Contrary to what fans may believe, the Twins were interested in signing Justin Morneau during the off-season. Team president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this week there were discussions last fall before Morneau accepted instead an offer from the Rockies.
“This is a guy that we have a very close relationship with,” St. Peter said. “Wore our uniform since day one as a pro player and won an MVP for us.”
St. Peter also said moving Joe Mauer from catcher to first base was “going to impact Justin’s role with the team.” Morneau would have been a DH, pinch hitter and part-time first baseman.
No doubt the Rockies offered more money to the 32-year-old Morneau who was the American League MVP in 2006 when he was a major contributor to Minnesota’s Central Division title. Morneau reportedly has a two year $12.5 million deal with the Rockies, or $1 million less than he was paid last season by the Twins, according to a December 4, 2013 story by Cliff Corcoran on Mlb.si.com.
Morneau hasn’t been an MVP type hitter for years and the Twins traded him to the Pirates late last season. With the Rockies he’s found a familiar face in former Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer who at age 34 won the NL batting title last season.
“[Having Cuddyer] makes the transition a little easier,” Morneau said in Ben Haber’s story on MLB.com Tuesday. “He is a guy I have looked up to in the past and that I can go to if I need anything.”
Morneau has the opportunity with the Rockies to replace the retired Todd Helton at first base.
Twins Notes
The Twins have produced consecutive season records of 66 wins and 96 losses. St. Peter acknowledges the need for improvement but won’t put a number on how many games he wants the Twins to win.
“I want to see us take a step forward,” St. Peter said. “The way I define it is we obviously need to be playing meaningful games in the sense that we feel as though we are contending in the months of August and September. If we’re doing that I think we’ve taken a significant step forward and that’s ultimately what we’re hoping for.”
Baseball has made a commitment to regular season international games. In late March the Dodgers and Diamondbacks will play in Australia. St. Peter believes next year two MLB teams may play in South Korea.
“We’ve expressed interest in that (a foreign game) to the league,” he said. “I think it requires the right players on your roster to play in those games.”
Participation by the Twins in such a game could be three, four or five years away, St. Peter said. A fit for Minnesota may develop if minor league prospect Max Kepler eventually plays for the major league club and MLB approves a game in Europe. Kepler, a native of Germany, could potentially be a big draw in his home country.
Kepler, who has played first base and in the outfield during his pro career, may start this season in Class A at Fort Myers. “He’s a very impressive physical specimen,” St. Peter said. “Strong young man, great runner. Just a really, really, solid athlete.”