Twins – Page 25 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Prez: Byron Buxton Doing Great

Posted on March 24, 2024March 24, 2024 by David Shama

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners during an interview Friday management doesn’t have a targeted number of games for Byron Buxton to play center field, or number of at bats as the club’s center fielder.

“We do not. There is no number. Taking it one day at a time. One series at a time. One month at a time.”

St. Peter was asked how Buxton is physically with spring training ending Tuesday and the regular season starting Thursday in Kansas City against the Royals? “Great. He is doing great. Fantastic.”

Since 2017 when Buxton had a career high 140 games, the gifted 30-year-old has played in as few games as 28 and no more than 92. In 2023 injuries were problematic again and his role was only as a designated hitter.

Now the plan is a return to center field where Buxton’s skills and presence give the defense, per St. Peter, “a competitive advantage.”

Team fielding, including prowess up the middle, is one of multiple reasons the club president believes his team can improve on last year’s breakthrough season when the club won the American League Central Division championship and was victorious in a playoff series for the first time in 21 years. “

We feel really good about our club defensively,” St. Peter said.

Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa are former Gold Glove winners. First baseman Carlos Santana was a Gold Glove finalist with the Pirates last season, while third baseman Royce Lewis is uber athletic and a former shortstop. Regarding the catching roster of Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez, St. Peter said “that’s as good a catching combo as there is in the American League.”

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

In evaluating the outfield corner defense, St. Peter said Max Kepler is “elite in right field by every measure” and left fielder Matt Wallner is above average.

It’s second base where Twins fans may be most concerned about the defense. Edouard Julien, 24 and a terrific hitting prospect as he showed last season in his rookie debut, can struggle in the field but St. Peter is upbeat about him. “Eddie Julien was vastly improved by the end of last year at second base and I think that’s a big deal.”

The Twins scored the 10^th most runs in MLB last season and only two other clubs hit more home runs than Minnesota’s 233. That was accomplished with Buxton and Correa, potentially two of the most productive hitters on the roster, having subpar seasons.

Asked about team hitting, St. Peter said, “We think it’s exciting. We expect to score more runs (in 2024).”

Production, St. Peter predicted, will depend on having a healthy group starting with players who struggled with injuries in the recent past: Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Kepler and first baseman Alex Kirilloff.

Buxton, at .207 and Correa with a .230 average, were hampered with injuries last season. They’re capable of doing much better in 2024 including exceeding the combined 35 home runs and 107 RBI the two produced.

Lewis has the kind of offensive talent that can carry a team. The 24-year-old showed clutch hitting with four grand slam home runs during 2023 in only 236 at bats as injuries limited his availability.

Kepler, slowed by injuries in the spring, had an eye-catching second half of the season hitting .306 after the All-Star Game break, with 12 home runs and 36 RBI. “…I am expecting big things from Max in 2024,” St. Peter said.

St. Peter refers to Kirilloff “as an elite hitter.” The 26-year-old has been on the verge for a couple of seasons in making heroic headlines but injuries have slowed his progress. “We still believe in Alex,” St. Peter said. “We think he can be a critical guy for us. ..”

Julien, 24, hit 16 home runs last season in 338 at bats. While hitting .263, he showed the ability to hit the baseball to all fields.

Jeffers could also help make St. Peter’s expectation of scoring more runs come true. He leads the team in home runs this spring with four. “Ryan Jeffers has a lot of power,” St. Peter said. “We’ve seen that in Minnesota. Last year he had a great offensive year, one of the better offensive years any catcher had in our game. He hits the ball hard. ….”

St. Peter’s optimism about 2024 extends to the pitching staff. “Since (baseball boss) Derek Falvey has been here (Nov. 2016 hired) our pitching has improved each and every year. I expect our pitching this year again to be one of the strengths of our team.”

St. Peter described it as “challenging losing Sonny Gray.” He was a superb veteran starter, a stabilizer for the Twins but he signed as a free agent with the Cardinals during the offseason.

“He gave us a chance every night, but I am really confident that our group (of starters)—led by Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan, Chris Paddack, Louie Varland—I think that group is plenty good in terms of it’s going to give us a chance to win a lot of games,” St. Peter said.

“I am also really excited about our bullpen. I think our bullpen is as deep as it’s been since Derek has been leading our baseball operation. Even with the loss of Jhoan Duran (oblique strain) to start the season, you know what we’ve seen out of Griffin Jax, what we’ve seen out of Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcala. We like our bullpen a lot. We think it will be again a strength of our club.”

St. Peter believes the players are “very determined to take another step toward a championship,” implying the club is targeting an American League Pennant. Minnesota’s record last season was 87-75. How many wins for the Twins in 2024?

“… I don’t forecast victories (number of wins),” St. Peter answered.
“I certainly expect our team to be better.”

At season’s end success will be directly tied to the health of the players. Adversity will come but in the club’s favor is its depth.

“Willi Castro was a critical player a year ago that can play all over the diamond, as can Kyle Farmer,” St. Peter said. “You add the addition of Carlos Santana (infield, outfield, catcher). He gives us additional depth there as well. …The depth we have with Jeffers and Vazquez. In our mind two starting catchers kind of sharing time there. So we like our depth a lot. We think…it will be one of the strengths of our club.”

By now, almost on the eve of the season opener, you have caught on that the longtime Twins president (named in 2022) is optimistic about 2024. Whether it’s individual players like Buxton, or the collective forecast, he can see success ahead.

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Chargers May Offer Vikings Path to Quarterback McCarthy

Posted on March 17, 2024March 17, 2024 by David Shama

The Vikings have potential to move up in the first round of next month’s NFL Draft by making a trade with the Chargers. Minnesota could propose sending its No. 11 and 23 first round picks to Los Angeles, along with wide receiver Jordan Addison, in exchange for the No. 5 slot in the draft.

That move would give Minnesota a high probability of being able to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. For months speculation has been he is a Viking favorite in the quarterback-loaded 2024 draft.

A former college coach compares McCarthy to 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy who in his second season almost led his team to a Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Both are heady quarterbacks who play with poise.

“J.J. (is a) similar style with better arm talent and athleticism,” the coach said in a text. “Would be a great pick for the Vikes.”

There’s almost a national consensus the first three franchises drafting in the first round—the Bears, Commanders and Patriots—will select quarterbacks, and perhaps in the order of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. The Cardinals hold the No. 4 selection and seemingly are committed to five-year veteran QB Kyler Murray and won’t select McCarthy.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is considered a generational talent and certain to be the first wide receiver selected in the draft. He should be a perfect fit for the Cardinals who need a big play receiver to complement Murray.

The above scenario would provide the Vikings the opportunity to trade with the Chargers for McCarthy. Los Angeles has one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks in Justin Herbert. They have just four wide receivers on their roster and are not only depleted in numbers but in talent after releasing mainstays Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

The Chargers are reorganizing payroll and personnel under new leadership including head coach Jim Harbaugh. They could be interested in receiving Addison, a talented deep threat still on a rookie contract who played like a future star for the Vikings last season. With the Vikings No. 11 selection Los Angeles might be able to land Brock Bowers, considered the prize among tight ends. At No. 23 Harbaugh could find a physical offensive lineman.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah might test the Chargers by offering tight end T.J. Hockenson instead of Addison. If it’s Hockenson, then maybe the Vikings will also dangle a second round pick while retaining Addison.

The Chargers have the option of staying at No. 5 and likely taking Malik Nabers, perhaps the second-best wide receiver in the draft. Addison, though, is a proven commodity and Harbaugh is on a mission to build a championship team in Los Angeles and could warm to the idea of additional picks in his first draft.

With a bridge quarterback for next fall in Sam Darnold, the Vikings are on the clock to find their future leader and best playmaker. They don’t need to panic, though, as the draft approaches.

Worst case scenario is staying at No. 11 and finding a Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. Then take a season to develop whoever the new QB is and accept the likely reality the losses will pile up. Minimal wins will result in a favorable draft position next season and could present the Vikings with an even better opportunity to select a talented quarterback or other playmaker.

Adofo-Mensah would be wise to also think long term about a 2025 opportunity to acquire a first-round pick from a likely bottom feeder team. The lowly Panthers don’t figure to show much improvement next season and have many positional needs. In the months ahead Adofo-Mensah should keep his Carolina colleagues on speed dial.

Worth Noting

In Adofo-Mensah’s two previous drafts leading the Vikings he has had minimal success, clicking on one major success in Addison who had 70 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The pressure is on Adofo-Mensah in the next 12 months to make moves that pay off. The public is restless, and ownership won’t have indefinite patience with the first-time GM.

Contrary to what you may have heard, junior Gophers point guard Elijah Hawkins, the Big Ten assists leader, isn’t a lock to return for another season at Minnesota. “It’s going to be a quick decision, though, in the next week or so,” he told Sports Headliners after Minnesota’s opening game loss in the Big Ten Tournament to Michigan State on Thursday.

It was a Minneapolis and Target Center first hosting the Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments the past two weeks. Kevin Warren, the former Vikings executive now president of the Bears, led the Minneapolis destination drive when he was Big Ten commissioner.

Word is the tournaments may not return, though, with the Big Ten likely to use past destinations and new ones on the West Coast as the league expands with Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

The men’s tournament was played before thousands of empty seats while the women’s tourney, led by pop culture Iowa phenom Caitlin Clark, packed the building. In Iowa’s three games reported attendance was 18,354, 18,746 and 18,575.

The Timberwolves, averaging 18,024 per game, rank 17th in NBA attendance, per ESPN.com.

Despite having one of the best seasons in franchise history, there are covered seats in Target Center not available for sale at Timberwolves games. Although those seats are not the most desirable, they could be available for sale soon as the playoffs near.

Put this in the “I will show them category.” Former Gophers basketball coach Dan Monson, fired by Long Beach State several days ago, led the 49ers to the Big West Tournament title last night and an entry into the NCAA Tournament field.

Another former Gophers head coach, Richard Pitino, led New Mexico last evening to the Mountain West tourney title and an NCAA Tournament invite.

Happy Birthday yesterday to former Gophers’ basketball captain Paul Presthus who turned 79.

The WrestleMania extravaganza is April 6 and 7 in Philadelphia and don’t be surprised if it’s staged next year at U.S. Bank Stadium.

MLB.com has the Twins ranked No. 15 for best farm system among 30 franchises. The top Minnesota prospects are outfielder Walker Jenkins (No. 10 in player rankings), shortstop Brooks Lee (No. 18) and outfielders Emmanuel Rodriguez (No. 42) and Gabriel Gonzales (No. 79). The Orioles’ farm system is ranked No. 1.

It will be a high of 51 degrees with partial sun in Kansas City for the Royals and Twins opener March 28, per Accuweather.com.

Former Golden Gophers quarterback Tim Salem, who played for his dad Joe Salem at Minnesota in 1980, has been hired as senior advisor for special teams at Georgia Tech. Salem has made a career of successful assistant coaching stops including at Illinois, Pitt, Purdue and Ohio State.

The Gophers men’s hockey team now awaits its positioning in the NCAA Tournament on March 24 after losing 2-1 to Michigan last night in a Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinals game. “I didn’t like us for big stretches tonight,” Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. “The first five minutes, I thought we had a little pop and gave a goal up. Then we got back on our heels.”

There were about 60 attendees last Tuesday night at Huntington Bank Stadium for an informational meeting regarding Name, Image and Likeness opportunities to benefit female athletes at Minnesota. Financial commitments will be coordinated through the official Gophers collective, Dinkytown Athletes.

The football Gophers begin practice Thursday and will not hold an official spring game. The 11 a.m. Saturday practice at Huntington Bank Stadium will be open to members of Dinkytown Athletes. The general public can attend the 4:30 p.m. practice at Athletes Village April 11.

Could be the golf course at Interlachen Country Club may not open until August or later because of renovation.

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Past Offered Clues about Now Failed Vikes-Cousins Deal

Posted on March 11, 2024March 11, 2024 by David Shama

The past provides insights into the likelihood of something happening in the future. Hello, free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Vikings.

News broke this afternoon Cousins is headed to the Falcons on a four-year deal. He and his representation have long been patient, savvy negotiators insistent on mega guaranteed multiyear deals including a no-trade provision. They struck the jackpot in Atlanta.

The new contract is for $100 million in guaranteed money, per a story from Nick Shook of NFL.com. The total deal is worth $180 million for the 35-year-old.

Cousins and the Vikings were on record about mutual affection and respect for one another, but the last 10 months have hinted at limits with the partnership. It was reported last May that despite Cousins having only the 2023 season remaining on his contract, an extension wasn’t imminent, and nothing ever was finalized.

It’s believed the Vikings were willing to offer guaranteed money for one or two more seasons. Perhaps at $50 million per season. Cousins had talked about finishing his career as a Viking and presumably wanted ownership and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to show maximum commitment, perhaps at least three guaranteed years and maybe consideration to play beyond then.

“After significant and positive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we were unable to reach agreement on a contract that fits the short and long-term visions for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Mensah said in a prepared statement this afternoon. “Kirk holds a special place in Vikings history, and we appreciate his leadership and contributions to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. We wish him, his wife, Julie, and their children all the best.

“Our approach heading into free agency always included layers of contingencies regarding the quarterback position. We are moving forward with plans that allow us to continue building a roster that can compete for a championship.”

Cousins got a dream deal from a team needing a quarterback to complement a roster that otherwise looks promising. His wife Julie is a Georgia native and from the Atlanta area but that most certainly didn’t have much to do with Cousins moving on. It’s a nice perk to play where the family has roots but that doesn’t drive deals of this magnitude. This is all about the bucks and security.

The Falcons are taking a major gamble with their commitment to an aging quarterback. Cousins, generally regarded as a top 12 NFL QB in recent years, had a remarkable stretch of playing without serious injury until he tore his right Achilles on October 29 last year and missed the last nine games of a season that resulted in the Vikings failing to make the playoffs.

There’s not much doubt Cousins will recover from his Achilles injury and be able to play next season. However, think about his age and the pounding he has taken in 12 NFL seasons with first the Commanders and now the Vikings. It’s clear an aging Cousins is more susceptible to injuries and being sidelined as the clock ticks toward his 40^th birthday.

Cousins takes a risk too leaving the comfort zone he had with head coach Kevin O’Connell. They spent two seasons together in the coach’s quarterback friendly environment and bonded.

Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings seem calculated and even cautious in contract negotiations. Processes have been drawn out with not only Cousins but with superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and sack master Danielle Hunter. Of the three, only Jefferson is a near lock to be with the club in 2024.

Worth Noting

Three of four players with Vikings ties top The Athletic’s list of the NFL’s best free agents. Hunter is No. 1, Cousins No. 3 and former Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith No. 4. Giants running back Saquon Barkley is No. 2.

Media mogul Sid Hartman, who passed away in October of 2020, would be 104 this Friday, March 15. Dave Mona, the longtime co-host of the WCCO Radio Sports Huddle program, reminded Sports Headliners the final show was on Hartman’s 100th birthday, March 15, 2020.

Hartman had an intense work ethic all his life and even in his final years was feisty, competitive and active on the local sports beat. His professional life as a Star Tribune columnist and radio personality dominated his days until the pandemic shut down the state and changed his life.

“I still think it was COVID that killed him,” Mona said. “Even though he didn’t have COVID, it ruined what he did, and he just couldn’t live under those circumstances.”

The Gophers basketball team split its two regular season games against Michigan State. When the two clubs play in their opening Big Ten Tournament game Thursday morning at Target Center watch the number of shots near the basket and inside scoring. The Spartans, under good-guy legendary coach Tom Izzo, have long been known for their aggressive play including inside the lane. In a 76-66 win over Minnesota, the Spartans had 44 points to Minnesota’s 12 “inside the paint.” When the Gophers won at home, 59-56, each team had 20.

Former University of Minnesota football player Jim Brunzell is organizing an early June tribute in the Twin Cities for former teammate Jim Carter who passed away last November. Carter, who captained the 1969 Gophers, was a strong leader who stayed in touch with teammates, and he will be remembered fondly by them when they gather at a local venue on either June 3 or 10.

The U holds its annual Pro Day Thursday with the following 2023 Gophers expected to participate: Tyler Nubin, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Chris Autman-Bell, Corey Crooms Jr., Sean Tyler, Kyler Baugh, Tre’Von Jones, Chris Collins and Brady Weeks.

Twins’ owner Jim Pohlad turned 71 Sunday, March 10.

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