Bobby Nightengale
@nightengalejr.bsky.social
4.2K followers 140 following 1.2K posts
Minnesota Twins beat writer for @StarTribune.com
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nightengalejr.bsky.social
Twins prospect Hendry Mendez homered in his first Arizona Fall League at-bat, which opened its six-week season tonight.

Mendez, who hit well at AA, was acquired from Philadelphia in the Harrison Bader trade.
nightengalejr.bsky.social
The Twins enter the offseason with a projected $90M in payroll commitments. @mlbtraderumors.bsky.social just released its projections for arb-eligible players.
Reposted by Bobby Nightengale
nightengalejr.bsky.social
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman: “Louie Varland vs. anybody right now, I’d take him. He’s so electric. … That was one of the greatest trades we’ve ever made.”
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Louie Varland taking it up a level in velocity during the playoffs, nearly hitting 101 mph to strike out Giancarlo Stanton.
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📬 NEW Extra Innings newsletter:

⚾️ How the Twins stacked up vs. the rest of the league at each position (spoiler: Not well).

⚾️ Mailbag Q on the attractiveness of the Twins managerial job.

🫡 A shout out to the retiring Phil Miller.

Sign up: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig...
Shortstop (1.5 fWAR, 22nd) 

Games started: Carlos Correa (91), Lee (64), Fitzgerald (5), Castro (2).  

Correa had one of the worst offensive seasons of his career and Lee has yet to prove he can be an everyday major league hitter. Defense, for both players, was a big issue. Sports Info Solutions rated Correa’s play at shortstop as negative-11 defensive runs saved (Correa moved to third base after he was traded to Houston), and Lee was rated negative-8 defensive runs saved because of his lack of range. 

Third base (1.1 fWAR, 20th) 

Games started: Royce Lewis (92), Lee (32), Bride (16), Jose Miranda (9), Castro (9), Fitzgerald (4).  

One of the important projects for the next manager is bringing the best out of Lewis. He had more homers (15 vs. 13) and the same number of RBI (52) in 164 fewer plate appearances during the 2023 season.
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Twins notebook:

-Austin Martin is cited as a player development success for his second half.

-The Twins parted with two minor league coordinators.

-Luke Keaschall underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his thumb.
www.startribune.com/twins-austin...
Twins’ Austin Martin made most of second half: ‘He’s doing it the right way’
The utility player was one of the team’s lone bright spots as the season dissolved quickly.
www.startribune.com
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Why did the Twins decide now was the time to fire manager Rocco Baldelli? What are they looking for in a new manager?

Takeaways from what Derek Falvey said during his press conference at Target Field today: www.startribune.com/twins-fire-r...
And now, the managerial search begins for the Minnesota Twins
Rocco Baldelli's firing came at the end of seven seasons as Twins manager, and sets the team on a new course, one that seems awfully shaky.
www.startribune.com
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The Twins had initially picked up Rocco Baldelli’s club option for 2026 “at some
point going into the year,” team president Derek Falvey confirmed today.

So the Twins will be on the hook for paying that and their new manager’s salary next season.
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Column from Chip Scoggins: “Standing pat was not an option. Someone had to take the fall for the nightmare that the Twins find themselves in, so ownership and front office boss Derek Falvey picked the easiest and most convenient target.”

www.startribune.com/chip-scoggin...
Scoggins: Someone had to take the fall for Twins, and that someone was Rocco Baldelli
The Twins fired their manager after seven seasons, and there was no surprise; there was too much bad baseball at Target Field.
www.startribune.com
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The Twins fired Rocco Baldelli after their 70-92 season.

Derek Falvey: “This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set.”
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“I can’t say I’ve seen as big of changes within the org as I have this year.” The Twins tried to find a new identity with their offense in the second half, but they still have a long way to catch Cleveland and Detroit in the division. www.startribune.com/starting-rot...
Starting rotation at least a starting point for Twins rebuild in 2026
The Twins have tried to change their identity since the trade deadline, but they have a big gap to overcome against their AL Central rivals.
www.startribune.com
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With 92-loss season complete, Twins remain at a loss to diagnose what went wrong in 2025

Harrison Bader: “We had the pieces there. We just didn’t have the ability to piece it all together and unfortunately that’s what happens sometimes.” www.startribune.com/with-92-loss...
With 92-loss season complete, Twins remain at a loss to diagnose what went wrong in 2025
The pitching went bad and the hitting never really was there before Twins management decided to pull the plug and trade away more than a third of the roster.
www.startribune.com
nightengalejr.bsky.social
Simeon Woods Richardson closes his season with six scoreless innings, striking out nine and giving up one hit to the Phillies.

SWR in September: 5 starts, 27 IP, 13 H, 7 ER, 9 BB, 36 K, 2.33 ERA.