Unlike most businesses, the Minnesota Twins had themselves a productive Monday.

The professional baseball organization kicked off the work week by (literally) welcoming the Detroit Tigers to Target Field. Apparently, some Land of 10K Lakes-residents are familiar with the division rival’s new manager:

Large crowd assembled in the visiting dugout for the return of Ron Gardenhire. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/rthmYskVXa

— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) May 21, 2018

Sidebar: Small world, am I right?

Once the nostalgic chitchat eventually ceased, the two teams took to the diamond.

After trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, a two-out/two-run Max Kepler double tied it up at deuces. That’s where the score would remain until the bottom of the eighth, when Logan Morrison watched ball 4 to earn a rare RBI walk that gave the Twins the lead. One batter later, some slick Eddie Rosario baserunning provided the always-appreciated insurance run.

Speaking of appreciated, a light needs to be shined on Rosario’s walk-off catch:

Eddie Rosario catch to end the game and Fernando Rodney didn’t even need the arrow. #MNTWins pic.twitter.com/eohbWBWnc5

— Fairweather Marvin (@MAD_Marvin) May 22, 2018

In the aftermath of another José Berríos’ gem (8 IP, 3 H, 2 ER), Minnesota kept their Monday grind going by announcing a roster move. The noteworthy transaction immediately diverted attention away from the team’s 4-2 victory.

The designation for assignment means that Minnesota has a week’s time to either trade or send Phil Hughes through waivers. Due to the aggressive amount of money ($22.57M through 2019) remaining on the RHP’s contract, he will most certainly be hitting the wire. Once the other 29 teams pass on that raw deal, the 31 year-old will officially be released.

Baseball can be a harsh and humbling game. Respect to the Twins organization and fans for always treating me so incredibly well. Will miss you guys ❤

— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) May 22, 2018

After spending his first seven MLB seasons with the Yankees Evil Empire, Hughes agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Twins, during the 2013-14 offseason. Upon completion of an impressive 16-10 (3.52 ERA, 209.2 IP) 2014 campaign, Minnesota restructured and extended the starting pitcher’s contract.

Unfortunately, since then, the California native has been unable to return to that 7th place Cy Young voting form.

When you look at how much he got bit by the damn injury bug, that would seem to make sense:

• 4/29/2015: Left Hip Flexor Strain (Day-To-Day)
• 8/10/2015: Lower Back Inflammation (15-Day Disabled List)
• 9/28/2015: Illness (Day-To-Day)
• 6/10/2016: Fractured Left Knee (60-Day Disabled List)
• 5/22/2017: Right Biceps Inflammation (10-Day Disabled List)
• 7/18/2017: Recurrence Of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (60-Day Disabled List)
• 3/28/2018: Strained Left Oblique (10-Day Disabled List)

To address all the money remaining on Hughes’ deal, the Pohlad owned franchise is going to end up footing that ($22.57 million) bill. While that’s a tough proverbial pill to swallow, the right-handed hurler’s plethora of bad breaks make it equally difficult to hold anything against him.

Paul Molitor summed up the situation as follows:

Due to the imminent returns of Ervin Santana and Trevor May, the writing relating to this move was on covered the wall. In regards to Hughes’ immediate roster replacement, that information is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

In closing, once the veteran pitcher is officially released, he’ll be considered a free agent. As you can see, there’s a decent chance he remains in the AL Central:

Keep an eye on #Tigers as a potential landing spot for Phil Hughes. He had a long talk with #Tigers bullpen coach Rick Anderson today and publicly thanked Anderson for his contributions as PC after their record-setting 2014 season that led to ill-fated, 3-year extension.

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) May 22, 2018

Sidebar: Small world, am I right?

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

When it comes to appearing extremely intoxicated, the last couple weeks of the Twins’ season deserve a gold silver medal.

Cinco de Mayo & The Kentucky Derby on the same day…this is the greatest day ever for drunk frat bros.

— Andy Ruther (@AndyRuther) May 5, 2018

With that attempt to lighten the mood complete (things might get a little dark here), let’s talk baseball:

After starting off the season 8-5, the Twins played the next 13 games to the tune of a 2-11 record.

It’s been the tale of fraternal #Twins when looking at the #mntwins start to the season…. #minnesotasports #minnesotasportsfan #minnesota #minnesotatwins #mlb

A post shared by Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) on May 3, 2018 at 8:34am PDT

As disturbing as that graphic is, Saturday’s victory actually marked the team’s second win in a row and third of their last four. They’ll enter Sunday just a half game back of Ron Gardenhire’s Detroit Tigers for second place in the AL Central. While that accomplishment is certainly nothing to write home about, beggars Minnesotans can’t be choosers.

So, hopefully Minnesota’s very recent on-the-field play, unlike Miguel Sano’s weight goals, are moving back in the right direction. Unfortunately, that’s not the case away from the big league diamond:

.@Twins place catcher Jason Castro (right knee meniscus tear) on 10-day DL; select catcher Bobby Wilson from Triple-A Rochester; transfer RHP Ervin Santana to 60-day DL.

— MLBRosterMoves (@MLBRosterMoves) May 5, 2018

Jason Castro’s 10-day DL designation means Mitch Garver will take on the majority of reps at Joe Mauer’s old position. Who’s for the new catcher on the Twins’ roster? Bobby Wilson was acquired via a FA minor-league deal in November of 2017.

Over the course of eight different MLB seasons (324 games), the 35 year-old has a career batting average of .214 (.268 OBP). With all due respect to Wilson, barring some sort of out-of-body experience, I hope he reaches the 330 career contest plateau as part of a different organization.

Unless you’re hosing runners down at second like Yadier Molina, Bobby Boy’s one home run every 47 at-bats coupled with his barely-above .200 batting average isn’t going to cut it:

via GIPHY

Sidebar: Indications are that Castro’s slow start at the plate is attributed to this meniscus issue.

Speaking of not going to cut it, Minnesota’s current team ERA of 5.02 ranks 26th in the majors. For comparison purposes, Ervin Santana’s 2017 ERA closed at an impressive 3.28.

Although the 2x All-Star’s transfer to the 60-Day Disabled List may appear daunting, the headline’s bark significantly outperforms its bite.

More bad news for the #mntwins. Ervin Santana has been moved to the 60-day DL #mlb #twins #minnesotatwins #disabledlist

A post shared by Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) on May 5, 2018 at 3:53pm PDT

The two month hiatus is retroactive to the beginning of the season. Due to that extremely important wrinkle, Santana will be permitted to return from this lingering finger issue on May 28th.

Despite the May eligibility date, according to Paul Molitor, the 35 year-old pitcher’s need for live batting practice sessions prior to his (brief) Minor League assignment, “leaves the first week of June as a more likely landing spot for Santana’s return.”

While that would equate to (basically) another month’s time without the reliable right-hander, a certain call-up last week may ease our pain slightly.

The way I see it, despite all of the Twins’ recent pain (literally and figuratively), things easily could have been much more excruciating. First of all, Cleveland’s recent struggles leave them sitting only one game above .500. In addition to that, it’s not like Minnesota still has one of their starting pitching eggs in Phil Hughes’ basket.

I don’t care if it was a ball, the life on this 98mph fastball from Fernando Romero blew my mind.

Fiiiiilthy. pic.twitter.com/XPMlviF6n9

— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) May 2, 2018

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)
MinnesotaSportsFan.com

The Detroit Tigers have identified Ron Gardenhire as the manager they wish to hire, pending the completion of a contract, Major League sources told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal…

..Multiple sources told The Athletic’s Katie Strang that Tigers general manager Al Avila entered the process leaning heavily toward a candidate with previous MLB managerial experience. Gardenhire was seen as a seasoned, battle-tested option in this regard.

As you may remember, Ron Gardenhire was once the manager of a very successful Minnesota Twins team that won 1068 of the 2107 games he coached through 13 seasons. The Twins went to the playoffs in his first 3 seasons, 4 of his first 5, and 6 of his first 9. He was successful early. But that came to a screeching halt when they finished with 4 straight seasons of 70 or less wins from 2011-2014 to end his tenure.