big dog

Rolls Royce, Austin Martin and now a Mercedes.
Go spend the rest on pitchers.

What you responded to is part of the charm of the comments section. 

Any blowback would be determined by the bring back.

Moving to pitchers-
Mike Marshall, age 36 in 1979.  Led the leage in games, games finished, and saves. 142.2 IP in 90 games. ERA+ of 166.
Jerry Koosman, age 36 in 1979, 20-13, 263.2 IP, ERA+ of 130.
 
 
 

Usually when guys are in their late 30s and 40s playing baseball in Minnesota, you can find them playing for teams like the Miesville Mudhens or the Cold Spring Springers, not the Minnesota Twins. Take a look at the best seasons by Twins players 35 and older. 
As players age, their physical abilities deteriorate and they often can not play as well as they used to play.. So when a player 35 or older has a great season, it is remarkable. Veterans are usually good locker room presences and leaders for younger players, but if they can also be one of the best players on the team, that is an added bonus.
In this article, we will look at the top five seasons by hitters in Twins history over the age of 35. If a player has multiple great seasons over the age of 35, I picked their best one. All of the players on this list have had illustrious careers and while their production in these seasons wasn’t as high as they had in their primes, they still were very impactful players on their teams.
5. Josh Donaldson, 2021 -  2.2 fWAR
When Josh Donaldson made news in 2021, it was for sparking a sticky controversy with White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito and for feuding with Gerrit Cole. Despite being one of the most controversial players in baseball, Josh Donaldson has also been one of the best. Since 2013, he has the third highest WAR in all of baseball, trailing only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts.
In Donaldson’s prime, he was a 6-8 WAR player, winning AL MVP in 2015 and finishing in the top 10 four times. In 2021, he was only worth 2.2 WAR, making him the third best player on the Twins behind Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco. Donaldson hit .247/.352/.475 (.827) in 135 games. He had a wRC+ of 124, meaning he was 24 percent better than league average at creating runs for his team. He also had a keen eye at the plate, leading the Twins with 74 walks.
When you dive deeper into the numbers, Donaldson was even more impressive. He ranked 4th in MLB in average exit velocity (94.1), 3rd in Barrels per plate appearance (11.2 percent), and 11th in hard hit rate. Below are his Baseball Savant percentile rankings.

In nearly all of the offensive categories, Donaldson ranked in the top 10 percent of all hitters. This is incredible for a player who is 35 years old. As Donaldson ages, he will get more time in the DH role as the Twins look to younger players like Luis Arraez and Jose Miranda to occupy third base to keep Donaldson’s bat in the lineup more regularly. Donaldson had a good 2021 and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his production improve in 2022 as a 36 year old.
4. Paul Molitor, 1996 - 2.5 fWAR
After an outstanding career in Milwaukee and Toronto, Hall-of-Famer and native Minnesotan Paul Molitor returned to play in his homeland for the final three years of his career. As is the case with most veterans, Molitor was mostly a designated hitter in his tenure with the Twins. During his career, Molitor’s versatility was one of his best assets so confining him to DH took a lot of his value away. Still, the future Twins manager was able to post 2.5 WAR in 1996, his first season with the Twins.
In Molitor’s prime, he was consistently a 4-6 win player for the Brewers and Blue Jays. He won the World Series in 1993 with the Blue Jays and was named World Series MVP, going 11-for-24 with five extra base hits, seven RBI, three walks, and no strikeouts in six games. He also tied the World Series record for most runs in a series with 10 runs scored.
In 1996, Molitor hit .341/.390/.468 (.858) for a 114 wRC+. Molitor led the American League with 225 hits, which is the third most for a single season in Twins history. He also drove in 113 runs and hit 41 doubles in that year. During that season he became the first player to hit a triple for his 3000th career hit. Molitor was a great veteran addition to a Twins team that needed some guidance.
3. Jim Thome, 2010 3.1 fWAR
As a player who spent the majority of his career with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, Twins fans did not associate Jim Thome with good memories. In his career against the Twins, Thome hit an ungodly .314/.415/.635 (1.049) with 61 home runs in 196 games. In 2010, the Twins decided that if you can’t beat him, join him, so they signed Thome to a one year deal worth $1.5 million.
In his age 39 season, Thome was outstanding. He appeared in 108 games and hit .283/.412/.627 (1.039) for a 177 wRC+. Among players 39 and older who appeared in 100 or more games, the only players in MLB history with a higher OPS than Thome were Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron.
Thome posted 3.1 WAR in only 108 games despite only playing DH. The only primary DH’s in MLB history with more WAR in a similar amount of games are Yordan Alvarez and David Ortiz. Thome hit his 600th career home run with the Twins in 2011, but his signature moment as a Twin was this walk-off home run he hit in August of 2010, the first walk-off homer in Target Field history.
Thome was also an outstanding clubhouse presence, being named the nicest player in baseball by his fellow players, a nice touch on an outstanding career.
2. Harmon Killebrew, 1971 3.9 fWAR
Killebrew was an outstanding player for the entirety of his career. He actually had two seasons that would’ve placed him on this list but I chose to go with the better of the seasons, 1971. Killebrew was already on his way to the Hall of Fame before he turned 35, having hit 487 home runs in his career. But in his age 35 season, Killebrew had a great season. By this time, Killebrew’s outfield days were behind him and he was splitting time between first base and third base.
In 1971, Killebrew hit .254/.386/.464 (.850) for a wRC+ of 137. He led the American League in RBI (119) and walks (114). He was named to the final all-star game of his fantastic career. In late July of this year, Killebrew hit his 499th homer. For the next 16 games, Killebrew went into a slump, not able to hit his 500th. But in the 17th game, Killebrew hit home runs 500 and 501 at Metropolitan Stadium to cement his legacy as an all-time great. Killebrew was relieved, telling the Associated Press he could finally breathe a sigh of relief again. “When people keep asking you when you’re going to hit it, you try a bit harder. The only time I thought about it was when people were asking me about it”, said Killebrew.
1. Nelson Cruz, 2019 - 4.3 fWAR
The ageless wonder, Nelson Cruz, was a fantastic signing for the Twins in the 2019 offseason. In his age 38 season, Cruz turned the Twins from a mediocre team into a 100 game winner. The Dominican slugger helped guide young Hispanic sluggers Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario to career highs in home runs. Cruz had such a profound impact on Sano that Sano decided to name Cruz the Godfather of his daughter. He also won the 2021 Roberto Clemente Award for all of the great work he does in the community.
Along with his great leadership, Cruz was one of the best hitters in the league. In 2019, Cruz hit .311/.392/.639 (1.031) for a wRC+ of 164. His .639 slugging percentage was the best single season slugging percentage in Twins history. He hit 41 home runs and drove in 108 runs. He also led MLB in Barrels per Plate Appearance, Hard Hit Rate, and Average Exit Velocity. The combination of this means that he hit the ball harder than anyone else did more consistently than anyone else. This led to a lot of success for Cruz.
Nelson Cruz had two more good seasons for the Twins before he was traded during his age 40 season to the Tampa Bay Rays for Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. Cruz has a strong impact on baseballs and teammates, making him a great addition to any team.
Conclusion
Throughout the Twins history, they have had some great seasons by older players, proving that baseball isn’t always a young man’s game. Hopefully another great season by Donaldson next year can move him up on this list, but don’t look for many Twins to make this list in the near future as the Twins will try to get younger players more experience.
Who did I miss on this list? What would you change about the order? Is Cruz the best power hitter in Twins history? Leave a comment below! Let me hear your thoughts.
Thank you for reading, and Go Twins!

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Moving to pitchers-
Mike Marshall, age 36 in 1979.  Led the leage in games, games finished, and saves. 142.2 IP in 90 games. ERA+ of 166.
Jerry Koosman, age 36 in 1979, 20-13, 263.2 IP, ERA+ of 130.
 
 
 

Good article, but I believe you missed Buddy the Elf.
Agreed, 75 games without a loss, half of them with a team who seldom won, has to be worthy of some kind of career memento. Imagine a whole stadium full of fans wearing headbands that said "BUDDY". Wouldn't that be heart-warming?

Moving to pitchers-
Mike Marshall, age 36 in 1979.  Led the leage in games, games finished, and saves. 142.2 IP in 90 games. ERA+ of 166.
Jerry Koosman, age 36 in 1979, 20-13, 263.2 IP, ERA+ of 130.
 
 
 

Moving to pitchers-
Mike Marshall, age 36 in 1979.  Led the leage in games, games finished, and saves. 142.2 IP in 90 games. ERA+ of 166.
Jerry Koosman, age 36 in 1979, 20-13, 263.2 IP, ERA+ of 130.
 
 
 

Moving to pitchers-
Mike Marshall, age 36 in 1979.  Led the leage in games, games finished, and saves. 142.2 IP in 90 games. ERA+ of 166.
Jerry Koosman, age 36 in 1979, 20-13, 263.2 IP, ERA+ of 130.
 
 
 

I'd like to know the predictions made by the owners, the player's union, and the American Medical Association so I can take the average. I sure hope he gets to play 131 games, that would be a really good summer. However it works out, Buck deserves to be on the field.

Sometimes, but not everyone thinks that way about it.  My take is it's just cool to follow the game in all it's little details.
For example, my son's future college coach (he's a 2022 Grad) pitched for Pepperdine University, and was actually drafted by the Twins and made it as far as AA and then was plucked away in the Rule 5 draft and pitched for the Mets in 91' or 92'.
I get it that not everyone geeks out about that stuff, but it's just part of the game that many of us love.

It might not mean anything to you, but for many of this we find the nostalgia and the movements within the game to be fascinating.  

EX-TWINS On 2022 Major League Field Staffs
 
MARCUS JENSEN (A's coach). Former Twins player 2000.
 
DUSTIN HUGHES (A's coach). Former Twins player 2011.
 
JOE ESPADA (Astros coach). 1998 Rule 5 Draftee, returned to original team.
 
JASON KANZLER (Astros coach). Twins prospect 2013-15.
 
JEREMY REED (Angels coach). Minor league free agent 2011.
 
PAUL SORRENTO (A's coach). Former Twins player 1989-91.
 
PHIL NEVIN (Angels coach). Forrmer Twins player 2006.
 
BOBBY WILSON (Rangers coach) Former Twins player 2018.
 
SETH CONNER (Rangers coach). Minor league coach 2021.
 
DAVE McKAY (Diamonbacks coach). Former Twins player 1975-76.
 
MIKE FETTERS (Diamondbacks coach). Former Twins player 2003.
 
MIKE REDMOND (Rockies coach). Former Twins player 2005-09.
 
JOSH BARD (Dodgers coach). Unsigned 1996 draftee.
 
AARON BATES (Dodgers coach). Minor league player 2011-12.
 
DANNY LEHMANN (Dodgers coach). Minor league prospect 2007-13.
 
ANTOAN RICHARDSON (Giants coach). Minor league free agent 2013.
 
J.P. MARTINEZ (Giants coach). Minor league prospect 2004-07. Twins minor league coach 2015-20
 
DEREK SHELTON (Pirates manager). Twins bench coach 2018-19.
 
QUINTIN BERRY (Brewers coach). Minor league free agent 2017.
 
JASON LANE (Brewers coach). Minor league free agent 2013, released in spring training.
 
DAMON HOLLINS (Royals coach). Minor league free agent 2001.
 
PEDRO GRIFOL (Royals coach). Minor league prospect 1991-95.
 
ALLAN de san MIGUEL (Royals coach). Minor league prospect 2005-11.
 
LEE TUNNELL (Reds coach). Former Twins player 1989.
 
JEFF PICKLER (Reds coach). Twins coach 2017-18.
 
HOWIE CLARK (White Sox coach). Former Twins player 2008.
 
A.J. HINCH (Tigers manager). Unsigned 1995 draftee.
 
MATT BORGSCHULTE (Orioles coach). Twins minor league coach 2019-21.
 
RICKY BONES (Nationals coach). Minor league free agent 1998.
 
HENRY BLANCO (Nationals coach). Former Twins player 2004.
 
JEREMY HEFNER (Mets coach). Twins scout 2017-18, coach 2019.
 
JAMES ROWSON (Marlins coach). Twins coach 2017-19.
 
RON WASHINGTON (Braves coach). Former Twins player 1981-86.
 
PETER FATSE (Red Sox coach). Minor league coach 2019.
 
JASON VARITEK (Red Sox coach). Unsigned 1993 draftee.
 
ALEX CORA (Red Sox manager). Unsigned 1993 draftee.
 
ANDY FOX (Red Sox coach). Minor league free agent 1993, released in spring training.

When the minor league season starts, will try and dig up ALL the guys on field staff and on the rosters for all the minor league teams that have former Twins.
 

A new Baseball Year Has Begin. Spring Training MAY be coming up in less than two months. But, as a lockout continues, 40-man rosters have been set for all teams. There are still free agents looking for work, and Rule 5 draftees to be added to rosters.
 
I suggest we wait until camps break in April to see who is in the minor league systems for real, although there have been many minor league free agent signings of former Twins, some foreign departures, and the Twins will probably have many names still cut from their organization that will end up in what is now called Indy Ball leagues.
 
***PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD NAMES IN COMMENTS AS OFF-SEASON & SEASON PROGRESSES***
 
FORMER TWINS WITH OFF-SEASON MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACTS
 
RYAN PRESSLY (Astros). The Twins grabbed Ryan as a Rule 5 player in the 2012 draft from the Red Sox. He pitched from 2013-18 with the Twins, then was traded to the Astros for Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino.
 
LAMONTE WADE (Giants). Signed by Twins in 2015. Played for team in 2019-20. Traded to Giants in 2021 for Shaun Anderson.
 
JAKE ODORIZZI (Astros). Began his career with the Royals in 2012. Traded by the Rays to the Twins for Jeremaine Palacios in 2018. Pitched for three years and became a free agent, signing with the Astros in 2021.
 
AARON HICKS (Yankees). Drafted by Twins in 2008. Played centerfield from 2013-15. Traded to Yankees in 2015 off-season for John Ryan Murphy.
 
JOSE BERRIOS (Blue Jays). Signed by Twins in 2012. Pitched for Team 2016-21. Traded to Blue Jays in summer 2021 for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson.
 
BRUSDAR GRATEROL (Dodgers). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-19 playing with Team in 2019. Traded to Dodgers in spring of 2020 with Luke Raley and future draft pick consideration (Dodgers chose Clayton Beeker with the slot pick) for Kenta Maeda and Jair Camargo.
 
EDUARDO ESCOBAR (Mets). Signed by White Sox 2006. Traded to Twins in 2012 along with Pedro Hernandez for Francisco Liriano. Played for Team 2012-18. Traded to Diamondbacks in 2018 for Ernie de la Trinidad, Jhoan Duran and Gabriel Maciel. Traded by Diamondbacks to Brewers in 2021. Signed as free agent with Mets in off-season.
 
JASON CASTRO (Astros). Was signed as a free agent and played with Twins from 2017-2019. He previously played six seasons for Houston. He signed with the Angels, played for the Padres, and came back the Astros last season.
 
ROBBIE GROSSMAN (Tigers). Signed by Pittsburgh in 2008. Played for Astros in 2013-15. Signed and released by Indians and signed by Twins in 2016 playing for them until 2018. Signed as free agent by the A's in 2019 and the Tigers in 2021.
 
JONATHAN SCHOOP (Tigers). Signed with the Orioles 2008. Played for the Brewers in 2018. Signed as a free agent by Twins in 2019 . Became a free agent signing with the Tigers in 2020.
 
RICH HILL (Red Sox). Signed by the Cubs in 2004. Pitched for the Cubs, Orioles, Red Sox, Indians, Angels, Yankees, A's, Dodgers, Rays and Mets. Pitched in minors for Nationals and Cardinals rehabbing. Signed as a free agent with the Twins in 2020. In 2022 will mark his third stint with the Red Sox.
 
LANCE LYNN (White Sox). Signd by Cardinals in 2008, pitching for them 2011-17. Signed as a free agent by the Twins for 2018. Traded during 2018 season to New York Yankees for Luis Rijo and Tyler Austin (and cash). Signed by Rangers for 2019 season and traded in 2021 season to White Sox.
 
KYLE GIBSON (Phillies). Signed by Twins 2009 and played for Team 2013-2019. Granted free agency in 2020 and signed with Rangers. Traded to Phillies in 2021.
 
ZACK LITTELL (Giants). Signed by Mariners 2013 then traded to Yankees organization. Traded to Twins along with Dietrich Enns for Jaime Garcia in 2017. Pitched for Team 2018-20. Signed as a free agent with the Giants for 2021.
 
TREVOR MAY (Mets). Signed by the Phillies 2008. Traded to Twins in 2012 with Vance Worley for Ben Revere. Played for Team 2014-20. Signed in off-season 2020 as Free Agent with Mets.
 
C.J. CRON (Rockies). Signed by Angels in 2011. Played for Angels and Rays. Waiver claim by Twins for 2019 season. Signed as free agent with Tigers for 2020 and Rockies 2021.
 
J.T. CHARGOIS (Rays). Signed by Twins in 2012. Major Leagues in 2016. Waiver claim by Dodgers in 2018. Also pitched for Mariners.
 
MATT WISLER (Rays). Signed by Padres in 2011. Pitched for Braves, Reds, Padres, Mariners organization. Waiver claim by Twins for 2020 season. Waived by Twins in off-season and claimed by Giants for 2021 who traded him to Rays.
 
LIAM HENDRIKS (White Sox). Signed out of Australia by Twins in 2007. Pitched for Team in 2011-13. Waiver claim by Cubs in 2013, then also Jays and Orioles. Pitched for Royals, Jays and Oakland before signing as free-agent with White Sox for 2021.
 
TYLER KINLEY (Rockies). Signed by Marlins in 2013. Claimed in Rule 5 draft by Twins in 2017 and returned to Marlins in 2018. Waiver claim by Rockies from Marlins in 2019.
 
BRANDON WADDELL (Cardinals). Signed by Pirates in 2015. Waiver claim for 2021 season by Twins. Waiver claim by Orioles then also Cardinals in 2021.
 
TRAVIS BLANKENHORN (Mets). Signed by Twins in 2015 and played on Team in 2020. Waiver claim by Dodgers in 2021, and also Mariners, and then Mets.''
 
 
FORMER MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS
 
DEOLIS GUERRA (A's). Signed by the Mets in 2005. Traded to the Twins in 2008 along with Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey for Johan Santana. Never got call to majors. Signed as a free agent with Pirates in 2014. Played for Angels, Rangers, Brewers, Phillies and A's organizations.
 
AKIL BADDOO (Tigers). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2016-2020. Claimed in 2020 Rule 5 draft by Tigers.
 
TYLER WELLS (Orioles). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2016-2020. Claimed by Orioles in 2020 Rule 5 draft.
 
NICK ANDERSON (Rays). Signed by Twins in 2015. Traded to Marlins in 2018 for Brian Schales. Traded by Marlins to Rays in 2019.
 
LUIS GIL (Yankees). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2015-2017. Traded in spring of 2018 to Yankees for Jake Cave.
 
SAM CLAY (Nationals). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-2020. Signed as a free agent with the Nationals in 2021.
 
LEWIN DIAZ (Marlins). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2013-19. Traded in 2019 to Marlins for Chris Vallimont and Sergio Romo.
 
LUKE RALEY (Dodgers). Signed by Dodgers in 2016. Traded to Twins along with Logan Forsythe and Devin Smeltzer for Brian Dozier in 2018. Traded by Twins in spring 2020 along with Brusdar Graterol and a draft pick (Clayton Beeker) for Jair Camargo and Kenta Maeda.
 
JAYLIN DAVIS (Giants). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2015-2019. Traded to Giants in 2019 along with Prelander Berroa and Kai-Wei Teng for Sam Dyson.
 
JAKE REED (Mets). Minnesota Twins Prospect 2014-20. Waiver claim Dodgers in 2021. Also waiver claim by Rays and Mets.
 
BROOKS RALEY (Rays). Signed by the Cubs in 2009, he reached the majors, then was claimed by the Twins in 2014. The Angels claimed him when the Twins put him thru waivers. Spent time in Korea. Played in the majors with the Reds and Astros before signing with the Rays in the 2021 off-season.
 
JHOULYS CHACIN (Rockies). Signed by Rockies in 2004. Played in majors or minors for Rockies, Diamondbacks, Indians, Angels, Padres, Brewers, Red Sox. Signed as free agent with Twins in 2020. Almost considered for play, but cut when the shortened alternative site minors rosters were picked. Then signed with Braves, Yankees and back to the Rockies.
 
 
 

I don't know who on earth would have predicted that Wade would hit 18 homers. I don't blame them for trading him, especially given that he was left-handed. I do wish they would have gotten a player that had some actual value, though. That's the real mistake to me.

I don't know who on earth would have predicted that Wade would hit 18 homers. I don't blame them for trading him, especially given that he was left-handed. I do wish they would have gotten a player that had some actual value, though. That's the real mistake to me.

I don't know who on earth would have predicted that Wade would hit 18 homers. I don't blame them for trading him, especially given that he was left-handed. I do wish they would have gotten a player that had some actual value, though. That's the real mistake to me.

I don't know who on earth would have predicted that Wade would hit 18 homers. I don't blame them for trading him, especially given that he was left-handed. I do wish they would have gotten a player that had some actual value, though. That's the real mistake to me.

My comment is a bit off track, but the A's had this problem when they weren't trading off stars, too. I lived in the Bay Area for most of the 80s, when they were a team of stars, and traded for/signed very good players. No one went to the games then, either. I went to Opening Day in 1988- they had a great team with huge hype. Walked up, bought tickets sat in the bleachers that were one-third full. There were always good tickets available for A's games. It wasn't a terrible stadium, either, though of course my baseline was the Metrodome.
 

I don't know who on earth would have predicted that Wade would hit 18 homers. I don't blame them for trading him, especially given that he was left-handed. I do wish they would have gotten a player that had some actual value, though. That's the real mistake to me.

I mean, as long as the Pirates exist, I can't agree...

Yeah, of course the Mets would do that trade again. They basically gave up Gomez about four years before he was any good and nothing else. Phenomenal trade.
It does point out the risk of a free agent contract, though. One good year and a few memories for $130+ million, signing a guy with no history of injuries. Yikes. Glad it's not my money.