job repeating his delivery, and continuing down a path of sustained success is a must for him. Minnesota would probably like to see a trend back towards the 2019 numbers, but that’s also not a showstopper. The strikeouts were down slightly, and the walks rose, but both happened in minor increments. Settling back in with a clean bill of health should lead to more dominating performances than not. What’s Next It would be far from shocking if Balazovic was pitching for the Twins by mid-summer. He’s near ready as a prospect, and while he’s probably not the type to be called upon before ready in a spot-start role, he’s got the talent to force his way into sustained action. Minnesota should have a middle-of-the-rotation arm at worst here, and seeing him add even more would be a welcomed sight. The Twins have been longing for a guy that can mow down the opposition, and Balazovic has the makings of someone capable of doing just that. If he can be a staff ace, the organization will have its next piece to build around. Previous Rankings Honorable Mentions Prospects 16-20 Prospects 11-15 #10: Josh Winder, RHP #9: Chase Petty, RHP #8: Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP #7: Jhoan Duran, RHP #6: Matt Canterino, RHP #5: Joe Ryan, RHP #4: Jordan Balazovic, RHP #3: Coming tomorrow View full article

Last week’s CBA update was largely contingent on what happened the day after it was published. Major League Baseball made an offer on Saturday, February 12, that Rob Manfred called “good.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t. The owners proposal at the end of last week was largely unchanged from where they’ve been thus far. Minimal movement was proposed on both the minimum salary front and the competitive balance tax. Regarding the minimum salary, players are looking for a $775k minimum. Owners moved just $15k to $615k in their most recent offer. They also proposed a $630k minimum that would remain flat for players pre-arbitration. Teams can still pay more if they choose, but this is an odd inclusion as many players never reach a second year. On the competitive balance tax front, the owners moved less than $4 million in any given season. This is a highly contentious issue for the players because owners use the luxury tax as a soft salary cap. Very few teams spend over it and even more spend right up next to it. The luxury tax has not kept up with the revenue increase, and players continue to see less return on their production to the owners bottom line. That led us to Thursday when the union made their next counter-proposal. It was just five days after the league’s latest offer and substantially quicker than the 42 days and 30 days the owners took between proposals. In the latest proposal from the union, they dropped the amount of super-2 players getting arbitration from 100% to 80%. In doing so, however, they asked for that pool of funds to be increased. While having fewer players to pay, the stance is that it makes sense for there to be more money to go around. A couple of developments have circulated since yesterday’s 19-minute meeting. First, an unfair labor practice charge was filed against MLB by someone. The union or any player did not file it, likely a fan. It won’t go anywhere. The league also presented a calendar, or timeline, as to when the CBA needs to be agreed to for the season to start on time. It’s unclear whether the union agrees with the timeline, but February 28 is the day to remember here. The players are beginning to use some of their leverage and have told the league not to expect expanded playoffs this season if the year doesn’t start on time. Players are unpaid for Spring Training and the Postseason, while owners make the most money after the regular season concludes. Both sides are expected to meet in New York near-daily next week. Owners and players are flying in with the goal of hammering out an agreement. We’ll see what the substance of the talks looks like as the days go by. MLB did release a statement announcing the postponement of Spring Training. It was always inevitable but is now official. With the postponement of Spring Training, the Minnesota Gophers announced the cancellation of their exhibition against the Twins on February 25. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Last season, the Minnesota Twins employed Andrelton Simmons at shortstop while using Jorge Polanco at second base and Luis Arraez in a roving role. Nick Gordon became a utility player down the stretch. The infield is in flux this season without a current shortstop, and the organization may have already tabbed a new utility man. As much as I’d be a proponent for Gordon seeing continued reps in the role, there’s reason to believe it could be recently signed Daniel Robertson. While former first-round pick Tim Beckham is the more prominent name of Minnesota’s minor league contracts signed of late, Robertson is younger and could make more sense. Last season Robertson played in 50 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. It was his worst season as a big leaguer, and he posted just a .164/.303/.274 (.577) slash line. Robertson has never hit for power, with nine longballs being his most in a season coming back in 2018. Like Beckham, Robertson made his debut with the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s played six different positions in a single season and can play shortstop. Similar to Beckham, Robertson is stretched defensively almost everywhere. The utility aspect allows him to fill in anywhere, but his glove isn’t likely to be the first option anywhere. The 816 innings at second base would qualify for his greatest at any position, and he’s compiled a -1 DRS in that time. Unlike Beckham, Robertson has some strong plate discipline skills. Even with the ugly .164 average last season, he still reached base at a .303 clip. That’s mainly due to a chase rate of just 25% and a career whiff rate under 10%. Robertson’s hard-hit rate is not impressive, and he puts the ball on the ground a ton, but the ability to make contact could be something the Twins opt for off the bench. In an interesting comp for Robertson, Baseball Savant has former Twins backstop Chris Gimenez (during the 2017 season) as a similar batter. That year, Gimenez posted a .731 OPS being a low average but high on-base guy. Gimenez also played a more premium position but contributed as a veteran across 74 games. That Twins squad won 85 games and would seem comparable to the current group, depending on how pitching works out. Personally, the inclusion of either Robertson or Beckham on the Opening Day roster would be less than ideal. Gordon likely presents at least the same amount of utility, and I think his speed should be a differentiating factor. That said, Minnesota will go lighter somewhere on the roster to accommodate the pitching needs, and the last bench spot certainly isn’t a bad place to do it. What do you think? Is Daniel Robertson on the Twins Opening Day roster? Does Tim Beckham get that look? Maybe Nick Gordon keeps his role from 2020? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook, or email View full article

Before the 2019 Major League Baseball season, Derek Falvey handed out contract extensions to Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler. 24 and 25-years-old respectively, both looked the part of key organizational pieces. Now a few years into those deals, where do they both stand? Through 2018, Jorge Polanco had played 288 games for the Twins. He owned a career .272/.329/.420 slash line and was still trying to find himself as a hitter. Polanco has never played in more than 133 games during a season and topped 80 just once. He wasn’t a big strikeout problem, but his on-base prowess wasn’t exactly pronounced either. Having come through the system as a shortstop, Polanco played three infield positions for Minnesota in 2016 before assuming shortstop full-time each of the next two years. His .773 OPS in 2018 seemed to indicate a breakout may be coming, and while there were concerns of his ability to stick at short, the bat was where hope resided. We all remember how 2019 went as the Bomba Squad came on the scene, and Polanco was right in the center of that. His career-best .841 OPS was the offensive explosion Falvey banked on, and his 22 home runs were nearly double his previous career-high. Arguably one of the best offensive teams in Twins history, Polanco helped bolster a lineup with much bigger bats around him. We’ve seen Polanco move off shortstop and deal with some ankle issues in the two years since. After a second surgery in 2020, his 2021 season re-established his place as one of baseball's best up-the-middle hitting infielders. The rebound to an .826 OPS with 33 big flies was truly a remarkable performance. Polanco has played more than 150 games in two of the past three seasons. He experienced his first All-Star game and picked up MVP votes. Signed for $25.75 million over five years, with two vesting/team options in 2024 and 2025, there was very little way for the deal to go pear-shaped on Minnesota. Despite coming off another impressive season, Polanco will make just $5.5 million in 2022 and $7.5 million in 2023. Fangraphs estimates Polanco’s value has been worth $32.7 million in 2019 alone and $70.3 million through just the first three years of his extension. He’s nearly tripled the value paid to him, and there are still two years left on the deal. Tied to Polanco in terms of timing was Kepler. Before doing his deal, Kepler had played in 419 games for Minnesota. He owned a .233/.313/.417 slash line and had recorded 56 homers. With just a 96 OPS+, Kepler was a solid defender that looked to have more in his bat. Like Polanco, the return on investment immediately was realized in 2019 as Kepler posted a career-best .855 OPS backed by 36 dingers for the Bomba Squad. He was a middle-of-the-lineup bat that commanded the zone and generated solid contact. From there, though, the approach has fallen off. The past two seasons, Kepler has posted .760 and .719 OPS marks with a combined 28 homers in 169 games. A guy with good hard hit numbers, he finds himself too often driving the ball into the ground rather than elevating it. Kepler walks a relatively fine line between a productive contract and unfortunate placement. His hard-hit rate in 2021 (35.6%) wasn’t where it was in 2019 (42.4%), but the flyball rate has also decreased in each of the past two seasons. Kepler is among the best defensive right-fielders in the game, and getting the most out of his bat would be the last segment of his game for the Twins to unlock. Even without the complete package that Polanco has become, Falvey doing Kepler’s deal at $32.13 million over five years with a 2024 team option was never going to get the organization burned either. Fangraphs has Kepler’s 2019 alone being worth $35.6 million, and the total production over his first three years adds up to $58.4 million in value. He’ll likely double the contract value in 2022, and a great season or two could line him up for the payday Minnesota would no doubt love to consider. At the time both deals were struck, neither seemed outlandish. Both players had come up through the system with plenty of projection, and the dollar value was Minnesota’s front office capitalizing on timing before production. These are two of the best contracts in baseball, and there’s only room for each to rise in the returned value. Where do you think we see Polanco and Kepler go from here? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

That stuck out to me too while we were talking, but I think it just highlights how much minor leaguers understand they are assets in the greater scheme of things. He touched on service time manipulation too. He hasn't dealt with that yet obviously, but I love how bought in he is to be a Twin.

Wanted to ask where he's had them but passed lol!

It’s been two years since Minnesota Twins fans have seen top prospect Royce Lewis play a professional baseball game. Following a pandemic-canceled season and then an injury-lost season, the former 1st round pick is ready to re-introduce himself. I caught up with the talented star who’s no longer a kid and ready to let his work speak. Reports were glowing about Lewis’ progress at the Twins' Alternate Site in St. Paul during the 2020 season. All of that work happened behind closed doors (at least to the public), though, and then a fluke ACL injury cost everyone the opportunity to see him in action last year. Now locked in down in Texas and having been recently added to the 40 man roster, this is as close as Lewis has come. He’s ready to take that next step in a big way. Catching up after a round of batting practice, Royce took the time to have an in-depth phone call and let me know how things are going and where he’s been. This is what he had to say: Twins Daily: Since you’ve last been on the diamond in front of us, what’s changed for you in that time. Physically, mentally, where are you at? Royce Lewis: The growth of any person in this world over the matter of two years is pretty significant, whether it’s for me physically or mentally. The desire to be ready to compete and get after it again is really what’s driving me. I just can’t wait to have fun again. Baseball has always been my place of peace and comfort. To not have that has felt weird and different. Off the field, I really found out who I was as a person, not just as Royce, the baseball player. I have been able to better differentiate my life off the field and separate that, but then lock in when I’m at the field and working. TD: With it having been two years, what makes you most excited about getting back on the field? RL: I think I’m most excited about the opportunity to have a chance to become a big leaguer. There’s an opening at short, and then the team looks very exciting. I’m just so ready to be a Minnesota Twin. I want to be a Twin, and I’m hoping they want me just as bad. It’s always hard to tell as a player because they don’t necessarily voice those things sometimes, but I want to bring this town and this city a championship soon. TD: Obviously, the timing of the injury last year stunk. What was the most challenging thing about rehab, and how do you feel physically now? RL: The toughest thing was probably that I couldn’t play anything. I’ve played sports my whole life, whether that’s golf, bowling, basketball…I’ve always played some sort of sport and been athletic. It felt so weird and different. That goes back to what I was saying about finding out who I was as a person rather than just Royce, the athlete or baseball player. As much as I love sports in my free time, it allowed me to try other things. I’ve gotten into reading, really enjoying time with my family, and other things like that. I broke down Royce the person more than ever before. I took advantage of a situation that was difficult at first and worked it into a period of growth. As far as where I’m at physically, obviously, the knee feels a little different. That’s normal with reconstruction happening to your knee. I’m faster; I ran a 3.85 down the first base line the other day. That’s because of detail-oriented work. Strengthening and understanding it starts in your feet and works through your hammy and quad; being able to rehab and have a normal offseason has been great. TD: You tasted Spring Training in 2020 and took Zack Wheeler deep. Having had that big-league experience and the time at the Alternate Site, what can you take from that to help get to the Twins in 2022? RL: I think training and preparing differently has come from working with guys like Torii Hunter, Matt Kemp, and LaTroy Hawkins down here in Texas. I’ve been working out with pro guys down here consistently. Marcus Semien recently joined us being with the Rangers, and working with guys like that and picking their brains or watching them has really helped me prepare and determine what’s important. My will to succeed and finally get to the big leagues has continued to be such a driver. There’s been a lot of things that have been hiccups or hindrances in me becoming a big leaguer, but as unfortunate as they have been, I’d rather be up there and ready than one of those guys that’s overly excited and then has to get sent back down and do it all over again. That’s why I’m working as hard as I can. TD: You’ve talked about making tweaks to your swing and worked through a leg kick. Where are you now with your swing, making adjustments, and how do you feel from a comfort standpoint? RL: With your swing, you’re probably always making adjustments trying to be the most consistent. For me, it’s not about whether I can hit the outside or inside pitch, but just doing so on the most consistent basis because I know I’m powerful doing either. Right now, I’ve tweaked it to the point it’s the most consistent it’s ever been; it’s very much so locked in, and I simply can’t wait to get out on the field and show off how much stronger I’ve gotten. TD: Tough situation having been added to the 40-man this offseason now not being able to play at all even if you were going to start in the minors. You mentioned working out with other pros, but how has it been trying to navigate not heading to Fort Myers or having access to club facilities? RL: It’s been different. I had plans to go back to Fort Myers as early as January 17. I wanted to make sure they were checking on my knee and ensuring we were all on the same page. I wanted to get cleared as early as possible because I feel like I’m ready to go as of right now. If we had a season starting, I feel like I can be big-league right at this point. I’m working through it and just working out as much as I can. I’m putting in about five to eight hours a day right now, but that’s what I want to do to better myself and my career. TD: As a guy who will break through to the next level soon, how do you feel about the union advocating so heavily for higher minimums and no service time manipulation? RL: It’s amazing because these guys are essentially not even fighting for themselves; they are fighting for the next generation. Some of these changes won’t even apply to them. A guy like Nelson Cruz is on his way out, yet he’s fighting for the next generation of the game that deserves better. There are pros and cons to this whole situation. I’m on the 40 man, but now I can’t play. I know that God has me where I need to be, though, and I’m just going to keep working and be ready with where I’m at. TD: Months from now, looking back at the narrative of your 2022 to be? What makes this season successful? RL: Playing a full year healthy and not having any hindrances to my schedule. I don’t want to be put on a “return to play” kind of schedule. I want to be back and ready to play 190-plus games. I want to be competing for a championship every year and prepare my body for that. If I can put off a consistent swing each and every day and compete like I always have, honestly, after this injury, I don’t care about the stats anymore; I just want to compete and play the game that I love. I can’t control the opportunities that come my way. I remember guys like Vladdy and Kris Bryant playing really well and still being in the minor leagues. I won’t base a season being good or bad on if I get called up. My time will come; God will let me know when that happens. TD: End with this. You’ve been to Minnesota a handful of times. Aside from playing for the Twins, what are you most excited to experience here when this becomes home? RL: I’m really excited about more of everything. Aside from Twins Fest and a couple of doctor appointments, I haven’t gotten to experience much. I can’t wait for the Juicy Lucy’s; I used to get one but plan on it being once a week minimum while living there. I want to experience the lakes and nature. There’s a handful of hiking trails you’ll probably see me on, and at the end of the season, when it’s colder again, I need to try ice fishing. I’m very excited about all the opportunities. I understand that it’s hard to convey emotion through the written word, and it’s cliché to suggest someone is ready to go simply because of boilerplate comments, but I left this discussion with Royce in awe of where he’s at mentally. Since the day he was drafted, Lewis has been a mature and focused individual. He’s well-mannered and level-headed. The determination behind his words and intention that has followed his actions makes betting against him this season seem like an extremely poor choice. No matter what, seeing this type of talent back on the diamond for Minnesota is something all Twins fans should be excited about in 2022. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook , or email View full article

February is Black History Month, and over the coming weeks, Twins Daily will have a series of articles on African Americans in Minnesota Twins history. There have been award winners, All-Stars, and even a couple of Hall of Famers, and no one is more beloved in these parts than Kirby Puckett. The 1991 Minnesota Twins won the World Series on the back of a dominating pitching performance, but it was Kirby Puckett that brought them to that fateful evening with his Game 6 heroics. A member of the 2001 Baseball Hall of Fame class alongside teammate Dave Winfield, the Twins legend has his number 34 retired down the left-field line at Target Field. Selected third overall in the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft, Puck was a kid from Chicago, Illinois. He made a mockery of the Appy League to the tune of a .928 OPS over his first 65 professional games. At 23, he was sent to Visalia in the California League and posted an .808 OPS. Playing just 21 games at Triple-A Toledo, it was time for the call. Puckett didn’t see immediate success with Minnesota. Through his first 289 games, Kirby posted just a .689 OPS and 86 OPS+. He was below league average and had just four homers to his name. Defensively though, he began to force the conversation and picked up MVP votes in 1985. Then the breakout came. In 1986 Puckett posted a .903 OPS, the first of four times he’d do so during his 12-year career. His 31 homers made the four previous look laughable, and he grabbed a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and made his first All-Star Game. He’d participate in the All-Star game for a consistent decade, taking home MVP honors during the 1993 contest played at Baltimore’s Camden Yards. As a vital member of the 1987 World Series-winning club, Puckett collected a league-best 207 hits. His .332 average was a career-best to that point, and he followed up the impressive power display the season before by launching another 28 dingers. In 1988, Puckett led the league in hits again, posting 234. His 215 hits completed three-straight seasons of league-leading hits, and despite falling off from his .356 average in 1988, Puckett won the American League batting title in 1989 with a .339 mark. Slipping below the .300 mark for the first time since the beginning of his career, Puckett returned in 1991 with a vengeance. His .319 average and 15 homers helped push Tom Kelly’s Twins to a 95-win season and a Postseason worth remembering. In Game 6 against the Atlanta Braves, the ALCS MVP robbed Ron Gant of a base hit in the third inning to preserve Minnesota’s two-run lead. Tied at three in the 11th inning, Puckett stepped in against Atlanta reliever Charlie Leibrandt and sent the Twins fans home happy. While Minnesota’s winning went down from there, Puckett remained a constant. Through 1995 he posted a .314/.366/.501 slash line with another 84 homers to add onto his career totals. On September 28, 1995, Puckett was playing for a terrible Twins team rounding out the year and was hit in the face and broke his jaw. Ready for Spring Training the following season, things seemed to be going fine until March 28, when he woke up unable to see out of his right eye. Diagnosed with glaucoma in which the optic nerve is damaged, often as a result of high pressure, Puckett underwent four surgeries trying to correct the blindness. When they ultimately failed, he was forced to retire on July 12, 1996. A player still competing at the peak of the highest level, and at just 35-years-old, Puck was done. Puckett was extremely involved in the community following his retirement. He became a spokesperson for the Glaucoma Foundation and worked throughout Twins Territory to give back to a community that had embraced him as their own. While his character was often lauded as a player, things did go south through a divorce with his wife Tonya and charges alleging sexual conduct. Unfortunately, the everyman who garnered fans' excitement through his short and stocky stature saw that take him too soon. Excessive weight gain following his playing career ultimately led to a stroke that took his life at just 45 in March of 2006. Puckett is often remembered as a tale of two beings but was responsible for providing Twins fans some of the highest highs they’ve experienced since the franchise relocated from Washington. Keep checking back to Twins Daily throughout Black History Month as we hope to share several more stories about African Americans to don a Twins uniform over the past 62 seasons. View full article