1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: As far as how your fans viewed you, there couldn't 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: have been a worst season coming off of how electric 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: October twenty twenty three was. 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 2: Here we go, Dan Hayes joining us from the Athletic 5 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: covering the Minnesota Twins. We're going to jump into their 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 2: storylines in a moment. But before we do that, Dan, 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 2: you know the storylines we cover for twenty twenty five 8 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: or there. It's something that you know someone can see 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 2: weeks from now and it's probably going to stay stable. 10 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 2: So I want to know before we get to that 11 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: point if you think we're going to have to redo 12 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: them because the Twins would suddenly do something crazy like 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 2: a Dylan c. 14 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 3: Smove. 15 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:38,639 Speaker 2: I read your article was great. Can you give us 16 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: more context on why you think it probably won't happen? 17 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it won't happen a because I think 18 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: one I mean, is anybody convinced that aj Peler really 19 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: wants to do it? Because how does he truly improve 20 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 1: the Padres by getting rid of Dylan Ceas. I mean, 21 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: like that's still a team. I know they have everything 22 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: going on right now with their ownership situation, and there's 23 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: rumors about needing to cut payroll. But I mean, like 24 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: Dylan cees, taking them off the padres gives them far 25 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: less of a chance to compete. And if he can 26 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: capitalize and get three or four guys to fill out 27 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: all the holes they have, then yeah, okay, that makes sense. 28 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: Do the Twins really want to pay that premium for 29 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 1: one year? This is a team that knows that their 30 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: prospects are, how they're going to stay alive, how they're 31 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,759 Speaker 1: going to be afloat for years while they deal with, 32 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: you know, being a mid market team on the bottom 33 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: of the on the bottom of that mid section. I 34 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: think they're seventeenth in market size and usually they're seventeenth, 35 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: eighteenth or nineteenth in payroll. So it's always prospects and 36 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: young guys that keep them afloat so they can sign 37 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: around the edges and it's tough one. I could never 38 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: see them trading Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez or Lukeishel 39 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: for one year of Dylan cease and I think, you know, 40 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: Aj Probler probably wants to really reload. 41 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 3: Look at what Corbyn Burns brought the Brewers last year. 42 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: They got two guys that were formerly top one hundred 43 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: prospects and a comp pick. You know, obviously that part 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: that Dylan Cees if he got traded before the season started, 45 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: would bring whatever team the qualifying offer the compensation pick 46 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: for the qualifying offer next year. That definitely complicates matters. 47 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: But you know, I imagine a J Prowler is aiming 48 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: high to fill those shoes if he was to move on, 49 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: and what does that mean? And you know, I think 50 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: it would be some really he wants major league talent. 51 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: So I think it'd be really difficult to remove a 52 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: couple of major leaguers from the Twins unless they let 53 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: them do what they want. And you know, I mean, 54 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: I just don't know that it matches up, but it's 55 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: absolutely something I think the Twins need to do, just 56 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: because they need to find a way to recapture this 57 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 1: fan base. They still have not drawn two million fans 58 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: since twenty nineteen, and when you think about it, post lockout, 59 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: they traded for Sonny Green, they signed Carlos Korea, they 60 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: didn't draw two million fans that year. They were in 61 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: first place as of Labor Day, and you know, they 62 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: were really beat up that year and collapsed. 63 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 3: In Cleveland one. 64 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: But they win the division in twenty three they don't 65 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: make two million fans that year. Usually you bump, you 66 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: get a bump the year after you win a division, 67 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: but ownership cut payroll by thirty million dollars. Going into 68 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four season. They drew even fewer fans 69 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: than they did in the division winning season, even though 70 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: they were seventy and fifty three on August seventeenth. And 71 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: you know, in line, I think they were like ninety 72 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: five ninety six percent chance of making the playoffs. They 73 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: didn't draw. So this this team needs to do something 74 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: to reconnect with its fan base. And the story I 75 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: wrote the other day was just basically, hey, you have 76 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: this new TV deal. The amount of households that can 77 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: now see Twins Baseball because of no blackouts is four 78 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: point four million. Last year it was one point three 79 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: seven million fans or households over the five states of 80 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: Twins territory. So you're tripling your potential audience. And look, 81 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: the money is never going to be the same as 82 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,560 Speaker 1: it was when it was Ballely Sports that was fifty 83 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: four million dollars two years ago. Streaming does not allow 84 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: for that kind of money. I think the Potter's had 85 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: forty thousand subscribers going into last season, So do the math. 86 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,479 Speaker 1: It's you know, five million bucks. But at the same time, 87 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: you have a chance to attract new fans. There's tons 88 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: of little kids, you know, three times the little kids 89 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: across those five states now can see the twins that 90 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: weren't able to before. You know, the time is right 91 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 1: to make a move and kind of try to win 92 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: back your fans. It's just do you really want to 93 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: pay that price? And that's why I think it's unlikely. 94 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: But you know, it's they've definitely fished in the waters 95 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: and checked the out things. They even asked about Luis Castillo, 96 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: and that's not gonna happen just because the money is 97 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: way out of their market their league right now. 98 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 3: But they've certainly looked for those kind of moves. 99 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 2: Dan, I want to buy back on two points. Umber One, sure, 100 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: you were a playoff team the year before, but then 101 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 2: you smacked your fans in the face marketing wise and 102 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: said we're not doing a single thing. 103 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 3: We hate you. 104 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: So that's why fans didn't show up and ultimately they crumbled. 105 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: Number two, MLB was holding back streaming availability that was 106 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,160 Speaker 2: on the league in my opinion, and Also, now you're 107 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 2: taking away the discoverability because you will only be able 108 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: to watch them or see them if you go into 109 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: an MLB platform versus streaming or versus landing on them. 110 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: So I'm biting back. I actually firmly disagree with some 111 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: of this stuff and thinks it will hurt them and 112 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 2: think it will hurt them long term. But that's my 113 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 2: take anyway. 114 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: No, and also this, the fact that they didn't have 115 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: streaming last year really hurt them because they had that. 116 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: You know, Exfinity had the three months dispute with Diamond 117 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: Sports right during the middle of the part where the Twins. 118 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 3: Were good, they weren't. 119 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 1: I think May one was the first date and they 120 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: were going for win number eleven in a row, and 121 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: that winning. 122 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 3: Streak that they had with the rally Sausage. 123 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: Right when people want to tune in. They were taken 124 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: off the air for three months and not having a 125 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: streaming option it last year. Potentially as far as how 126 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: your fans viewed you, there couldn't have been a worse 127 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: season coming off of how electric October twenty twenty three was, 128 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:20,279 Speaker 1: and you know, fans were fired up. I mean that's 129 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: the first time they'd won a playoff series in twenty 130 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: one years. And I know we talked about the just 131 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,840 Speaker 1: a losing streak, the eighteen game losing streak, but to 132 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: win a series for the first time in twenty one years, 133 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: you had people excited about being at the ballpark and 134 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: to go with, you know, thirty million dollars off that payroll, 135 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 1: And like you said, it was sort of a slap 136 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: in the face to do that. And if you're working 137 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: with limitations, if you're the front office, but there's not 138 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,479 Speaker 1: much you can do, and it certainly is not a 139 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,159 Speaker 1: great place to be as you're trying to sell the 140 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: more people A damn. 141 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 4: I got to ask you kind of it's kind of 142 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 4: a personal question, but it's involved in this. You've you've 143 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 4: covered the Padres, the White Sox, and the Twins. Why 144 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 4: is it every time you covered they start snipping payroll 145 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 4: instead of adding I don't know, it just it just 146 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 4: seems like a weird coincidence that the Padres, the White Sox, 147 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 4: and the Twins all have to cut payroll after you 148 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 4: were around them. 149 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: Hey, it's shocking to me that twenty nineteen was the 150 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: first time I ever even covered a playoff team. So 151 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: after starting in two thousand and seven. So I mean, 152 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: like I've been at some of these franchises at their 153 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: lowest points. I would bet that my period of watching 154 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: the White Sox beat writer winning percentages, it's probably in 155 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: the bottom ten percent, having been there from twenty twelve 156 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: to twenty seventeen. 157 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 3: And yeah, it's a good point. That's a good point. 158 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: Maybe I should just move on to another franchise and maybe, 159 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: you know what, it would be interesting to see if 160 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: I cover the Dodgers what they did with payroll at 161 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 1: this point. 162 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 4: They probably they probably they probably you know, just release 163 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 4: show hey and just be like, oh, we're just we 164 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 4: gave up, Dan hayeses here we give. 165 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: Up The Dodgers would turn into the Mavericks from this 166 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 2: past weekend. 167 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 3: All right. 168 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: I want to get to storylines, though, So let's cue 169 00:07:57,120 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 2: that up. The big four storylines for the Minnesota Twins 170 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: heading into this season. I mean, the sale has to 171 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 2: take center stage because this team could get taken over 172 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 2: by a billionaire who actually gives a crap about baseball 173 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: and winning. So stay tuned, will ask Dan about that 174 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: a redemption season or could a slow start lead to 175 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: a manager change or some other type of change with 176 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 2: this ball club, the usual health questions, Krea, Buxton, Lewis, 177 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 2: how they doing? 178 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 3: And the baby bats. 179 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 2: I mean, this team's got a good farm system, So Dan, 180 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 2: let's start at the top. This team could get dealt 181 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 2: by opening day. And by delt, I mean to an 182 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: owner who actually gives a crap. I'm sure Twins fans 183 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 2: are following this story closely and you've been all over it. 184 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 2: So where are we at? And do you think it 185 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 2: will change the complexion of this franchise if they land 186 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 2: with an owner who is not obsessed with saying the 187 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 2: word revenue or portfolio. 188 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. 189 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 1: Look, this is the story for the Twins this offseason. 190 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: I mean it's been forty years of the same ownership 191 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: and the one two World Series. Early on, they did 192 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: spend on payroll a couple of times. When target Field opened, 193 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: I think there were ninth and tenth in payroll, and 194 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: fans came out, I mean fans. There were three million 195 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: fans in those first two years of target Field. There 196 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: was three million fans after it was either the first 197 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: World Series or the second World Series. But payroll has 198 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: never been a good thing for the Twins. Usually it's 199 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: you know, seventeenth eighteenth. It's been bottom of the barrel 200 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 1: at the start of the two thousands, so that could 201 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: change everything absolutely, And you know, I think it's something 202 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: that fans are optimistic about. But also, look, you know 203 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 1: I was I covered the Padres when they sold in 204 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine and John Morris was going through 205 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: a divorce at the time and had to sell, and 206 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: Jeff Moraed came in, and you know, a year later, 207 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: Jed Hoyer, I still remember, was on the dais at 208 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,360 Speaker 1: Indianapolis just looking pale because he had to trade Adrian 209 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: Gonzalez to the Red Sox because the team with the 210 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: thirty eight million dollars payroll had to slash even more 211 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: and couldn't afford to sign Adrianganzolz to a long term contract. 212 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,719 Speaker 1: So you never really know what you're going to get. Now, 213 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: this is hopeful because look, you look at the market 214 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: and there haven't been a lot of Major League Baseball 215 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: teams for sale in the last fifteen years. I think 216 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: since the Dodgers sold and the Padres back in twenty twelve, 217 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: I think there have been five total. And the Orioles 218 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: were sold four days after Peter Angelos died and that 219 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: was a quiet deal. It's not like they were out 220 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,800 Speaker 1: in the open market. I don't think that Kansas City 221 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: was really out on the market. So you're looking at 222 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: the Mets, you're looking at the Marlins, and the Mariners 223 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: was even within their own ownership structure. I think somebody 224 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: stepped up and bought more. So it's not like there's 225 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: been an open bidding. And when you have thirty of 226 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: these products, you know people are interested in buying. So 227 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: I think there's hope in that. You know, the name 228 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: that I've reported and this been out there is Justin 229 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: Ishbia and his brother Matt owns the Phoenix, and Justin's 230 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: a partial owner of the Suns. They own a minor 231 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 1: league baseball team, they own soccer. They they definitely represent 232 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: hope to Twins fans because I think, you know, he's 233 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: a huge baseball fan. There's we've written at The Athletic 234 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 1: about his donations to Michigan State and his thoughts on baseball, 235 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: and I think that you know, you want someone that's 236 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: a fan in there, and you want someone that knows 237 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: and I think I think Scott Boris said this at 238 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: the GM meetings. You want someone that knows that they're 239 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 1: no longer anonymous. They have winner or loser attached their 240 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: name once they buy a franchise, and you never know 241 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: what you're going to get. You could get John Fisher, 242 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: you could get Bob Nutting, or you could get you know, 243 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: Steve Cohene. 244 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 3: So like somewhere in between. Twins fans would be thrilled. 245 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: If someone came in and wanted to spend twenty million 246 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: bucks on the payroll and cut beer prices by a 247 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: buck or whatever. 248 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 3: And you know, I think. 249 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: There's there's room for hope for Twins fans, and I 250 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: do think that we will see someone picked by opening day. 251 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 1: What the structure looks like as far as baseball proving 252 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: that that's a good question because it takes obviously time 253 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: to get the approval of the owners. But I would 254 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: think that the vetting is pretty pretty thorough right now. 255 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 3: Of the groups they're going forward, two. 256 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:16,839 Speaker 4: Things Dan real quick before we get to the next one. 257 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 4: One the White Sox people the fans, they want them 258 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 4: to buy the White Sox because I think they're small 259 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 4: owner in the White Sox already, so forget the Twins. 260 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:26,199 Speaker 4: The White Sox want those guys to buy their team, 261 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 4: and second of all, dais. I never heard the word 262 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 4: deis in my life until we went to the BBWAA 263 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 4: Awards and like every guy and I'm like, what the 264 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:35,079 Speaker 4: hell is a dais? What are they talking about? I'm 265 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 4: missing a word here, and then you just drop dais. 266 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 4: That's definitely the first time that word's ever been dropped. 267 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 4: So that's it all. Let crowds go to the next storyline. 268 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 5: Now. 269 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,520 Speaker 1: I think that's the first time I've ever used that word, 270 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: by the way, so you got to be there too, 271 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: me too. 272 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 5: Well done, well done, AJ use it like four times. 273 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 5: So now he's done for like the rest of his life. No, 274 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 5: I'm going to go to the fact that you were 275 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 5: just talking about, how like this really is hinging on 276 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 5: payroll and ownership selling or not selling? So would it 277 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 5: be fair because this team, I mean is in the 278 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,439 Speaker 5: American League Central, where three teams made the playoffs, they 279 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 5: were on the outside looking in? Is this rockaball Deli's like, 280 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 5: if it starts slow, could he be on the trading 281 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 5: block or I mean on the cutting block here. 282 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a good question, and I will say that 283 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: Derek falve to no end talks about the great partnership 284 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: that they have, so I would put it less likely, 285 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,199 Speaker 1: but you never know. I mean, look, last year was terrible, 286 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: the end of the season was not good, and you 287 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: were going to have a new ownership group come in, 288 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: So that puts anything on the table, I think, because 289 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: you know, a new owner gets to say what they want, 290 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: and so who knows what the foundation of the Twins 291 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: looks like from a front office standpoint, from a field 292 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: staff standpoint in a year. I mean, but you know, 293 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: winning is a cure all and it's crazy. This team 294 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: has done nothing this offseason, and you can understand for 295 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: the most part the limitations. They have still a little 296 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: bit of money to spend. I'm told they have a 297 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: you know, a little bit of a wiggle room, maybe 298 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: five million bucks. There's no cutting of the payroll this year. 299 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: They need to do something still. They need to round 300 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: out the roster a little bit. The bullpen is outstanding, 301 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: but there still could be some minor ads there. I 302 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: think they need ads in outfield. They need to do more, 303 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 1: even though they're projected on paper to win eighty eight 304 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: games right now, because yeah, you're right, a slow start 305 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: could do them in. You know, but last year, I 306 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: think they started seven and thirteen and one thing that 307 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: Roco did a great job. You know, they were down 308 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: Royce Lewis at that point, they were down Carlos Korea 309 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: was keeping them together and they rolled off that you know, 310 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: winning streak and got back into competition, and then they 311 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: had the hideous ends of the season and it's hard 312 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: to erase that. And who knows if they came out 313 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: and went, you know, twenty and forty, there's still a 314 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 1: fair amount of money for the Twins payroll wise, to 315 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: be invested, and it could lead to a change. 316 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 5: Oh that would be shocking. 317 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 4: I think, yeah, it would be shocking, just because of 318 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 4: the way what Rock has done, the way they talk about. 319 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: Roco and so yeah, but let's Letten just to reemphasize. 320 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: I mean, I think he they were down Buckston, they 321 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: were down Korea when they fell apart last year, the 322 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: minute Joe Ryan went down. You had two starters with 323 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: the ability to go five. I mean, they were so 324 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: up against They did a good job getting through what 325 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: they could, but that offense quit and at one point 326 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: in September and Rocco doing the part where he said 327 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: that it was an unprofessional series that was eye opening 328 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 1: and and so it was a lot of chaos going 329 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,120 Speaker 1: on because of stuff, you know, because they didn't have depth, 330 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: and again that it didn't come off well externally. Fans 331 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: were upset. But I agree because because Derek Valve has 332 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: mentioned so many times how much of a partnership he 333 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,600 Speaker 1: has with Roco that it would be it would take 334 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: something really egregious or you know, just a big kind 335 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: of maybe disappointment to see them moving. 336 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 4: Okay, all right, so you mentioned it a little bit. 337 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 4: The injuries. Can they keep Carlos Korea, Can they keep 338 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 4: Byron Bucks And can they keep Royce Lewis? Can they 339 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 4: keep some of the pitchers healthy in order to get 340 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 4: to their number of eighty eight? That's the biggest question 341 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 4: for me is right, Yes, they haven't spent, but the 342 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 4: guys they have here, can they keep them healthy? What 343 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 4: do you think the games played of these guys are 344 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 4: and how healthy can they be? 345 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, Buckston getting to one hundred games last year was encouraging. 346 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: I know they're excited because this is the first healthy 347 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: offseason he's had since the twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, and 348 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,160 Speaker 1: I remember at that point he'd had an injury riddled 349 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen, and he really was fine going into the 350 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: offseason and was doing like two days and hitting all day. 351 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: And it's really when Byron Buckston took off offensively to 352 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: the kind of hitter that he's become the last couple 353 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,719 Speaker 1: of years. So they're pumped about that, but the injury 354 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 1: history suggests there's always something right around the corner with him. 355 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: Carlos Korea looked really in shape. We talked to him 356 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: at twins Fest last weekend. He looked, you know, like 357 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: he's ready to go, and he talked about it. I think, 358 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: you know, it's funny he's going to have to do 359 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: the treatment at all times on the heels or the 360 00:17:24,080 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 1: planner fasciatus on both feet. But I think he feels 361 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: a lot more prepared for that after the two years 362 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: are going through it. It's just that that's hard to escape. 363 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: I mean, it's something that sticks around once you get it. 364 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: And you know, he's doing this shock wave of therapy 365 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: on the right foot that he said last year was 366 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: so painful that it would make him tear up when 367 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: he was taking it. So but he's in much better 368 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: place now because of where the feet are, So you know, 369 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: how do they manage that. That'll be interesting. They're going 370 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: to need someone to step in at times at shortstop. 371 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: Royce Lewis, you know, the end of the season, he 372 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: kind of figured out a new routine. They talked about 373 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: it that he changed things midyear after he came back 374 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: from the devastating quad injury on opening Day. The ends, 375 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: I think he played fifty eight of sixty one games 376 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: at the end of the season. That's the longest he 377 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: stayed on the major league field at any time. I 378 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: think they're hopeful that that's the trend. But he's blown 379 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: out his knee twice, he has a quad injury. He's definitely, 380 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: you know, had tricky little injuries here and there over 381 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: his time in the majors. So the fact that you're 382 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: built around those three, you know, it leads to concerns. 383 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 3: You need depth. That's why some of these young guys 384 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:33,200 Speaker 3: are going to have to come through. 385 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: The brooks Lee's, the Edward Julians, the Jose Mirandas the 386 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: you know guys like that. And it's why Willy Castro 387 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: remains valuable to them is because they can put him 388 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: in at shortstop for twenty games of Carlos Corego's on 389 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: the il and it's something that they need more of. 390 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: They need outfield depth right now. You know, the outfield's 391 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 1: pretty thin to think if you looked at it right now. 392 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: Willie Castro is probably their fourth outfielder. He's really sort 393 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: of your back up every position with the exception of catcher, 394 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 1: and they've talked about maybe even putting him at first 395 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: base and knowing he could handle it, and it wouldn't 396 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 1: shock me at all. 397 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 3: But you know, pitching wise, you know. 398 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 1: Bailey over previously, he's been healthy the last couple of 399 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,919 Speaker 1: years and has done really well. He had previous injury 400 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: history that they helped him manage his way through. Joe Ryan, 401 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: you know, the groin got him in twenty twenty three. 402 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: Last year he had the forearm injury. Or you know, 403 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: that's challenging. But he came in sounding like he's feeling 404 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: really good. He said that before he got to camp 405 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: he wanted to be hitting ninety on the gun and 406 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: in his first bullpen session, his first pitch was like 407 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: eighty nine to five, and so he feels really good. 408 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: Where they've said that, there's the MRIs have showed that 409 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: he's cleared. He's never really been an injury history guy. 410 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: So you know at the top you've got those three guys, 411 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: but you know it's then you're looking at Chris Paddock 412 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: and Simon Woods, Richardson, David Festol. You've got some questions 413 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,919 Speaker 1: at the back end of the rotation. But you know, 414 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: Paddock thinks he's going to be healthy and good to go. 415 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 1: He just didn't return at the end of last year. 416 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:07,679 Speaker 1: And you know, the key for them would be not 417 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: have to push him the way they did last year. 418 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: Anthony Deskafani's injury in spring training meant that Chris Paddock 419 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: was full go from the start coming off of his 420 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: second Tommy John and that was not a great spot 421 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: to be in for them. 422 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 2: Dan last one because we're pushing against a break here, 423 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 2: so I'm going to phrase it this way to get 424 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 2: to it quicker. So prospects, give me the guy that 425 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 2: is going to make an impact of the bigger names 426 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: this year. So we got like thirty seconds, But give 427 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 2: me the one name on our way out here. 428 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,080 Speaker 3: If he can stay healthy. Emmanuel Rodriguez. 429 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,160 Speaker 1: That's my guess, just because he's at Triple A already, 430 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: outfield is probably where they have their most holes. I 431 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: think he can make a If he was hitting a 432 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 1: ton at Triple A and staying healthy, he can be 433 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: up here pretty quick. 434 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 2: There you go, Okay, circle the name. Of course, we 435 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,719 Speaker 2: do a Baseball America Hot Sheet show as well, but 436 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:56,800 Speaker 2: make sure you check out Dan's work in the athletic 437 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 2: Give him a follow on Twitter. 438 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 4: Dan Dan, And if I would have gone to twins 439 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 4: Fest this year, would you have interviewed me? 440 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 1: Uh No, I would have said hello, though, I would 441 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: you know what I would ask you if you were 442 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:07,640 Speaker 1: going to buy. 443 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 3: The team, if you were one of the guys that 444 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 3: was interested in my well. 445 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,159 Speaker 4: Hell, I chose the BBW A A instead. 446 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 5: That's why short arms. 447 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 4: Dan. 448 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 2: Thank you for the time. Great to see you appreciate it. 449 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 3: Hey, thanks guys,