Baldelli to Twins: 'We're missing nothing'
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rocco Baldelli wants his team to know that scores of Major Leaguers have gone through lengthy careers without the opportunity that this group of Twins players has in front of them. It's just a matter of taking advantage.
The White Sox may have had a splashy offseason, but the Twins have also added productive pieces like Andrelton Simmons, J.A. Happ, Matt Shoemaker and Hansel Robles to a roster that has already claimed the last two American League Central championships. There's no need for the goal to be anything other than the World Series -- but that's a given, and the tone of the team meeting for the first day of full-squad activities immediately swung not to what the Twins hope to accomplish, but how exactly they can get there.
"I talked to our guys a lot about just looking around and knowing that we have the pieces that we need to accomplish our goals," Baldelli said. "You really look at it, there’s nothing that our group does not have. We’re missing nothing. So it’s up to us now.
"We have the offensive side of the game, defensive side of the ball, the arms, up and down, wonderful staff, we have experienced leadership. Really, we have everything. So we need to go out there and prove ourselves, one day at a time, go out there and get the job done today."
For what it's worth, that group isn't quite complete yet. Four players were missing from Tuesday's workouts, headlined by Simmons (travel/visa problems) and Happ (COVID-19). Non-roster invitees Andrew Albers and Tomás Telis have also not arrived in camp.
But once they arrive and the work can get underway in earnest, Baldelli hopes the quality of talent will do all of the talking for the Twins -- and back up those lofty goals.
"It’s time to unleash this group and let them go out there and play," Baldelli said. "That’s when we’re really going to come alive. Not talking about it. We’re really going to come alive when the games start and watch these guys go, because we’ve really got a hell of a group."
Johan included in Spring Training broadcast schedule
Johan Santana will join the FOX Sports North television booth as the Twins and their broadcast partners present coverage of 13 Spring Training games on television and 17 games on radio once Grapefruit League action gets underway Sunday.
Santana will make his debut in the booth alongside television play-by-play man Dick Bremer and analyst (and team special assistant) LaTroy Hawkins on March 26. He'll return alongside Bremer for another broadcast on March 27. Otherwise, most of the club's television broadcasts on FOX Sports North will be simulcasts of the radio call from a combination of Cory Provus, Dan Gladden and Kris Atteberry.
The Twins' spring opener on Sunday will be available only on radio on the Treasure Island Baseball Network, 830 WCCO, 102.9 The Wolf and RADIO.COM. The first television broadcast will be the March 3 game against Boston -- a simulcast of a radio call by Atteberry and Gladden -- and Bremer will make his first call on March 20.
All games with a broadcast will also be available for streaming via MLB.TV.
Romine in camp on Minor League deal
The Twins added more versatility to their depth with the addition of Andrew Romine on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training on Tuesday morning, bringing Minnesota's camp roster to the limit of 75. Romine reported to camp Tuesday and participated in drills alongside his new teammates.
Romine doesn't bring much with the bat -- his career OPS is .592 over 10 seasons -- but the one-time infielder has expanded his game to be an option just about everywhere on the diamond, potentially giving the Twins a plug-and-play backup at several positions to stash in the organization. He appeared at every position but catcher in each season from 2016-18 and played all nine positions in a game on Sept. 30, 2017 -- against the Twins.
The 35-year-old has appeared in 583 games since his 2010 debut in a career that has spanned stints with the Angels, Tigers, Mariners and Rangers.
"I think any time you can add a guy with the experience that he has, the versatility that he has to go out there and help us in a number of ways, we didn’t want to miss on that chance," Baldelli said. "And he was ready to go. He looked good."