Josh Willingham

Josh Willingham was born in Florence, Alabama. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 17th round of the 2000 MLB Draft. He played in Miami for several years before playing two seasons with the Washington Nationals and another with the Oakland A's.

On December 5, 2011 Willingham signed a three year, $21 million free agent contract with the Twins. Minnesota was coming off a disastrous 2011 campaign, with the team finishing the season 63-99 after winning the division in 2009 and 2010.

In 2012, Willingham had what is probably the best season of his career, posting an .890 OPS with 35 home runs as the Twins continued their slide into oblivion, posting a 66-96 record. That offseason, Twins fans were torn between trading Willingham and going into a full rebuild or keeping the veteran slugger in hopes of staying respectable. Terry Ryan, now in his second stint as General Manager of the Twins, decided to keep Willingham.

That decision was likely a mistake, as Willingham's back issues began to take hold of his career. In 2013, he played only 111 games and posted a 96 OPS+. As a left fielder with a bad back, that put him close to a replacement-player level of play. In 2014, Minnesota was once against the worst team in the American League Central and Willingham was dished off to the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline for right-handed pitcher Jason Adam, who never pitched in Minnesota.

Josh Willingham retired following the 2014 season.