With Spring Training opening up yesterday it's hard to believe that the 2014 season is just around the corner with 15 1/2 inches of snow on the ground here in Minnesota still.. and still might not be down yet....
This Spring Training for the Twins has a few new players, a few players in new places and a few former players back in the same places. I'll dive into who's new... who at a new position this season and what former Twins are back in a Twins jersey this season.
This is the first Spring Training for Joe Mauer without catchers gear... As Mauer will be the Twins First baseman this season. Mauer has deiced to move to first after his concussion last season. He thought this would be the best choice for himself, his family and his life after baseball as well. As Mauer moves to First, you would like to think that Mauer will be able to play more games now that he won't be taking a beaten every night. I would like to see Mauer play between 145-155 games this year, mostly at First but then maybe a few days DHing as well. It will be interesting to see if Mauer can improve his numbers this season due to him being more healthy and not from being sore as much..
The Twins during the off season brought back two former Twins, Jason Kubel and Jason Bartlett both signed minor league deals with ST invites with the Twins during the off season. Kubel was last with the Twins in 2011 and Bartlett was last with the Twins in 2007.
Kubel was plagued with injuries all of last season when he spend his season with the Diamondbacks and the final couple of months with the Indians, Kubel is hoping to have a bounce back season after last year when he only hit 5 Homeruns, 32 RBI'S. If Kubel has a good Spring Training I could see him being the Twins everyday DH or at least splitting time with Willingham. Kubel could see some time in RF as well. Time will tell.. hopefully Kubel can bounce back and help the Twins.
Jason Bartlett has played in the Majors League since 2012 with the Padres, he has been plagued with back injuries since then. But it seems like Bartlett wants to get one more chance at the Majors and the Twins signed him to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training. I'm pretty sure Bartlett will not even make it to the Majors this season. The only way I could really see him making it is if the younger guys struggle in camp and Bartlett proves he can still have solid rang and solid defense.
Now onto the NEW guys the Twins brought in during the off season.
Phil Hughes was signed to a pretty hefty 3 year 24 million dollar deal this off season. Hughes was brought in to try and help fix the Twins rotation this season. The Twins rotation was well BAD to put it nicely last year. Hughes is still only 27 and pitched really good on the road, not so much at home.. but who pitches well in Yankee Stadium... Now that his home stadium is a fly ball stadium I could see Hughes winning 15 games this season and having a pretty decent ERA.
Ricky Nolasco was also signed a few weeks before Hughes was. Nolasco deal was a 4 year 24 million dollar deal. Nolasco had two seasons last year pretty much. The first half of his season was spend down in Miami and went 5-8 with the Marlins.. Then he was dealt to the Dodgers and found himself again and finished the second half of the season 8-3... so overall his record last year was 13-11 between the Marlins and Dodgers. Nolasco is still only 30 and I think he could end up being the Twins best pitcher this season... not saying he will be an ACE, but maybe an ACE in Twins fans eyes..
With Joe Mauer moving to First base the Twins reached our and signed Kurt Suzuki to a 1 year 2.75 Million dollar deal. It's not a for sure thing that Suzuki will be the opening day every day catcher for the Twins, but he will have some say in it as he is the only proven veteran catcher on the Twins roster going into Spring Training. Suzuki has spend the last 2 season with the Nationals and the A's, not a great power guy but is known to be a good catcher behind the plate and that pitchers like throwing to him. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Suzuki gets this season with the Twins and if he is with the Twins at the end of the season.
well there is my look on some of the new Twins and some former Twins returning and also a Twin just moving 90 ft from his old position.
until next time Go Twins!
This Spring Training for the Twins has a few new players, a few players in new places and a few former players back in the same places. I'll dive into who's new... who at a new position this season and what former Twins are back in a Twins jersey this season.
This is the first Spring Training for Joe Mauer without catchers gear... As Mauer will be the Twins First baseman this season. Mauer has deiced to move to first after his concussion last season. He thought this would be the best choice for himself, his family and his life after baseball as well. As Mauer moves to First, you would like to think that Mauer will be able to play more games now that he won't be taking a beaten every night. I would like to see Mauer play between 145-155 games this year, mostly at First but then maybe a few days DHing as well. It will be interesting to see if Mauer can improve his numbers this season due to him being more healthy and not from being sore as much..
The Twins during the off season brought back two former Twins, Jason Kubel and Jason Bartlett both signed minor league deals with ST invites with the Twins during the off season. Kubel was last with the Twins in 2011 and Bartlett was last with the Twins in 2007.
Kubel was plagued with injuries all of last season when he spend his season with the Diamondbacks and the final couple of months with the Indians, Kubel is hoping to have a bounce back season after last year when he only hit 5 Homeruns, 32 RBI'S. If Kubel has a good Spring Training I could see him being the Twins everyday DH or at least splitting time with Willingham. Kubel could see some time in RF as well. Time will tell.. hopefully Kubel can bounce back and help the Twins.
Jason Bartlett has played in the Majors League since 2012 with the Padres, he has been plagued with back injuries since then. But it seems like Bartlett wants to get one more chance at the Majors and the Twins signed him to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training. I'm pretty sure Bartlett will not even make it to the Majors this season. The only way I could really see him making it is if the younger guys struggle in camp and Bartlett proves he can still have solid rang and solid defense.
Now onto the NEW guys the Twins brought in during the off season.
Phil Hughes was signed to a pretty hefty 3 year 24 million dollar deal this off season. Hughes was brought in to try and help fix the Twins rotation this season. The Twins rotation was well BAD to put it nicely last year. Hughes is still only 27 and pitched really good on the road, not so much at home.. but who pitches well in Yankee Stadium... Now that his home stadium is a fly ball stadium I could see Hughes winning 15 games this season and having a pretty decent ERA.
Ricky Nolasco was also signed a few weeks before Hughes was. Nolasco deal was a 4 year 24 million dollar deal. Nolasco had two seasons last year pretty much. The first half of his season was spend down in Miami and went 5-8 with the Marlins.. Then he was dealt to the Dodgers and found himself again and finished the second half of the season 8-3... so overall his record last year was 13-11 between the Marlins and Dodgers. Nolasco is still only 30 and I think he could end up being the Twins best pitcher this season... not saying he will be an ACE, but maybe an ACE in Twins fans eyes..
With Joe Mauer moving to First base the Twins reached our and signed Kurt Suzuki to a 1 year 2.75 Million dollar deal. It's not a for sure thing that Suzuki will be the opening day every day catcher for the Twins, but he will have some say in it as he is the only proven veteran catcher on the Twins roster going into Spring Training. Suzuki has spend the last 2 season with the Nationals and the A's, not a great power guy but is known to be a good catcher behind the plate and that pitchers like throwing to him. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Suzuki gets this season with the Twins and if he is with the Twins at the end of the season.
well there is my look on some of the new Twins and some former Twins returning and also a Twin just moving 90 ft from his old position.
until next time Go Twins!