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Home , Byron Buxton, Doug Mientkiewicz, Gene Glynn, Jason Kubel, Terry Ryan (baseball), Torii Hunter

Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

➢ No refunds in for big-name busts. Star Tribune (Rand) pg. 1 ➢ Twins will talk to Chip Hale; search could go into November. Star Tribune (Neal) pg. 2 ➢ Ryan has strong internal pool, but will also look outside. MLB.com (Bollinger) pg. 2 ➢ Stars of tomorrow ready to shine as ’14 AFL season begins. MLB.com (Cahill) pg. 4 ➢ Would a reunion with make sense for Twins? 1500 ESPN (Wetmore) pg. 7 ➢ Report: Twins manager search ‘won’t be finalized within the next week.’ 1500 ESPN (Wetmore) pg. 8 ➢ Twins receive permission to interview A’s bench Chip Hale. 1500 ESPN (Wetmore) pg. 9 ➢ Chip Hale to interview with D-Backs Tuesday, later with Minnesota. CBS Sports (Heyman) pg. 9 ➢ Twin GM continues to interview candidates. News-Press (Dorsey) pg. 10 ➢ Twins get permission to interview A’s bench coach Chip Hale. NBC Sports (Gleeman) pg. 10

No refunds in baseball for big-name busts

Michael Rand / Star Tribune – 10/7/14

It is said that fortune favors the bold. If you printed out that expression and mailed it to members of the Tigers and A’s front offices, however, they would almost certainly crumple it up, light it on fire, or worse.

The A’s, who beefed up their starting pitching for an extended playoff , saw their top acquisition, Jon Lester, give up six runs in a wild card defeat to the Royals.

The Tigers, who seemingly have every winner in history — including deadline acquisition David Price — were swept in the ALDS when none of their aces could trump the Orioles’ no-names.

So the teams that many assumed would grind it out in a classic AL Championship Series for the chance to go to the failed to win a playoff game. It was another reminder that big spending and bold trades guarantee nothing in baseball.

That doesn’t mean being able to spend money and acquire good players has nothing to do with success. The Yankees and Red Sox spend money and (usually) win. They have increased margin for , but they also have to make good choices. The A’s have decreased margin for error and must make better choices.

That margin can show up in the playoffs; the Yankees and Red Sox have won eight of the past 18 World Series titles, while the A’s haven’t made it to the World Series in that span but have lost seven consecutive loser-goes-home playoff games.

Regardless, the most important factor in success isn’t how much you spend, but how you spend it. Low payroll teams with cheap, young talent can thrive. High-payroll teams with bloated contracts often nose-dive.

Those are all important sentiments to remember as we head into an offseason when the Twins will be confronted with renewed questions about payroll and spending money.

Minnesota’s payroll was around $85 million last season — on the low end in MLB, though enough to compete if used to its full potential. The Twins’ biggest problem was that they didn’t have enough good young players working cheap to offset $35 million in payroll being tied up by two underachieving players ( and Ricky Nolasco). The question for ownership and GM Terry Ryan is whether they think the team has enough young talent in 2015 to warrant going out and spending more money to shore up holes. Anyone can throw money at a problem and hope it works, but if you do that enough times and fail you’ll wind up with less flexibility when it actually is time to contend.

Twins will talk to Chip Hale; manager search could go into November

La Velle E. Neal III / Star Tribune – 10/7/14

Chip Hale is set to interview for the Twins managerial position, according to a source with direct knowledge of their search. And he probably won’t be the last candidate from outside the organization the Twins will interview.

The Twins on Monday asked the for to permission to speak with Hale, and that permission was granted.

Hale, 49, is a hot commodity and has an interview scheduled for Tuesday with the , a team he coached for from 2007 to ’09. But indications are that he would love to lead the Twins, the team he was drafted by and played 319 games with from 1989 to 1996. Hale has been the bench coach for the A’s for the past three seasons. Before that, he was the third base coach for the .

He is the first candidate from outside the organization that the Twins are known to have contacted to interview. So far, , Doug Mientkiewicz and Gene Glynn are the in-house candidates to be known to have interviewed for the position. Orioles bench coach John Russell is expected to interview, but the Twins have not officially requested permission to approach him, and his team still is playing in the postseason.

Hale has been credited for his tremendous attitude and ability to energize players. That could click in the Twins clubhouse, where outgoing manager admitted last week at his exit news conference that a new message might be needed.

Twins Terry Ryan would not confirm that he will interview Hale. But Ryan indicated that his search will include outside candidates — and it might last for a while.

While the Diamondbacks and have issued statements about the candidates they are interviewing for their managerial openings, the Twins prefer to keep that information private. However, Ryan said, “There are some people I might have interest in who are still in the playoffs.”

How long will the Twins’ search take? Possibly through the end the World Series. The Twins have presented a list to , compliant with the league’s directive on minority hiring, and that list includes minority candidates.

“We did this the last time we looked for a manager,” Ryan said. “It’s not anything out of the ordinary. This is the right thing to do.”

That could mean that potential managers such as Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo and Rays bench coach Dave Martinez could be on their list. Before the Twins named Gardenhire manager in 2002, one of the candidates they interviewed was Fredi Gonzalez, who is now manager of the Atlanta Braves.

If the Twins are waiting for candidates who are coaching in the World Series, their search could last until November.

Ryan has strong internal pool, but will also look outside

Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com – 10/6/14

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MINNEAPOLIS -- When Twins general manager Terry Ryan described his ideal candidate to replace Ron Gardenhire as manager, he left the door open on bringing in a fresh voice from outside of the organization.

But he also hinted that finding a manager from within the organization would be a preference, and one week after parting ways with Gardenhire, the Twins have yet to interview any potential skippers from outside the organization. Ryan has reportedly only interviewed Twins coach Paul Molitor and Fort Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz, but will interview more candidates from both inside and outside the organization in the coming weeks.

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"I don't think we ought to just stay within, although that would be a nice preference, if you could," Ryan said. "My preference is to get the best guy. It'd be nice to get a guy that's inside, because he'd know the inner workings of this organization, and the market, and the ballpark and the personnel. That would be great, but sometimes, it's not meant to be."

Molitor, 58, is considered the favorite after spending last season as a coach with the Twins. The Hall of Famer is familiar with the players on the big league roster and also has worked with many of the club's top prospects such as and Miguel Sano during his time as the organization's Minor League baserunning and coordinator.

Molitor, a St. Paul native who finished his playing career with the Twins from 1996-98, was also an on-field coach with the Twins in 2000 and '01 under former manager Tom Kelly. He's also thought of as forward-thinking and isn't afraid of advanced statistics or implementing infield shifts.

Molitor, though, has no managerial experience at any level, but Ryan has indicated that won't be an overriding factor for candidates. Several big league managers such as Mike Matheny, Brad Ausmus, Matt Williams and Robin Ventura were hired in recent years without any managerial experience.

"There are managers who are in the postseason right now who didn't have one game of experience as manager," Ryan said.

Mientkiewicz, 40, is also familiar with the Twins, playing the first seven years of his career in Minnesota from 1998-2004 before rejoining the organization as manager of Fort Myers in 2013. The Miracle went 79-56 in '13 and 82-57 in '14.

Mientkiewicz has also managed several top prospects, including Buxton and Sano, as well as Kennys Vargas, who was solid as a rookie for the Twins in '14. He's also known as more of a fiery type, which is in contrast to Molitor's more laid-back persona.

So while Molitor and Mientkiewicz are the top two internal candidates, the Twins are also expected to look at bench coach Terry Steinbach and -A Rochester manager Gene Glynn.

Among candidates from outside the organization, White Sox third-base coach Joe McEwing and Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo are expected to be strongly considered. Orioles manager Buck Showalter also openly endorsed bench coach John Russell as a candidate, and he's expected to be interviewed once Baltimore's playoff run is over.

The Twins have also been linked to Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez and A's bench coach Chip Hale. 3

Ryan will be the main decision-maker on the next manager, but he has been working closely with assistant general manager Rob Antony. Twins owner Jim Pohlad has indicated that he won't get involved in the interview process initially, with Ryan handling the first round and looking for what he wants in a manager.

"He's got to be a tactician, handle the media, be involved in the community, take an interest in our Minor Leagues and in scouting and so forth, have a grasp of the organizational policies," Ryan said. "Everything that leaders do."

Stars of tomorrow ready to shine as ’14 AFL season begins

Teddy Cahill / MLB.com – 10/7/14

Over its 23-year history, the has developed a reputation as a finishing school for baseball's top prospects. This year, once again, many of the game's best young players will gather in the desert, hoping to prove themselves in the same league that helped catapult , and to stardom.

When the AFL opens play Tuesday, the concentration of talent will again be readily apparent. Two of the three Opening Day games feature premium pitching matchups, and the third game is highlighted by two of the best in the Minor Leagues.

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The action begins at 2:35 p.m. ET when Peoria and right-hander , the Royals' No. 2 prospect, visits Surprise and right- hander Taijuan Walker, whose last start was a complete game for the Mariners in the midst of their pennant race.

At the same time Tuesday afternoon, Glendale and , the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, will host Mesa and shortstop , the Cubs' No. 2 prospect. The day ends with another ' duel, as right-hander Tyler Glasnow, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect, will take the mound for Scottsdale at 8:35 p.m. ET at Salt River, facing right-hander Archie Bradley, the D- backs' No. 1 prospect.

Games with that level of talent are commonplace in the AFL, where 23 players ranked on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list will play this season.

For the second year in a row, Byron Buxton, baseball's top ranked prospect, is among the top prospects playing in the desert this fall. Last year, the Twins' No. 1 prospect .212/.288/.404 in 12 games as a 19-year-old for Glendale. This year, he will be playing for Salt River as he tries to make up for lost time after missing most of the regular season due to injuries.

Buxton played in just 31 games during the regular season. A wrist injury he suffered during delayed his start to the season and continued to hamper him throughout the first half with Class A Advanced Fort Myers. Then, in his first game after being promoted to -A New Britain in August, he suffered a concussion in a harrowing collision and was sidelined for the final three weeks of the season.

Now healthy again, Buxton will be one of the most-watched players in the AFL. But his is far from the only storyline to watch over the 4 next six weeks.

Making up for lost time Like Buxton, several other players are headed to Arizona to make up for time they lost to injury during the regular season. Others who are taking advantage of the extra developmental time include , the Reds' No. 2 prospect, and shortstop Tim Anderson, the White Sox's No. 2 prospect.

Many of the starting pitchers in the AFL are there because injuries prevented them from reaching their innings caps during the regular season. Bradley, Glasnow, Zimmer and Walker all spent part of this season on the disabled list, as did right-handers C.J. Edwards, the Cubs' No. 5 prospect, and Roberto Osuna, the Blue Jays' No. 5 prospect.

Recent Draft picks Last year, just four months after he was selected second overall in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, the Cubs sent to the AFL. He hit .364/.457/.727 with six home runs in 20 games. He was named MVP and helped Mesa to the league championship game. That performance helped serve as a springboard for his historic '14 season, when he hit 43 home runs and reached Triple-A.

It is unlikely any player will be able to repeat Bryant's spectacular performance this season. But three members of the '14 Draft class will play in the AFL, led by shortstop Trea Turner, the Padres' No. 5 prospect. He was selected 13th overall in June and hit .323/.406/.448 with five home runs and 23 stolen bases in 69 games between short-season Eugene and Class A Fort Wayne.

In addition to the small group of '14 draftees, several members of the '13 Draft class will play in the AFL. Right-hander , the first overall pick last year, headlines the group. The Astros' No. 2 prospect had a rocky start to his first full professional season, but pitched much better after his promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi in July. He will try to build on that progress while pitching with Salt River this fall, where he joins Bradley and Buxton to form one of the most star-studded rosters in the league.

Pace of play Major League Baseball announced last week a set of experimental rules designed to speed up the pace of play would be used in the AFL this year.

• A hitter must keep one foot inside the batter's box throughout his , unless one of a few exceptions, such as a foul ball, occurs.

• Intentional walks will be called for by the manager and the batter will automatically take first base.

• There will be a maximum break of two minutes, five seconds between innings, with hitters required to be in the batter's box by the one-minute, 45-second mark. If either team doesn't comply, a ball or strike will be assessed accordingly.

• There will be a maximum of two minutes, 30 seconds allowed for pitching changes, including those that occur during an inning break. A ball will be called if a team takes too long.

• Each team will be permitted three "timeout" conferences covering any meeting involving pitchers and catchers, managers, coaches

5 and batters. Timeouts during pitching changes and those that result from an injury or other emergency will not be counted toward the limit. Additionally, at Salt River home games, a 20-second pitch clock will be used. Those games will also include instant replay, as MLB continues to study potential modifications to the review system.

The experimental pace of play initiatives continue the AFL's tradition of being a testing lab for MLB's potential rule changes. Last year, the instant replay system was debuted in the AFL.

Defensive moves Position changes often happen in a less-competitive environment than the AFL, but the league gives players who are moving around the diamond another chance to get experience.

This year, Josh Bell, the Pirates' No. 3 prospect, will be the most prominent player learning a new position. He has exclusively played the outfield in the Minor Leagues, but the Pirates already have a star-studded trio of young in the big leagues. So, this fall, Bell will try out first base, where he began taking ground balls during the regular season.

Although Peter O'Brien, the D-backs' No. 7 prospect, won't be changing positions when he catches for Salt River this fall, his progress defensively will be closely watched by evaluators. The 24-year old was a catcher in college, but has played four positions since the Yankees drafted him in the second round in '12.

The D-backs acquired O'Brien at the non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for Martin Prado, but injuries limited him to four games with his new club. The D-backs are sending him to the AFL as a catcher, and how he performs behind the plate over the next six weeks could inform his ultimate defensive home.

No matter where O'Brien ends up defensively, his offensive prowess gives him a chance to reach the Major Leagues. He hit 34 home runs in 106 games this season, ranking fifth among Minor Leaguers.

MLB.com's Top Prospects in AFL 1. Byron Buxton, OF, Twins 4. , SS, Indians 5. Addison Russell, SS, Cubs 9. Archie Bradley, RHP, D-backs 13. Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers 16. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pirates 29. Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates 38. Raul Mondesi, SS, Royals 40. Jesse Winker, OF, Reds 41. Mark Appel, RHP, Astros 47. Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Royals 49. D.J. Peterson, 3B, Mariners 53. C.J. Edwards, RHP, Cubs 60. Brandon Nimmo, OF, Mets 71. Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres 6

82. Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox 84. Nick Williams, OF, Rangers 85. Daniel Robertson, SS, A's 86. Hunter Dozier, 3B, Royals 87. Miguel Almonte, RHP, Royals 88. Dalton Pompey, OF, Blue Jays 96. Trea Turner, SS, Padres 98. , 1B, A's

Would a reunion with Torii Hunter make sense for Twins?

Derek Wetmore / 1500 ESPN – 10/6/14

Torii Hunter's Tigers were eliminated Sunday from postseason contention.

A midseason acquisition of ace David Price didn't push Detroit past the Divisional Series. Now, Hunter, 39, is considering retirement, according to reports.

Let's examine an out-there idea: If he decides to give it another go, could signing Hunter make sense for the Twins?

The Twins had an outfield defense problem in 2014. Having lousy fielding in the corners from players like , Jason Kubel and Oswaldo Arcia hurt the Twins' pitching staff and hindered the team's ability to prevent runs.

(The 2014 Twins scored more runs than both teams still fighting for the World Series: 10 more runs than ; and 64 more runs than the Royals. Last place in the , then, was a function of bad pitching and fielding.)

Twins fans remember Hunter as a spectacular , but age eventually catches up to everybody. Hunter would not help the Twins catch more in 2015. According to advanced metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating, Hunter was among the worst defensive outfielders in baseball this season, among regulars.

Defensive metrics have their shortcomings, so it's not wise to use them as gospel. But a three-year trend of declining range and Runs Saved for a 39-year-old is something any potential suitor should consider. He hasn't regularly played center field since 2010. Even after a move to the corner outfield, Hunter's reputation as a great fielder far outpaces his real performance the past two seasons.

Outfield uncertainty

The Twins 2015 outfield is loaded with uncertainty entering the offseason. It might make sense to spend some money in free agency or find a trade that would upgrade the unit's fielding. But it's hard to know if that's the route the Twins will go based on how many questions remain seemingly unanswered.

Only one thing appears certain: Arcia deserves a corner spot and all the plate appearances the Twins can find for him.

After that, questions abound.

Is Arcia best suited for right field, where his strong arm theoretically could offset some of his range limitations? Is he going to get better at playing the tricky right field wall at , where there are three different surfaces and an inch could mean the difference between hitting limestone facing or a softer wall? Or would a move to left field suit the young slugger? 7

Will be given another legitimate shot in center field? Or will the pending arrival of Byron Buxton mean the Twins will try to move Hicks to a corner outfield spot, like they did in the minors this season? Is Hicks even part of the future?

Will Jordan Schafer be re-signed? He performed well after the Twins claimed him off waivers from the Braves, but his numbers don't inspire confidence.

Besides the questions in the outfield, one other point works in Hunter's favor. His bat belongs.

Rightfielders as a whole in 2014 hit .255/.318/.397 (with a 100 wRC+ and a .316 wOBA).

In 586 plate appearances in 2014, Hunter hit .286/.319/. 446 (with a 113 wRC+ and a .346 wOBA).

Even factoring in a likely decline with age, Hunter's bat should be better than the league-average , and certainly better than the Twins' in-house options not named Arcia.

Clubhouse

I've come to believe that there is something to be said for having a strong clubhouse presence. It's not the ultimate talent or skillset a club should seek. But it's a piece to the puzzle.

Whether or not I believe that or readers believe that, it's clear the Twins believe that.

How else could you reasonably explain signing Matt Guerrier and Jason Kubel and Jason Bartlett, and then sticking with them longer than logic would otherwise suggest? Signing and keeping Guerrier was less problematic than the other two, but Kubel and Bartlett appeared washed-up and made Twins decision makers look foolish in 2014.

Hunter's clubhouse cred shouldn't be discounted. The Twins, though, should have learned in 2014 that grit and determination can't overcome the absence of ability. Keep his leadership in mind, but let it guide your decisions.

Would it make sense for Hunter?

Hunter will turn 40 in July of next year. He has not won a World Series.

Three times in three different cities he's made it to the Championship Series only to fall two steps short of baseball's ultimate goal.

Will that be a motivating factor? Would a one-year deal with a loaded contender make sense for Hunter? Has Detroit's window closed? Will they want him back? Would another World Series hopeful add him to the clubhouse in hopes of sparking a team with that final ingredient? Would Hunter be interested in a thank-you contract to end his career with the Twins?

Does he even want to play another season?

It should be an interesting story to follow this offseason. For now, there are more questions than answers.

Report: Twins manager search ‘won’t be finalized within the next week’

Derek Wetmore / 1500 ESPN – 10/6/14

The day the team parted ways with Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan wouldn't put a timeline on the Twins search for a new manager.

The team reportedly has met with Paul Molitor and Doug Mientkiewicz and plans to meet with Orioles bench coach John Russell. The list of candidates will be longer than that.

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Ryan provided a timeline update, according to David Dorsey of the Fort Myers New-Press.

"It won't be finalized within the next week," Ryan told the New-Press. "We don't want to move quickly. More importantly, I want to make sure I get the right fit. I have various people I still need to talk to."

Ryan made it clear a week ago when he formally fired Gardenhire that he had offered the ousted manager another job inside the organization. Gardenhire was non-committal at the time about whether or not that would interest him, but he had good things to say about his time with the organization.

Ryan provided some clarity on what that position might look like, according to Dorsey:

"He could evaluate. He could rove. He could be a mentor to minor league coaches and managers. We haven't dug in and talked about it because we haven't sat down and figured out what he wants to do."

Ryan was in Fort Myers to evaluate players in the Instructional League.

Twins receive permission to interview A’s bench coach Chip Hale

Derek Wetmore / 1500 ESPN – 10/6/14

A new managerial candidate has emerged for the Twins.

The Twins have asked - and the A's have granted - permission to talk to Oakland's bench coach, Chip Hale, according to Darren Wolfson.

Hale already had planned to interview for the Arizona Diamondbacks vacant managerial position.

The Twins reportedly have spoken with Paul Molitor and Doug Mientkiewicz about the job, and plan to speak with Orioles bench coach John Russell, too.

Chip Hale to interview with D-Backs Tuesday, later with Minnesota

Jon Heyman / CBS Sports – 10/6/14

A's bench coach Chip Hale will interview for the Diamondbacks managing job Tuesday and the Twins likely later in the week.

The well-respected Hale, who was thought to finish second when the Mets hired Terry Collins as manager and was among the finalists for the Mariners job that went to Lloyd McClendon, is a hot item in managerial circles right now. Interestingly, the perception was that Hale even finished ahead of A's manager Bob Melvin in the Mets' derby, though it's not always clear-cut who finishes second, third, etc.

Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com first reported that the Twins received permission from the A's to interview Hale.

Hale played for the Twins in his nine-year major-league career, and that isn't insignificant, as Minnesota is a team that generally prefers to hire from within the Twins family. Paul Molitor, a Twins coach and former Twin, has been seen as the favorite for that job.

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The Diamondbacks are interviewing about 10 for their open managing job.

Twins GM Terry Ryan continues to interview candidates

David Dorsey / News-Press – 10/6/14

The new manager of the will not be named or even decided this week and probably not the next either, team general manager Terry Ryan said.

“It’s going to be a process,” Ryan said Monday afternoon at CenturyLink Sports Complex, where he was not interviewing candidates. Instead, he was evaluating young prospects in an instructional league game on new field No. 8, behind the new player development academy.

“It won’t be finalized within the next week,” Ryan said. “We don’t want to move quickly. More importantly, I want to make sure I get the right fit. I have various people I still need to talk to.

“Every day, I get some recommendations. You’d be amazed.”

Ryan did not want to talk about the candidates he already has interviewed.

Ryan reportedly has met with Paul Molitor and Doug Mientkiewicz, who guided the Fort Myers Miracle to the championship this season.

Ryan said he also is considering some out-of-house candidates, names he did not want to divulge.

“We want to branch out and see who’s out there,” Ryan said.

Although the Twins fired Ron Gardenhire after 13 seasons as their manager, the Twins have not fired him from the organization.

Ryan said Gardenhire has been offered an as-yet defined job.

“He has the option to come back and be a member of this organization,” Ryan said. “He could evaluate. He could rove. He could be a mentor to minor league coaches and managers.

“We haven’t dug in and talked about it because we haven’t sat down and figured out what he wants to do.”

Ryan planned on leaving Fort Myers on Tuesday and returning Monday for the team’s organizational meetings.

One of the fans watching the instructional league game said he hoped Mientkiewicz earned the big-league managing job.

“I’ve been following him since he played for the ,” Dick Cormack, 60, said of Mientkiewicz, who also played for the Miracle as a . “From the first time I saw him fielding first base, he caught my eye.

“Just watching him manage in the minors, he’s very intelligent. I hope they hire him.”

Twins get permission to interview A’s bench coach Chip Hale

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Aaron Gleeman / NBC Sports – 10/6/14

Minnesota has asked for and received permission to interview Oakland bench coach Chip Hale, who will also interview with Arizona.

Hale was a 17th-round draft pick by the Twins in 1987 and debuted with them in 1989, playing six of his seven seasons in Minnesota as a utility man. He’s been manager Bob Melvin’s right-hand man for three seasons, previously had a spot on the Mets’ coaching staff, and also managed in the minors.

He joins Paul Molitor, Doug Mientkiewicz, and John Russell as known candidates to replace Ron Gardenhire, who was fired last week after 13 seasons as Twins manager.

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