Seth Stohs

Lance Lynn got 3/30 from the Rangers last year, and he was worse than Gibson was this year...

Per the Twins beat writers, Twins All Star shortstop Jorge Polanco had ankle surgery last week. He'll be away from baseball activities for 6 weeks and should be ready to go for spring training.

There it is...

Updated...

No real details or specifics yet, but looks like Kyle Gibson has found a new home... Personally, I'm very happy for him. Always enjoyed chatting with him... first did a podcast with him, shortly after the draft... had him on a podcast about 90 minutes before he actually signed with the Twins at the deadline in 2009... always great talking to him in the clubhouse and in Ft. Myers.. Just not many better people than Kyle Gibson... Lots all the weight and strength last year with the e. coli that turned into ulceritive colitis. If healthy, I'm really hoping he can get back to his 2018 level because that's a really good pitcher!

In this week's episode, we get to know a Twins minor league coordinator and a West Fargo native who was recently added to the 40-man roster of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Get to know infielder Andy Young and Twins minor league infield and baserunning coordinator Billy Boyer. And spend Ten Minutes with Tyler too.Twins Territory covers a huge area. It's obviously all of Minnesota, but it's parts of western Wisconsin, northern Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and beyond. Our first guest this week grew up in West Fargo. He became a star on the baseball field and has taken a circuitous route through college and the minor leagues to a point where he was just added to the Arizona Diamondbacks 40-man roster after a season in which he hit a combined 29 home runs between AA and AAA. Get to know, infielder Andy Young. Follow him on Twitter at AndyJYoung15. Ten Minutes with Tyler this week only lasted about 15 minutes, our shortest conversation since he's joined the podcast every couple of episodes. Tyler discusses topics such as the Twins minor league coaching changes, new leadership, 40-man roster moves, his rehab from Tommy John surgery and more. This week, we also discussed the passing of Ryan Costello, a dear friend to so many throughout the Twins organization. Follow Tyler Wells on Twitter. Finally, our third conversation in this week's podcast is with Twins minor league infield and base-running coordinator Billy Boyer. He joined the organization about a year ago. We discuss his role and what he tries to accomplish throughout the system with players. He talked about the collaboration and communication that is prevalent throughout the organization. We also find out more about his background in the game, from minor league player, to college coaching duties to his time with the Twins. Follow Billy Boyeron Twitter. Please leave some comments in the the forum below. Ask questions. Let me know who you would like to see interviewed and even what you would like me to ask them. Your feedback is very helpful. You can subscribe to the Get to Know 'Em podcast on iTunes. or follow Libsyn for new episodes here as well. PAST EPISODES Episode 1: Get to know Niko Guardado (Actor and son of Eddie Guardado) Episode 2: Get to know Pat Dean, Brent Rooker Episode 3: Get to know Royce Lewis, AJ Achter Episode 4: Get to know Devin Smeltzer Episode 5: Get to know Jaylin Davis, Tyler Wells Episode 6: Get to know: Travis Blankenhorn, LaMonte Wade Episode 7: Get to know: Matt Wallner (and Ten Minutes with Tyler Wells) Episode 8: Get to know: Caleb Hamilton, Austin Schulfer, Nick Anderson Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Not registered? Click here to create an account. To stay up to date, follow Twins Daily on Twitter and Facebook. Click here to view the article

Last time Twins fans saw Juan Graterol, we were all crying... I mean, our eyes were sweating... He was the starting catcher in the Twins final game of the 2018 season... He caught the first eight innings... and then was replaced by Joe Mauer in one of the greatest moments in Target Field history.

Darren Wolfson reported on Saturday that the Twins were nearing a minor league deal with veteran LHP Blaine Hardy. Today, he says that the deal is complete. It has an opt-out, and clauses in case he gets offers from foreign leagues (like Japan or Korea). He struggled in 2019 with the Tigers, but 1.) he was with the Tigers, and 2.) he was having some elbow issues as well. He is healthy now. The Twins need another left-handed reliever or two, and with it being a minor league deal, he can go to Rochester to start the season and be ready when needed. Kind of a no-risk, medium potential reward deal. He's now a Minnesota resident and, well, #PerhamRepresent...

From his twitter feed, Jon Heyman announced that Jeremy Hefner is the new Mets pitching coach. He was the Twins assistant pitching coach in 2019 and worked in the bullpen during games.

Another Twins minor league coaching addition from the college ranks.

Nick Anderson was a mistake... Liam Hendriks becoming a great reliever 5-6 years later probably is probably something different, time, maturity, finding the right coach, etc.

In addition, they announced Michael Salazar as their new Head Athletic Trainer... He announced it on Twitter a week ago.

According to LaVelle Neal, the Twins' next hitting coach, replacing James Rowson, will be Edgar Varela. Varela has been the Twins minor league coordinator the last two years. http://www.startribune.com/twins-will-name-edgar-varela-hitting-coach/565412392/

Kent Hrbek is happy, so that's good. And Mitch Garver has a call for some help...

I'm so happy! Here is the press release: TWINS RETURN TO HISTORY, UNVEIL BABY BLUE ALTERNATE UNIFORM FOR 2020 Club Launches its 60th Season in Minnesota with a Popular Uniform Revival MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – Launching their diamond anniversary festivities by reviving one of the club’s most celebrated on-field looks, the Minnesota Twins today unveiled a baby blue alternate uniform for the 2020 campaign, along with a special logo commemorating the 60th season of Major League Baseball in the Twin Cities. Designed to replicate the Twins road uniform worn from the 1973 through 1986 seasons, the 2020 alternate will feature baby blue tops and pants, paired with the team’s standard navy blue cap (without the Kasota Gold outline on the interlocking “TC”). The 2020 alternate uniform can be worn by the Twins either at home or on the road. “No uniform in the history of Minnesota Twins baseball drives more fan engagement than the old-school baby blues,” Twins President and CEO Dave St. Peter said. “With that popularity in mind, we are excited to bring this uniform back as part of our 60th Season Celebration. It’s going to be fun to watch the 2020 Twins wearing the same look as Twins legends from the 1970s and 1980s.” Our Legacy is Our Future Recalling the era of Rod Carew batting titles and Bert Blyleven curveballs, through to the early days of Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti and Kirby Puckett, but designed for the Twins’ 21st century stars, the 2020 alternate uniform brings back Minnesota’s full baby blue, road color scheme used during most of the 1970s and 1980s. The baby blue uniform top includes the distinctive, cursive “Twins” script featured on the club’s home and road uniforms from the inaugural 1961 season through 1986, and again on home alternates from 2009-19. The “Twins” lettering is colored solid scarlet red and outlined in navy blue, as is the uniform number on the lower-left front chest, and the player number on the back (the player name is colored scarlet red, without an outline). The neckline and sleeves present tri-colored piping of navy blue, white and scarlet red. Staying consistent with the vintage style, the 2020 alternate uniform pants are also baby blue, with the same navy blue, white and scarlet red piping down both legs. The lone change from the 1973-86 style is the use of a belt, in place of the waistline piping of seasons past. The Original Minnie and Paul After a one-year hiatus, the original “Minnie and Paul” left sleeve patch returns. A fixture on the Twins’ home uniform from 1961-86 (and on every road uniform in that stretch except for 1972), the iconic patch made a return with Minnesota’s home alternates from 2009-18. The patch, outlined in gold, depicts the cartoon Minnie and Paul baseball players shaking hands across the Mississippi River, which flows from a baseball; the scene is set against a navy backdrop and includes the words “Minnesota Twins” in red. 60th Season Mark 2020 will mark the 60th season of Minnesota Twins baseball, beginning with the inaugural 1961 campaign that ushered in a historic return of professional sports to the state. The team’s official 60th Season logo pays homage to the club’s Twin Cities roots, with iconic Minneapolis and St. Paul buildings joined together in a blended, silhouetted skyline set against the Stone Arch Bridge and the Mississippi River. The famed Minneapolis skyline is depicted alongside St. Paul-based landmarks, including the Minnesota State Capitol building. The circular logo has “Minnesota Twins” arching around the outer ring, “60” atop the skyline art and “Seasons” within a ribbon banner, all colored in white. The outer ring and skyline are navy blue, the ribbon banner is colored scarlet red, and the sky and river are a light blue, while the Stone Arch Bridge is Kasota Gold (which also outlines the entire logo). The 60th Season logo will be featured on the right sleeve of all 2020 Minnesota Twins uniform variations, as well as on the right of each of the club’s corresponding hat styles. Minnesota Twins 2020 Uniforms The Twins’ baby blue alternate uniforms can be worn at Target Field or on the road. Additionally in 2020, the Twins will wear the home whites that have been in place since 2015, the red home alternate that debuted in 2016, the road grays (same since 2010), navy road alternate (first seen in 2011) and the navy home alternate (debuted in 2019). The team’s corresponding hats – all with the interlocking “TC” – remain the same for each uniform, with the standard navy cap worn for the powder blue and navy road alternate, the navy cap with a Kasota Gold outline on the TC for the home white and home navy, the navy top with a red bill for the road gray, and the red top with a navy bill (and Kasota Gold outline on the TC) for the red home alternate. Get Yours Today Fans can make the Twins’ legacy their future, as the authentic Nike baby blue alternate uniform top – along with all new baby blue player tees and New Era 59Fifty hats featuring the 60th anniversary side patch – are on sale beginning today at the Majestic Twins Clubhouse Store at Target Field and online via MLBshop.com. 60th Season Celebration The Minnesota Twins will celebrate their 60th season in 2020; further details will be announced in the coming months.

Kirilloff: potentially elite hitter, maybe .300 with 25 homers. Can play LF, RF, 1B Larnach: potentially elite hitter, maybe .300 with 25 homers. Can play LF, RF. Raley: potentially solid hitter, maybe .280 with 30 homers. Can play LF, RF, and CF (though he's stretched there) Rooker: potentially potent power hitter, maybe .250 with 35-40 homers. Can play LF or RF (though he's stretched at both) and 1B.

https://theathletic.com/1401490/2019/11/22/rosenthal-the-reds-are-interested-in-zack-wheeler-the-braves-big-bullpen-bet-more-notes/ In the notes of this Ken Rosenthal article, he writes about the Twins pursuit of pitching. However, the bigger point is that the state tax is second in baseball to only California. It definitely creates a challenge. Usually we think about how the Twins have to pay more to get free agents to come to Minnesota... This is probably the bigger, more actual reason that is the case.

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More and more women are getting job opportunities in front offices in baseball. But today the Cubs announced that they have hired Rachel Folden as the 4th coach of their Rookie League affiliate. From the tweet, she's got an incredible playing and coaching background. I don't know if she's the first woman to coach in the minor leagues. It's something we can research if anyone wants. But it is a nice step.

Jeff Passan announced that the Mariners have signed Evan White to a six-year, $24 million deal. White is 23. Spent most of 2019 in AA. He's a 1B. There are options that could bring the deal to $55 million. White is a back-end-of-the Top 100 type of prospect...

I think we've learned that over time, especially since they altered the rules of eligibility 7-8 years ago... We do spend a lot of time thinking about it and generally about 15 guys get taken and about 8 of them go back to their original team (made-up numbers, not researched, but just approximating). The other way to look at it is that teams generally do a pretty good job of evaluating their own players and protect the right people, even if "we" sometimes worry.