Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli watches from the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Although free agency hit the Minnesota Twins especially hard during the off-season, manager Rocco Baldelli believes his team is strong enough to keep the American League Central title.
“It really does, he said Sunday when asked about the impact of free agency on the Minnesota roster.
Speaking before an exhibition game against the Washington Nationals at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Baldelli refused to bemoan the fact that nine players, including top starting pitcher Sonny Gray, left the team, presumably for greener pastures.
I don’t generally sit and dwell and think about the good players we’ve lost,” he said. “Virtually all of my energy and the team’s energy is spent on what we’re going to do next, how we’re going to go out there and win ballgames with a different team.
The 27-year-old Lopez is coming off a solid year for Minnesota in which he went 11-8 with a 3.66 ERA.
He was named an All-Star in the American League and struck out 234 batters in 194.0 innings. He anchored a rotation that dealt with injuries to Maeda and Ryan.
That was his first year in Minnesota after previously spending five years with the Miami Marlins.
He was traded last offseason in a deal for Luis Arraez, who went onto win the batting title in the National League.
