Twins showing interest in Morneau return

MINNEAPOLIS-Having already brought back three of their most popular players in front-office roles this winter, could Justin Morneau be next for the Twins?

According to a person with direct knowledge, there is mutual interest in a reunion with the veteran first baseman, who intends to return for a 15th big-league season in 2017. The trouble is finding enough at-bats to make it worthwhile for either side.

"I actually talked to him the other way," newly minted Twins hall of famer Michael Cuddyer said at TwinsFest. "He's doing well. He's preparing his body to play. Obviously, there are still a lot of bats out there on the market. He'd like to play, but you've got to find a job."

Cuddyer, one of those three alumni additions to the front office, played for many seasons with Morneau on both the Twins and the Colorado Rockies. That included both 2014, when Morneau won the National League batting title, and 2006, when he claimed American League MVP honors with the Twins.

Morneau, who turns 36 in May, missed the first four months of last season following surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left (non-throwing) elbow. He signed a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox for $1 million plus incentives, and also pocketed $750,000 after the Rockies bought out his option.

He figures to accept a similar deal this time around, especially with a glut of designated hitter types still available through free agency.

In 58 games and 218 plate appearances with the White Sox, Morneau hit .261 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 25 runs batted in. His on-base percentage was just .303 but he slugged .429, including a surprising .528 mark against left-handed pitching (37 plate appearances).

Twins manager Paul Molitor recently noted he plans to give first baseman Joe Mauer even more breaks against lefties this season, which could lead to more work in the field for South Korean slugger Byung Ho Park. Molitor did reference Morneau, however, in citing those unaffected by platoon splits.

"If you go back to the Morneau/Mauer days," Molitor said, "those guys hit lefties like they hit righties."

BRESLOW INTEREST

Another ex-Twin has drawn interest from the club in recent days as veteran lefty Craig Breslow remains on the club's radar as a potential bounceback signing, a person with direct knowledge said Sunday.

Breslow, 36, has struggled to a 4.93 earned run average over the past three seasons (133 innings) with the Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins. But the Yale-educated pitcher impressed scouts, including the Twins, during a recent showcase.

Now throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot, Breslow has rediscovered the sink and run on his pitches that had been missing in recent seasons, a Twins official said. The Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians also reportedly have interest in Breslow, who made $1.5 million last year with the Marlins before getting released in mid-July.

Breslow, who posted a 2.89 ERA in 59 combined outings with the Twins in 2008-09, has pitched for nine different organizations in his pro career. That included brief stints with both the Cleveland Indians (2008) and Texas Rangers, who dropped him last August after he posted a 13.50 ERA in three Triple-A outings.

Breslow famously double-majored in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale. He was accepted into medical school at New York University in 2004 but was too busy with baseball to attend.

WRAPPING TWINSFEST

The new taproom in the Metropolitan Club was a huge hit, and the crowds that lined the service and suite levels of Target Field this weekend at TwinsFest suggested short memories toward last year's franchise-worst 103-loss season.

Unofficially, the Twins were estimating attendance for the three-day event at between 13,000 and 14,000, down slightly from the typical turnout of 15,000 or so.

"I think it's been great," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "Our fans have been incredibly patient throughout this challenging period. I think whereas a lot of fans are taking a wait-and-see approach, there's a very strong connection between a lot of our fans and this young core group of players."

TwinsFest and the Twins Winter Caravan were also opportunities for new chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine to interact with the fan base.

With the Super Bowl coming to U.S. Bank Stadium in 2018, the Twins are committed to keeping TwinsFest in their home ballpark for next January, although the dates could be moved up by a week. Target Field has been offered to the host committee as a possible venue for activities leading up to Super Bowl 52.

Talks continue regarding the possible move of TwinsFest to the Vikings' home stadium in 2019.