Headlines

  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Twins, Justin Morneau Interested In Reunion

By Connor Byrne | January 29, 2017 at 4:35pm CDT

The Twins and one of their all-time best players, free agent designated hitter/first baseman Justin Morneau, have mutual interest in a reunion, reports Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press.

Morneau spent the first 11 years of his career in Minnesota, which selected him in the third round of the 1999 draft. As a member of the Twins from 2003-2013, Morneau slashed .278/.347/.485 with 221 home runs in 5,350 plate appearances, earned four All-Star nods and won the American League MVP in 2006. Unfortunately, Morneau’s effectiveness began fading after he suffered a concussion midway through the 2010 campaign, when he may have been on the way to another MVP. His tenure with the Twins concluded when they traded him to the Pirates in August 2013.

Morneau didn’t last in Pittsburgh beyond his late-2013 run there and has since played for the Rockies, with whom he hit .319 in 2014 and won the National League batting title, and White Sox. The 35-year-old appeared in only 49 games with the Rockies in 2015 and then endured one of the least productive campaigns of his career last season in Chicago (though he didn’t debut until June after undergoing offseason elbow surgery). All told, Morneau hit .261/.303/.429 in 218 PAs and paired a career-worst walk rate (5.5 percent) with a bloated strikeout rate (23.9 percent – well above his lifetime mark of 15.5).

While another Morneau-Minnesota go-around would make for a feel-good story, there might not be enough at-bats available to make it worthwhile, writes Berardino. The Twins already have first base/DH types in $23MM man Joe Mauer, who used to team with Morneau to terrorize opposing pitchers, as well as younger options in Byung Ho Park and Kennys Vargas. But even if Morneau doesn’t end up joining the Twins, he is aiming to sign somewhere for what would be his 15th season in the majors.

Share 0 Retweet 17 Send via email0

Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau

Poll: Rangers’ First Base/DH Situation
Main
Dipoto: Mariners “Plainly” In “Win-Now Mode”
View Comments (23)
Post a Comment

23 Comments

  1. Connorsoxfan

    8 years ago

    Yes please.

    Reply
    • curl16

      8 years ago

      I would not want to die in white soxpurgetory either

      Reply
    • curl16

      8 years ago

      Can he pitch high 70s Iam told

      Reply
  2. aussiejaysfan

    8 years ago

    I’d rather The Jays DFA smock and pick up Morneau tbh

    1
    Reply
    • jdgoat

      8 years ago

      Ya even if he sucks at least there’s the Canadian connection

      Reply
      • aussiejaysfan

        8 years ago

        There’s that. And he at least has had success before. Smoak has achieved nothing other than a future hall of fame rookie hype. Probably won’t cost much either. Can’t hurt

        Reply
  3. Whyamihere

    8 years ago

    When I look at the Twin’s roster, I think the one thing missing is a 1B/DH of questionable ability at this point.

    4
    Reply
    • coryw21

      8 years ago

      Hahah yah the ONE thing they need 😉

      Reply
    • ClancyJ

      8 years ago

      Haha. I agree.

      Reply
  4. Bob Smiley

    8 years ago

    for a 1 day …then retirement? thats the best i would offer him.

    Reply
  5. Aaron Sapoznik

    8 years ago

    I wouldn’t mind the rebuilding White Sox giving him another shot to be their primary DH versus RHP along with a backup at 1B to right-handed hitting Jose Abreu. The White Sox don’t have many candidates to fill that role and Morneau could platoon at DH with defensively challenged OF Avisail Garcia when the latter isn’t patrolling RF. He could also give Abreu an occasional breather at 1B while the Cuban slugger hits in the DH spot.

    Morneau had been inactive for quite some time last playing for the Rockies in 2015 and finally debuting with the White Sox on July 15th. He was rusty returning from a prolonged absence that included back issues. He definitely needs to be in the A.L. at this stage of his career and the White Sox may provide his best opportunity for AB’s in 2017, at least until the summer deadline when they might have a chance to flip him to a contender if he proves healthy and productive.

    1
    Reply
    • WhiteSox4ever

      8 years ago

      Very well said agree 100 percent

      Reply
  6. duhtruth

    8 years ago

    why not trade for CJ cron. he’s expendable. what package would entice the Angels?

    Reply
    • Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA

      8 years ago

      Cost controlled pitching.

      Reply
      • duhtruth

        8 years ago

        like the twins have any

        Reply
        • myaccount

          8 years ago

          So there’s your answer, truth

          Reply
      • Daryl125

        8 years ago

        Angels are allergic to pitching.

        Reply
  7. dsteig

    8 years ago

    Twin should get Morneau. He has proven that he can hit better than Park or Vargas

    Reply
  8. davidcoonce74

    8 years ago

    Man, morneau and Mauer are both pretty important examples of why all sports need to take concussions seriously.

    2
    Reply
  9. comebacktrail28

    8 years ago

    At the end of the Year outside of Abreu , Morneau might of been the Sox best hitter

    Reply
    • Aaron Sapoznik

      8 years ago

      Jose Abreu really tore it up in the second half after being reunited with his son in July. Justin Morneau wasn’t half bad for the White Sox considering his long layoff and some minor setbacks with his back..

      That being said, Adam Eaton was the most consistent White Sox player throughout the 2017 season both offensively and defensively. Rookie SS Tim Anderson also matched or exceeded expectations with his all around game when he was promoted to the White Sox on June 1oth.

      Reply
  10. tlepar38

    8 years ago

    Great idea, if you’re looking to acquire warm fuzzies. Hey, I was a big fan of Morneaus even after he left the Twins. Besides putting a couple more butts in the seats (iffy) not sure if this move is prudent. But then again…. Torii and Cuddyer will be back so what the hey!!

    Reply
  11. Mill City Mavs

    8 years ago

    If a bench role isn’t working out I could totally see him joining the team as an assistant of some sorts like Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer and Latroy Hawkins have recently done. I would love to see him back in the organization. Get it done Twins!

    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Recent

    Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

    J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

    Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

    Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

    Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

    Mets’ Dedniel Nunez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Seattle Mariners

    Reds Activate Jake Fraley, Option Christian Encarnacion-Strand

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Cubs Select Brooks Kriske

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version