John Bonnes

On the verge of spring training, Aaron and John discuss Nelson Cruz's attitude after signing a one-year deal, the teams the St. Paul Saints will play in 2021, why PECOTA loves the Minnesota Twins and hates the White Sox, and Aaron's long road to BBWAA membership. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen Here Now View full article

Aaron and John talk about a very busy week that saw the Twins re-sign Nelson Cruz, sign Alex Colome, and add two hard-throwing pitchers to the bullpen mix, plus a breakdown of the payroll situation and the moves that might still be to come. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Aaron and John talk about a very busy week that saw the Twins re-sign Nelson Cruz, sign Alex Colome, and add two hard-throwing pitchers to the bullpen mix, plus a breakdown of the payroll situation and the moves that might still be to come. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen Here Now View full article

The big question now is how much more they add. Cruz (assuming no big regression) plus Simmons means a step forward for this team. They're a plus team in every department now.

After an offseason of glacial negotiations that were described at one point as a 'staring contest,' the Twins and Nelson Cruz finally got it done on Tuesday night. Dan Hayes reports that Minnesota has reached agreement with the 40-year-old DH on a one-year, $13 million contract. Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports After an offseason of glacial negotiations that were described at one point as a 'staring contest,' the Twins and Nelson Cruz finally got it done on Tuesday night. Dan Hayes reports that Minnesota has reached agreement with the 40-year-old DH on a one-year, $13 million contract. The Athletic's intrepid beat man Dan Hayes was all over this one, reporting over the weekend that the Twins and Cruz had re-engaged after a period of inactivity. "While the latest development doesn’t guarantee anything gets completed," Hayes wrote, "the move to reconnect demonstrates that the Twins and Cruz understand the need for urgency in determining whether a new agreement can be reached." Just a few days later, it's a done deal. The Twins waited out Cruz and basically got him on the terms they wanted: a one-year pact at a reasonable salary that still gives them flexibility for further additions. Of course, there's no overstating how important Cruz has been to the Twins over these past two seasons. He was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player in both 2019 and 2020, slashing .308/.394/.626 with 57 home runs and 141 RBIs in 173 games. During that span, he has ranked second among all MLB hitters in wOBA, wRC+, and OPS, trailing only Mike Trout in each category. Needless to say, the Twins' lineup card looks a whole lot better with the elite slugger penciled in. And his immensely positive impact goes beyond the bat – Cruz is lauded as a key figure in the clubhouse and community. Last summer he received the 2020 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award in recognition of his amazing charitable work and generosity. That is not to say this signing isn't without risk. Cruz's $13 million salary commitment will likely limit what the Twins can do to address their remaining needs in the rotation and bullpen. He's the primest of prime regression candidates, set to turn 41 in July and having shown signs of wear down the stretch in 2020. Additionally, his inability to play anywhere other than DH (and the need to have him out there as much as possible) will be a constraint for Rocco Baldelli to deal with as he tries to keep his other regulars fresh, and utility man Luis Arráez in the lineup. But at the end of the day, the cons are outweighed by the pros for this seasoned and highly respected slugger. Even if he's not quite as good as he has been the past two years, Cruz can easily be one of the league's most imposing hitters and a big asset in the heart of the lineup. As Minnesota's unquestioned leader, Cruz has helped power the Twins to a .617 winning percentage and back-to-back division titles, but not one victory in the postseason. Now he'll get a chance to settle some unfinished business, with a reconfigured roster that will still feel plenty familiar thanks to his presence. Having finally resolved their biggest offseason sticking point, the Twins can feel pretty good about the state of their lineup. While they may still add another outfielder or infield depth, and trades cannot be ruled out, the offense is looking fairly set. Now, attention turns to the pitching staff. The effective payroll stands at around $125 million with Cruz's addition. Check back into Twins Daily for more details and analysis of this big signing, and share your initial reactions in the comments below. Nelly's back. Let's go. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Aaron and John discuss the Twins' new shortstop Andrelton Simmons, new contract talks with Nelson Cruz, losing Eddie Rosario to Cleveland and why they miss the Winter Meltdown. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen To Episode 511 Here Now View full article

This would’ve been Winter Meltdown week. We’re bummed we can’t all gather in one room, but we wanted to keep the tradition alive and do some good, too. So we're offering our 2021 Winter Meltdown Pint Glasses for sale for $20, and every penny we get will be going to a non-profit for local hospitality industry workers impacted by the pandemic. This would’ve been Winter Meltdown week. We’re bummed we can’t all gather in one room, but we wanted to keep the tradition alive and do some good, too. So we're offering our 2021 Winter Meltdown Pint Glasses for sale for $20, and every penny we get will be going to a non-profit for local hospitality industry workers impacted by the pandemic. This would’ve been our 8th Winter Meltdown, which has included guests from Scott Erickson in 2014 through Kent Hrbek and Trevor Plouffe last year. The pint glasses have been a tradition, and you can see Brock Beauchamp’s design nails the reality of the situation: we’ve all been impacted. But certainly hospitality industry workers f received more than their fair share of the economic impact. They’ve certainly treated us well for the previous seven Meltdowns, so this one will be for them. You can order this year’s pint glass here. We hope you enjoy its use as much as you’ve enjoyed the previous seven, and we further hope we can reconnect in person at some Twins games this summer. In the meantime, be safe and Win Twins. Buy your 2021 Winter Meltdown Pint Glass Here! View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins signing veteran left-hander J.A. Happ for $8 million, re-set the free agent market for pitchers, big bats, and infielders, react to several potential Twins targets signing elsewhere, and freak out about how soon spring training starts. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Aaron and John talk about the Twins signing veteran left-hander J.A. Happ for $8 million, re-set the free agent market for pitchers, big bats, and infielders, react to several potential Twins targets signing elsewhere, and freak out about how soon spring training starts. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Listen Here Now View full article

Aaron and John talk about why Twins fans shouldn't be freaking out over the team's lack of moves, what's left of the free agent market once they do start spending, two new international prospects worth keeping tabs on, reactions to Corey Kluber and Liam Hendriks signing elsewhere, and getting unblocked on Twitter. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen Here Now View full article

Aaron and John talk about Cleveland trading Francisco Lindor and what it means for the Twins, the latest on Nelson Cruz, the pros and cons of long-term contracts, another good reliever off the board, why the offseason is still dragging on so slowly, and why they can't remember your name. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. LISTEN HERE NOW View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins signing Hansel Robles, the remaining free agent reliever market and how high they should be shooting, Luis Arraez trade speculation, Terry Ryan's promotion in Philadelphia, and the wisdom of long-term deals. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. To Listen, Click Here View full article

This is cool. Is there a link to the Sparkman projection system, or to the work that Connor did?

Aaron and John talk about Fernando Romero going to Japan, Thad Levine not going to Philadelphia, Rocco Baldelli's new plan for Taylor Rogers and the Twins' bullpen, and the odds of a minor-league signing making an impact. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen Here Now View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins' affiliation with the St. Paul Saints finally becoming official, the other restructuring of the minor leagues, losing two players in the Rule 5 draft, trying to make sense of the Matt Wisler departure, and the latest on Nelson Cruz's contract talks. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Listen Here Now View full article

Wednesday night (12/9, 7PM) are the Diamond Awards, a virtual event that awards hardware to Twins' players and raised a ton of money to combat some very crummy neurological disease by the U of M Foundation. Because it's virtual this year, not only can you attend for free, but you can participate in the silent auction, a rare opportunity. So let's count down the best of the items up for bid. Wednesday night (12/9, 7PM) are the Diamond Awards, a virtual event that awards hardware to Twins' players and raised a ton of money to combat some very crummy neurological disease by the U of M Foundation. Because it's virtual this year, not only can you attend for free, but you can participate in the silent auction, a rare opportunity. So let's count down the best of the items up for bid. 5. Byron Buxton Signed Jersey There are a lot of signed Twins memorabilia on the auction, including some fan favorites like Nelson Cruz, Kenta Maeda and even a jersey signed by the entire 2020 Twins’ team. But seeing as readers of Twins Daily have been following Buxton obsessively since he was drafted, his signed jersey stands out, especially as it is still waiting for a first $100 bid. 4. Baseball Camp for kids (6-14) The link above is to one package, but there are a couple of them, so make sure to look over the whole auction. This has everything a Twins’ crazy kid would want, including 30 hours(!) of instruction, a VIP day at the ballpark, a chance to meet a current Twins player and a full Twins uniform. 10-year-old John would’ve spontaneously combusted. A blue flash, a whiff of smoke. That would’ve been it. I’d have died happy. 3. Ron Yary Autographed Vikings Jersey Having trouble finding a Christmas gift for your dad? How about an autographed jersey of Hall of Fame Vikings offensive lineman Ron Yary? The kicker is that was donated by Dick Bremer? It's your dad's best Christmas morning ever. 2. Golf w La Velle E Neal, III at White Bear Yacht Club Like to golf? Like to talk Twins? Like to gossip? Or have a couple of clients that like any of these things? Bidding is already robust around this, but you’re going to find a way to write it off, and it all goes to charity, so go for it. 1. Booze. All The Booze There are multiple boozy gift baskets available. It’s the perfect 2020 gift. If you want to see (or buy) all the gifts, you can check out the auction here. Or to learn more about the Diamond Awards click here. Great time, great cause, great stuff. View full article