A Wait Rewarded

[John Bonnes]

It’s hard to feel historic in Minnesota in January. It’s gray. It’s cold. It tends to sleet all over you. It’s the opposite of a sunny day at Target Field, and perhaps the price we must pay. That’s the contract that all Minnesotans have signed to live – fans, reporters, Twins staff– and now Josh Donaldson, Impact™ third baseman. But yesterday was a historic day, and one a long time coming, both for Donaldson and the Twins.Donaldson made clear that he viewed yesterday’s press conference at Target Field as a moment. The 34-year-old had worked his whole life to choose the franchise where he was spending the rest of his professional career.

 

“This is what I've worked my entire life for since I was five years old. There's a lot of sacrifices that I have made and that I'm continuing to make to this day,” shared Donaldson. ”It doesn't stop."

 

Twins fans certainly hope it doesn’t stop, because they are in the same boat. It’s been a LONG time – as in forever. Never have the Twins signed a free agent to this much money. Never have they signed a free agent of Donaldson’s caliber. We’re talking about an offensive and defensive difference-maker who garnered MVP votes in six of the last seven seasons. “You want to [make a big move] when you really, really have a needle mover that is that impactful,” emphasized Twins CBO Derek Falvey.

 

We’re still in waiting mode a little bit. We’ll all have to wait to see where Donaldson bats in the Twins lineup; manager Rocco Baldelli doesn’t seem to know. We’ll have to wait to see what number Donaldson is wearing on his back; he hedged a bit on whether the #24 he wore yesterday will be his everyday number. And we’ll have to wait to see how a four (or maybe five) year contract plays out for a 34-year-old player.

 

But we don’t have to wait to see the commitment each side was ready to show. “There was never a moment where I felt like, hey, [Donaldson] doesn’t really want the Twins to be in,” said Falvey. “It felt like he wanted the Twins to be in throughout the conversation.”

 

Certainly, when Donaldson was ready, the Twins were. They had been on board all offseason. “I believe that there’s a really small subset of the truly impactful guys in any cycle in an offseason, said Falvey. “Josh is one of them.”

 

Thus, we witnessed a juncture in the basement of Target Field yesterday, on a gray, sleeting day, sides came together and history was made. Donaldson got the contract he has been waiting for. The Twins got the impact player they were waiting for. Maybe most importantly, Twins fans got the move they were waiting for.

 

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[jrod23]

One thing jumped out at me during press conference.  He mentioned that when talks began, he told his agent to tell the Twins that he wanted to be here.  So with that said, did we have this deal on the table for quite some time?  If we did, what was the hold up.  Also, I liked your question Jon.

Secondly, I got uncomfortable watching it when his number came up.  I got a kick out of that.

[Puckett34]

 

One thing jumped out at me during press conference.  He mentioned that when talks began, he told his agent to tell the Twins that he wanted to be here.  So with that said, did we have this deal on the table for quite some time?  If we did, what was the hold up.  Also, I liked your question Jon.

Secondly, I got uncomfortable watching it when his number came up.  I got a kick out of that.

I think the hold up was the 5th year option. Believe that came later. I think I remember reading that somewhere.

[dex8425]

 

One thing jumped out at me during press conference.  He mentioned that when talks began, he told his agent to tell the Twins that he wanted to be here.  So with that said, did we have this deal on the table for quite some time?  If we did, what was the hold up.  Also, I liked your question Jon.

Secondly, I got uncomfortable watching it when his number came up.  I got a kick out of that.

The Twins had a 4 year/84 million dollar deal on the table for over a month. When news came out that Donaldson wanted 110 million the Twins thought they were out. But no one bit. Adding the 5th year option to bring the total to 100 million was what did it. 

[Post-Concussive Blues]

I’m so excited for baseball! Our line up is going to crush it!

[ToddlerHarmon]

"We’ll all have to wait to see where Donaldson bats in the Twins lineup; manager Rocco Baldelli doesn’t seem to know"

 

If I were Baldelli, I'd be writing uniform numbers on bingo balls. He can't miss

[USNMCPO]

I am 70 years old. I don't have a huge number of years to see another Twins championship. I was in the military and deployed in 87 and 91 so didn't see either of those live. This is the best team the Twins have had in a very long time. Let's do this thing Twins!

[rdehring]

Confirms that not all players don't want to come here.  Seems different factors are important to each big free agent.  This time they worked in our favor.  More often than not, they work against us.

 

Did I see Montana, John?  Assume you enjoy the outdoors cause it is supposed to be special.  Enjoy!

[jrod23]

 

Confirms that not all players don't want to come here.  Seems different factors are important to each big free agent.  This time they worked in our favor.  More often than not, they work against us.

 

I am gladly eating crow at the moment.

[tvagle]

 

Did I see Montana, John?  Assume you enjoy the outdoors cause it is supposed to be special.  Enjoy!

I wondered the same thing...different Podcast....different John heading to Montana...that'd be John Miller

[VivaBomboRivera!]

I'll repeat (for the last time) what I have said elsewhere:

 

Four words:  Miguel Sano, pickin' machine!

[IndianaTwin]

 

"We’ll all have to wait to see where Donaldson bats in the Twins lineup; manager Rocco Baldelli doesn’t seem to know"

If I were Baldelli, I'd be writing uniform numbers on bingo balls. He can't miss

 

I’ve thought the same. Or, given that he seems to like to give players some freedom, how about if every Sunday, he lets a different player pick the lineup. Or maybe that day’s starter. Or even that day’s “Play Ball Kid,” since with this lineup, it doesn’t much matter. 

[Melissa]

Just chiming in to say how much I enjoyed the quality writing on this post, Mr. Bonnes!