John Bonnes

Aaron and John talk about projecting Nelson Cruz, the shrinking reliever market, games by Robert Kasak, Adalberto Mejia's odds of snagging a rotation spot, Ron Gardenhire's anniversary, losing Aaron Slegers, and mailbag questions from listeners. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Sponsored by Simple Contacts, Mack Weldon, RxBar & 612 Brew. Click here to view the article

Aaron and John discuss the Minnesota Twins signing slugger Nelson Cruz. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Click here to view the article

Thank you for posting this. The Profar case is an interesting comp, though his shoulder injury makes everything harder to compare, especially regarding the return they got in a trade. I don't think we're talking about something similar with Buxton, unless the toe injury is recurring or the migraines are a concussion symptom or something else chronic. (Or at least I hope this is the case.) The main point here seems to be that the move sours the relationship with Buxton, which is probably true. The question is how that affects things when or if Buxton has the power in their dynamic. Ironically, this team hopes that shift happens, as it would mean Buxton is becoming the player they expected. I don't see Byron becoming a "me-first" guy, or at least not any more than any other ballplayer is. His head is on straight. But I suspect the relationship between him and the Twins no longer has a lot of fuzziness around it. It's now a business relationship, and the Twins certainly did their part to move it in that direction with their decision. Buxton has every right to treat it as such, and would be wise to do so.

Aaron and John talk about the Twins walking a fine line between patient and inactive, retiring Joe Mauer's number, Target Field vs. Metrodome payroll numbers, the latest on Nelson Cruz and free agent pitching help, the Winter Meltdown selling out, and mailbag questions from listeners. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link.http://traffic.libsy...3?dest-id=74590 Sponsored by Robinhood. Click here to view the article

Aaron and John talk about Nelson Cruz and Edwin Encarnacion rumors, the Twins' remaining bullpen and rotation options, Byron Buxton's first public comments since September, Tyler Jay going unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, Lance Lynn getting a three-year deal, and lots of mailbag questions from listeners. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Sponsored by Able Brewery + Seedhouse, Animales BBQ, Sota Stick and Away Travel. Click here to view the article

Sorry, the presale tickets have sold out. We'll release a portion of full price tickets when we announce the special guest. Thank you so much for your support, and Happy Holidays! How about an intimate holiday gathering with … Joe Nathan? LatTroy Hawkins? Scott Erickson? These are just a few of the special guests at Twins Daily’s Winter Meltdown, and this year we’re limiting the size to half of last year’s sellout crowd. Plus, you can buy presale tickets for just $25 (regular $40) through 12/25. We are offering this quietly, to people that visit the site in the dead of winter.The Meltdown is Saturday, Jan 26th, from 4:30-7:30. That's the same night you'll be in town anyway, going to Twins Fest. It'll be at Brothers Bar in downtown Minneapolis, just two blocks from Twins Plaza. It includes a pint glass (you can see previous years’) and two free 612 Brew beers. Plus, you could have met all of the above guests and many more at our Meltdowns. (We're not letting the cat out of the bag yet who are special guests are this year until after the new year.) There will also be some sweet raffle and game prizes, and lots of time to talk Hot Stove and order some of Brothers great food. Finally, this year we’ll be donating proceeds to a local non-profit, which we’ll also announce soon. Warning: These sell out. So even if your holiday shopping is done, you might want to grab some ASAP. Or let your family know that THIS is what you really want. Or buy a pack and give your friends, family and coworkers a night to remember in the dead of winter. We'll see you there. BUY HERE NOW. Click here to view the article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins signing All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop and utility infielder Ronald Torreyes, what the current payroll looks like, what's next on the offseason to-do list, agreeing with Ricky Nolasco about late-night pizza, and arguing about really dumb stuff. Click here to listen.http://traffic.libsy...3?dest-id=74590 Sponsored by Casper Mattresses and Tin Whiskers Brewery. Click here to view the article

The Winter Meltdown is sold out, but you can still get tickets AND honor Joe Mauer AND support a good cause. Just join Joe, Twins Daily writers and Twins players and staff in fighting some terrible diseases by attending the 2019 Diamond Awards. John and other Twins Daily writers will host exclusive Twins Daily table(s), PLUS each attendee gets a VIP ticket to the Winter Meltdown two nights later. Yes, even if you got shutout for Winter Meltdown tickets, you can get one free. Here’s how.First, buy tickets to the 2019 Diamond Awards. Then, in the comments section, tell them you want to be at the Twins Daily table (or, like last year, tables). It’s usually awesome, but this year might be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Joe Mauer will be receiving a few awards and you can be sure the Twins will give him a classic sendoff. But also receiving awards will be Eddie Rosario, Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Max Kepler, Corey Koskie and Jack Morris. It’ll be a star-studded event. Download attachment: Invitation.jpg It’s the night before Twins Fest, Thursday January 24th starting at 5:30 at The Depot. You can get all the information, here. Tickets are $150 each but the proceeds go to the University of Minnesota to cure some pretty terrible diseases, like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), ataxia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease. It is a great cause and a fantastic time and Twins Daily would love to share it with you. We would love to get a big group together and talk a lot of baseball or get your thoughts on the site. So to sweeten the pot, we’ll also give you a free VIP ticket to the Winter Meltdown on January 26th even though they sold out yesterday. This is truly a special opportunity to attend one of the Twins premier annual events that celebrates their team and their fans. (Actually, it’s a special opportunity to attend TWO such events.) Plus, it’s an exceptional cause and a chance to see the best of the Twins on one of the coldest weekends of the year. Let’s recharge our batteries and get ready for a great weekend and a great year together. If you have any questions or concerns, use the comments. But please click the link below and give it a try this year. You won’t regret it. BUY TICKETS OR LEARN MORE HERE Click here to view the article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins adding C.J. Cron as Joe Mauer's replacement, non-tendering Robbie Grossman, where Tyler Austin stands, picking through the best of the non-tenders, why Cron might be closer to Eddie Rosario than to Logan Morrison, mailbag questions from listeners, and why the Bonneses are very much like the Legends. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Sponsored by Pick and Shovel, Harry's Razors and Simple Contacts. Click here to view the article

Today the big news will be a trade between the Mets and Mariners that brings secon baseman Robinson Cano and closer Edwin Diaz to the Mets. While it's fun to speculate, this deal likely could not have involved the Twins. Key to the deal is that Cano has a no-trade clause that he must waive, and doing so probably requires a return to New York City. But last I checked, we're four months from real baseball, so let's speculate anyway....How much fun would it have been to add Cano and Diaz to the Twin roster for next year? Cano gprovides a middle-of-the-order hitter at second base, and still leaves lots of room to add more offense at first base and designated hitter. Diaz is a 24-year-old lights-out closer who is under team control for four more years. Some of the bigger offseason challenges are handled in one early move. Of course, the reason the Mariners made this deal is because Cano will make $24 million for the next six years. He also lost half of last season to a performance-enhancing drugs suspension. Plus, he's 35 years old. The reason he's available, and indeed the reason he almost has to be traded with Diaz, is because his contract is such a liability. We may find out the deal includes some money to help cover those salaries in 2021-2023, but right now we don't have any details. But it's also worth noting that the Mets aren't giving up a tremendous amount here. They're giving up "two top prospects" but the three names prominently mentioned include 19-year-old outifleder Jarred Kelenic (a 6th overall draft pick last year), and pitchers Justin Dunn and/or David Peterson. MLB.com's Pipeline lists Kelenic and Dunn as Top 100 guys, but late-Top 100 guys. By comparion, Twins prospects like Royce Lewis and Alex Kiriloff are top 10. Instead, a comparable package might have been Brusdar Graterol and Trevor Larnach (or any of the Twins #4-#9 prospects). Plus, the Mets are dumping a couple of questionable contracts themselves. Jay Bruce dealt with cascading injuries last year and will cost them $13M over the next two years. Swarzak had shoulder issues, lost his feel for the zone and is due $8M this year. Without including them, the package would've been even less. Of course, Minneapolis is not New York City, so to really make the deal a reality, they would've also needed to find something to entice Cano to waive his no-trade clause. Throwing additional money at a bad contract that is going to run until a guy is 41 doesn't seem wise. It certainly doesn't seem like The Twins Way®. But if the only thing standing between getting the deal done and it not getting done is a little more cash, maybe a $5M bonus next year sweetens the pot? This is the year that they have the money, right? It's a moot point, obviously. Mostly this deal intrigued me because I've been advocating a frugal approach on a middle infielder, but immediately pivoted into full-blow "WANT" mode when I saw the players available. But I'd be interested in what the community thinks. What kind of creative would have made sense for the Twins? Click here to view the article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins adding Nick Gordon and other prospects to the 40-man roster, not protecting Tyler Jay from the Rule 5 draft, reviewing the best free agent bullpen options, Paul Goldschmidt and Sonny Gray rumors, selling Alan Busenitz to Japan, Bill Evers adding some age to the coaching staff, and what to do when someone brings you 700 percent more food than you ordered. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Sponsored by Pick & Shovel and Lynlake Brewery. Click here to view the article

Aaron and John talk about pitching coach Wes Johnson and the rest of the Twins' new-look coaching staff, why college is such an untapped resource in baseball, the Twins' search for rotation help via free agency, how much of Zack Greinke's contract is too much, and the latest huge money score for MLB owners. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link.http://traffic.libsy...3?dest-id=74590 Sponsored by Headflyer Brewing, Robinhood and Sota Stick. Click here to view the article

As of 8 AM on Thursday, yesterday's story about bargain bin free agent hitters had eight comments, and none of them were "the Twins/Pohlads are so cheap" and I want to congratulate Twins Territory on that giant leap forward. It's not often that happens in a story about fiscally responsible spending. We'll try for two in a row today, as we continue by finding bargain bin pitching... You can create your own blueprint using Twins Daily's Offseason Handbook, which you can download immediately and name your own price. Starting Pitching Philosophy - This is the hardest area to predict for the Twins. On the one hand, it makes sense to not commit too many years or too much money, because they have (in theory) only one available spot in the rotation and several young candidates as backup options. On the other hand, at this point next year they could have three more openings as Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda are all scheduled to be free agents. Finding a top-flight starter that can be the core of the 2020 team with Jose Berrios (and perhaps Fernando Romero and Brusdar Graterol) could be valuable this year and necessary next year. Targets - The free agent market is also interesting. There is no longer the anticipated star power at the top, but this is a deep class in the middle, with a number of intriguing comeback candidates and veterans. My favorite candidates are: Yusei Kikuchi - A 27-year-old left-hander coming over from Japan, he’s the one name that satisfies both concerns: he’ll likely sign a multi-year deal, but his price could be reasonable due to some injury concerns.Charlie Morton (35yo), Gio Gonzalez (32yo), Anibal Sanchez (35yo) - The free agent market is replete with mid or late 30-year-old pitchers who have had success recently. If you have a favorite, offer them a second year and they’re likely yours at a reasonable price.Derek Holland (32yo) - Riskier is someone like Holland, who has had a roller coaster career and bounced back last year in spacious Pac Bell field. He’s still young, appears healthy again, Target Field limits long balls, and Holland could fall into a bullpen role if the rotation doesn’t work out.Relief PitchingPhilosophy - The Twins failures last year are mostly blamed on the Addison Reed deal, which was a disappointment. But that stumble was exacerbated by the real problem: the Twins haven’t developed reliable bullpen difference-makers internally. When veterans are hurt or overused, there has been no reliable backup plan. Free agency can't fix that, just paper it over a bit. The big change this year will be the changes to the coaching staff and player development. In the meantime, the approach in free agency will likely look similar to last year, making some of the cheaper options real possibilities. Targets - Last year’s market was deep, but the market for relievers didn’t have the bargains that were available for other positions. Expect the same this year. Here are few options that might be overlooked. Kelvin Herrera - He’s an elite (and young, 29yo) bullpen arm that struggled after a midseason trade, and then went down with a ligament injury in his left foot. There’s a lot of inherent risk there, but if he’s expected to be out a significant time, a Michael Pineda-type deal might make sense. And if he isn’t, he could provide good value as he rebuilds his market on a one-year deal.Greg Holland - A reliever who dominated in Kansas City with Herrera, he had a terrible beginning of the year in St. Louis, even getting released. But then he bounced back strong with the Nationals so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.Joe Kelly - Historically he has matched the template that failed the Twins old regime - high velocity that somehow doesn’t translate into strikeouts. Last year, the strikeouts went way up, but didn’t translate into a low ERA. The 31-year-old might well be a half step from becoming something special, if the Twins think they can get him over the finish line. (But a lot of teams have thought that.)This thought exercise might be especially valuable in today’s major league game. The free agent market plunged last year in part because top teams were conscious of the salary cap while bottom teams were dumping productive high-salary players. The Twins payroll flexibility allowed them to wait for the market to come to them, acquiring some bargains in spring training. Several of those moves didn’t work, obviously, but that doesn’t mean a team shouldn’t try to game the market for some solid acquisitions this year. Click here to view the article