Trevor May doesn’t seem like someone who expects to be employed by the Minnesota Twins for the 2021 season. For those who don’t know, May likes to stream on Twitch when he isn’t getting paid to play baseball and does so regularly.

When he hopped online today, he took questions from subscribers for over two hours… Topics covered everything under the sun (see below). One thing that was made clear; May plans to become a free agent this offseason and play for another baseball team in 2021, after the Twins declined to offer him a contract extension.

Here’s what he had to say… (thanks to this Trevor May Twitter Stan account for catching this and posting it).

sad day.. trevor talking about the twins NOT offering him an extension>> pic.twitter.com/QMoCS7dO51

— Thank You Trevor ❤️ (@trevahmay69) October 1, 2020

The have the best opportunity to get you with an extension, when you’re already there. That didn’t happen. There was no offer. Sooooo…. the next step is to see, if I don’t get any offers anywhere else, then I’ll be cheaper here. Honestly, that’s just not kinda how it works.

Usually, if they want you to stay, they don’t let you get to this point. Does that make sense? Now, that doesn’t mean anything. I’m just saying, historically, that usually how things play out.

Trevor May – Twitch Stream

May talked about everything under the sun, during his stream. Topics included how little he cares about what remaining teams win during the MLB playoffs and then a bunch about the inconsistency and lack of accountability from MLB umpires.

You know what, I’m just going to list some of the things I heard while scrubbing through Trevor’s “just chatting” twitch session… or we’ll be here all night.

On the list:

• How great of a coach Rocco Baldelli
• How they lost the Houston Series
• High-leverage situations in baseball dictate outcomes
• Talked shit to a 9-year-old
• Bashed Carlos Correa and the Astros about playing the victim after they beat the Twins on Wednesday.
• MLB told Twins they couldn’t wear Bomba Robes
• MLB doesn’t care about health and safety of players; just money and PR
• Stans for Taylor Rogers – Screen-shares to show his BABIP
• Eats on air.
• Talks politics (he’s not a Donald Trump fan)

I’m sure there is more that I missed. He’s clearly still frustrated about how 2020 played out for him, in many different facets. It’s interesting to hear him talk about everything in such an unfiltered manner, though he might find himself frustrated come November.

Back to the contract talk

May doesn’t mention money, when discussing his pending free agency, but it sounds like he and the Twins never even got to the negotiation starting line. I’m a bit surprised, because he can’t be asking for that much. He should cost approximately the same price as Sergio Romo and Taylor Rogers in 2019, who both made just under $5 million.

May seems up for anything and playing just about anywhere. He said he will rely a lot on Tyler Clippard to make his decision. “That guy has played for like 1/3 of the league”, he said at one point.

We could be in for quite a few changes when the dust settles on the 2021 Minnesota Twins roster…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Twins have started the shortened MLB season 8-2. While the offense has started slowly, the pitching staff has absolutely dominated under the watchful eye of pitching coach Wes Johnson. The starting rotation is still working on stretching out, which means the bullpen has been shouldering a larger load. No problem.

What should be the nickname for the @Twins stellar bullpen?

Reliever Believers? Pen Pals?

Let’s hear your thoughts ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/D9Z72PVm1W

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) August 4, 2020

One of the biggest keys to creating this absolute monster bullpen has been pitching coach Wes Johnson. Johnson has taken this unit and transformed it from a liability a few years ago to a total lockdown unit in 2020. So what sort of changes has Johnson implemented and what is leading to so much success from? Let’s find out.

THE JOHNSON FACTOR

Johnson had his work cut out for him when he was named pitching coach in 2018. The Twins went 78-84 that season, and had a team ERA of 4.50. Johnson was able to trim that to 4.18 in his first season as pitching coach. So far this year? The Twins boast a 2.70 ERA as a staff (through Monday night’s game), which is 4th best in all of Major League Baseball.

Johnson came to the Twins with a goal of trying to embrace analytics. Wes has long been revered for his ability to help pitchers add to their velocity. On top of that, Johnson has the Twins pitchers focusing on their secondary stuff, and throwing fewer fastballs.

Is this type of success sustainable? The answer is a resounding yes. But how are the top Twins bullpen arms so dominant? The answer is in a variety of ways.

TYLER CLIPPARD

Clippard, who the Twins signed in the offseason, has brought experience and versatility to the Twins bullpen. He has experience as an opener, and a closer, and has thrown almost every inning in between. At 35, he may not possess what he once did in terms of stuff, but Clippard has excelled so far this year with his offspeed stuff. He seemingly generates weak popups with every out he records.

Tyler Clippard since his last Save on July 22, 2018:

80 Games
87.1 IP
3.09 ERA
0.973 WHIP
9.9 K/9
2.2 WPA

— Jim Passon ?? (@PassonJim) August 2, 2020

TYLER DUFFEY

Wes Johnson has turned Tyler Duffey into one of the most dominant relievers in baseball in just over 2 years. As a converted starter, Duffey came to the bullpen with a full arsenal of pitches. After removing a few from his repertoire, Duffey has relied on his fastball and lethal slider. He has become adept at missing bats, I mean good luck trying to hit that slider.

since august of last year tyler duffey’s 43% miss rate is the highest among all relievers with 20 or more appearances.

that breaking ball is FILTHY. #mntwins pic.twitter.com/TDU2DIbtkV

— parker hageman (@HagemanParker) August 1, 2020

TREVOR MAY

Trevor is another converted starter, but just seems much better suited for a late inning role. May has benefited from an uptick in velocity since joining the bullpen, and has the bulldog mentality required to handle high stress innings. May has dominated hitters with his explosive fastball and can lean on his offspeed pitches when necessary. But my favorite part about what he brings to this bullpen is the hunger to keep trying new things.

What is the next thing for Trevor May? How can he take another step forward in his career? https://t.co/55w35V1rMQ

— Twins Daily (@twinsdaily) August 1, 2020

CODY STASHAK

Stashak is the youngest member of this core Twins bullpen group. But make no mistake, Stashak definitely deserves the innings he’s getting. After setting a Major League Record most strikeouts before his second career walk, Stashak is fearless. If you step into the box with Stashak on the mound, be ready. He is going to come right after you.

Yep, that was Cody Stashak pitching as the #MNTwins setup man in the 8th inning of a close game on Saturday night. He made some history, too.https://t.co/CnkwHmuwdi

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 2, 2020

SERGIO ROMO

With so many options in the Twins bullpen that feature serious fastballs, it makes sense that there would be one or two options to slow things down. Romo has been around forever, and like Clippard, has a ton of valuable experience in many roles. An at-bat against Romo is going to feature nasty sliders and a frustrating lack of speed. Romo doesn’t need a blazing fastball to get you out. He can do that with movement and location.

Killer changeup for the K from #MNTwins Sergio Romo #BombaSquad pic.twitter.com/eUL1NEqUmS

— Michael Augustine (@AugustineMLB) August 3, 2020

TAYLOR ROGERS

All of these bullpen arms give way to the guy who finishes off most Twins wins. Rodgers has become one of the best closers in baseball. His explosive fastball is accented perfectly by his devastating slider. As previous Twins closers like to make the ninth inning eventful, Rogers usually wastes no time shutting the door. He has no fear and is the perfect leader for this group.

Taylor Rogers slider #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/qwacTZKspG

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 30, 2020

All of this has led to the best and deepest bullpen in Major League Baseball. Some of the adjustments made by this group have been mechanical, but others have been mentality changes. And all of them have turned this group into an absolute monster. We owe all of the success to Wes Johnson. Now hopefully Wes can fix the starting rotation.

Seth Toupal | Minnesota Sports Fan

Shoutout to the 'pen tonight!

Dyson@TheDoof13 @SergioRomo54 @trogers34

4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 Ks. #TwinsWin | #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/Xu6e82cmAM

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 28, 2019

Trevor May struck out the side in B7. #MNTwins lead 5-2.

— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) August 29, 2019

Cody Stashak throws 2 scoreless and the #MNTwins win 8-2 to remain 3 1/2 in front of Cleveland. The Twins are 81-51 and 30 games over .500 for the 1st time since 9/25/10.
Jake Odorizzi improved to 14-6 w/ 8 Ks over 6 IP, 2 ER.

— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) August 29, 2019

Michael Pineda had another solid START to his outing on Tuesday but was the latest Twins starter to be pulled before the end of the 6th inning, with or without a bunch of runs already on the board. He threw just 89 pitches but 27 of them were in the 5th, his last inning. Jake Odorizzi had his best outing of late on Wednesday, going 6 innings, giving up just 2 runs on 5 hits, 2 BB, and 8 K. He threw 98 pitches.

The media this morning is trying to tout the Twins’ recent success on the mound as the turning of a corner, but I’m definitely not willing to go near there yet. The bullpen is VASTLY improved and the minimum amount they did at the trade deadline, nabbing Romo and Dyson, seems to be all of the push the team needed.

I don’t know if the starting staff has been THAT improved or if the Twins coaching staff is just asking them to do that much LESS…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about the best way for the Twins to line up their pitching staff for the playoffs, and one theme remains constant in my search. Our starters (outside of a GOOD Jose Berrios) can usually hold down the fort for 5 decent innings and I’d imagine they’d be even better if they knew 5 innings were all the coaching staff wanted out of them..

Is there a successful formula that has the likes of — Trevor May, Taylor Rogers, Sergio Romo, Cody Stashak, Tyler Duffey, Jose Alcala, Brusdar Graterol, and anyone else that proves effective out of the bullpen — taking over almost every playoff game by the 5th or 6th inning?

There could be.

Right now, the Twins are playing a game nearly every day, and when starters don’t take games into the later innings, your bullpen can get taxed quickly. However, in the playoffs, you will only get two games in a row, maximum, before getting a night off AND your rosters are expanded, so you have more options if those options can be successful.

I think this is what the Twins coaching staff is starting to look at, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more short starts from most of the staff, as we move toward the end of September. Can the bullpen continue to be this good, though? 

That’s the World Series question…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Alright Twins fans, here we are.

While many of us have been “just enjoying this wonderful Twins’ season”, like a 1st-class Delta passenger on their way to an all-inclusive “Sandals” vacation, many of us have been more realistic. This is a long-ass plane ride and there are no guarantees on your seat or your destination.

And now, after their first 3-game losing streak of 2019, a lead in the Central Division that’s down to just 4 games, and a good Oakland A’s team coming into Target Field for a 4-game series, this plane is bordering on full-on hijack mode and fans (including myself) are starting to panic…

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Here is Trevor May postgame, who faces questions, whether it's good or bad times. He's given up HRs in two straight outings, and today's put the Mets up for good. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/nWaEIwIR23

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 17, 2019

Adrianza is pitching. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/umtDoQiQwF

— Erin Jennie Marie (@ErinJMT) July 17, 2019

The Tribe is 26-11 since June 1

The Twins are 19-18. #MnTwins pic.twitter.com/f3FrQ8dGp6

— Will (@WGF_216) July 18, 2019

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I could go one hundred different ways with the rest of this blog and I am inching closer and closer to a tantrum piece for pitching help before it’s too late… but today isn’t the day for that. No. Today, the Twins and their fans need a stiff smack on the ass, some eye-to-eye contact, and a quick “Enough of this shit. Get back out there and shut them up.” pep-talk.

Trevor May gave an interview earlier this week about some annoyance the Twins’ players seemed to have with some of the nervous air that was circling around them. Annoyed that the Indians were actually thinking positively and annoyed that Twins’ fans were getting sweaty palms.

Good.

You should be annoyed. You should feel like this is just a small swoon in a long season. You should feel like this is something everyone else will forget about in two weeks, when Cleveland cools down and we get back to even. Because in the course of a long season, that’s what happens with good teams. Rough stretches just become unrecognizable blips on the radar.

So, what’s it going to be Minnesota Twins? Fight or Flight?

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Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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If I read one more thing questioning who the Twins closer will be for 2019, as if it’s something that actually matters, I’m going to take too many Dramamine and lay my head on a fucking train track. Seriously, what is happening? I thought baseball was the new “woke” sport where everyone was into changing all of the old school ideas that don’t make sense anymore…

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The “Closer” position in baseball is the most overhyped and overpaid position in all of sports history. Sure, there are big moments and big 9th innings where closers have been the most important part of that game. But, how often is the 9th inning the most monumentous part of a baseball game? Not very often.

The most common way to earn a “Save” is for a relief pitcher to enter a game in the 9th inning, with a lead of 3 runs or less. If they keep the lead and win the game in that inning, the “Save” is theirs.

I’m fine with the concept. But now, MLB teams are saving their best pitcher for the 9th inning. No matter what. Think about that for a second without the blinders of recent baseball history being held over your eyes. Why would you do that?

What if you’re entering the 8th inning and your team just came back and tied the game in the half-inning prior? With only 6 outs left and the momentum in your favor, you’d want your best relief pitcher to take the mound, right? WRONG. In today’s game, you can’t put the closer in, in that situation. If they hold your opposition and then your team takes the lead in the next half-inning, your closer gets the “Win” (tragic, right?) and no longer qualifies for the save…

Or even better, what if you are in the middle of the 7th inning and the bases are loaded in a tie game? Do you want to put your best bullpen arm out there to save that game from going south quickly? That guy might not have a 9th inning to save if your opponent gets one more hit in the 7th…

Again, why does that make sense? Are we trying to get saves for our best bullpen pitchers or are we trying to win baseball games?

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It’s time to write the “closer” role right off of the MLB rule books and the Twins should lead the charge. Turn Trevor May and Taylor Rogers into your “holders” for late innings when you need to keep runs off the board, while putting outs on it. Either elevate “holds” as the key stat for pitchers or make up a new one…

Example: How about an outs to runs ratio for bullpen pitchers? Maybe a +/- stat based on that…? Anything is better than a “Save” being what everyone cares about and what gets relief pitchers paid. 

Rise above the nonsense, Rocco. We can be better than this. Pitch our best bullpen arms in the biggest situations…. no matter the inning.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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Coming off of back-to-back losses to the AL Central bottom-feeding White Sox, the Minnesota Twins had Mr. José Orlando Berríos take the mound for Thursday afternoon’s series finale.

Only a mere 2 hours and 14 minutes after Berríos threw the game’s first pitch, the Puerto Rico native put a proverbial bow on Minnesota’s nerve calming victory:

José Berríos (@Twins) throws his 2nd career complete game in a 7-2 win over the White Sox.

Berrios improves to 6-1 with a 2.28 ERA in his career against the White Sox, including 3-0 this season. pic.twitter.com/UMPhmyfLk6

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 7, 2018

Less than two months ago, Berríos finished a marvelous 7.0 inning showing vs the same division foe with 11 Ks and 0 BBs. During Thursday’s “Cradle to the Grave” performance, the third-year big leaguer fanned 10 without, once again, rendering a single walk (109 pitches, 6 hits allowed).

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Bada bing, bada boom. Just like that, the talented RHP is flirting with an extremely familiar LHP from recent Twins’ history:

Today was Jose Berrios’ second start of the season with 0 walks and 10+ strikeouts.

The only pitcher in Twins history with more than two such starts in a season is Johan Santana, who did it three times in both 2004 and 2005.

There have only been 45 such starts in Twins history.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 7, 2018

José Berríos 2018 Stats: 7-5 W/L, 3.66 ERA, 74.2 IP, 84 SO, 0.92 WHIP 

The win, which included HRs from Ehire Adrianza (2), and the on-fire duo of Eduardo Escobar (12), and Eddie Rosario (14), moved the Twins’ overall record to 27-32. With Cleveland taking the day off (lazy), Minnesota will officially enter the weekend 4.5 games back of the division leader.

While the below .500 W/L isn’t meeting preseason expectations, considering the Twins’ aggressive issues surrounding health, shit could be a lot worse. Hopefully, for the years remaining 100+ contests, the injury bug isn’t so attracted to Paul Molitor’s squad.

In the interim, before Target Field welcomes Mike Trout and the Angles for the weekend’s three game set, here’s an update on a Mount Rushmore’s worth of recovery processes:

Ervin Santana:

Good report for Ervin on visit to Melone. Could resume throwing Thursday

— Mike Berardino (@MikeBerardino) June 5, 2018

According to additional reports, Santana “will still need to complete a full ramp-up before he returns to the majors, but it seems promising that his earlier setback has only required a brief respite.”

Joe Mauer:

Twins mulling rehab assignment for Joe Mauer https://t.co/4Ew1Yt9IjH pic.twitter.com/9tF82x6wIy

— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) June 7, 2018

Byron Buxton:

Per Phil Miller of the Star Tribune, the centerfielder’s “pain reduction” in his toe “has been slow.” There has only been “moderate progress towards his return.”

Trevor May:

Tommy John rehab complete, #MNTwins send Trevor May to Triple-A Rochester. https://t.co/hUfA0zgGOg pic.twitter.com/re3V5S8zUC

— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) June 7, 2018

The All-Star game is a little over a month away. As you can see by this 2015 gem, May’s reinstatement comes at an appropriate time:

Johnny Minnesota (@TheJohnnyMN)

MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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

At least for this upcoming season, Eduardo Escobar will be playing baseball in Minnesota. Per Thursday’s reports, he and the Twins agreed to a one year, $4.85 million deal.

The signing came a day prior to the MLB’s arbitration deadline. Missing Friday’s cut off means that any remaining arbitration-eligible players and their team need to exchange proposed salaries for the 2018 season. The purpose of swapping desired contracts is to prepare for a potential hearing on what a player should be paid.

The January 12th time-limit is now irrelevant to Escobar. One of the Twins’ clubhouse favorites and his employer hashed things out without a third wheel. With the 29 year-old now set to make almost $5 million this year, the only thing he should be exchanging are chips at the Bellagio.

In what I consider no coincidence, they reached an agreement amid the MLB’s sexual assault investigation of Miguel Sano. With his upcoming availability in great flux, motivation to retain Escobar naturally increased.

This upcoming season will mark the switch hitter’s 8th in the majors. Of his 619 career MLB games, our infield’s Renaissance man has played 574 of them with Minnesota. In 2017, Escobar hit .254, with a career high .758 OPS. Over last year’s 499 at-bats, he also compiled a career high in HRs (21) and RBIs (73)

With Eduardo Escobar secured for what Twins’ Nation hopes is another exciting season, the following five players still remain arbitration-eligible: Robbie Grossman (OF), Ehire Adrianza (IF) and pitchers Kyle Gibson, Ryan Pressly, and Trevor May.

Relax fanboys and fangirls of Ryan Pressly. I like your passion, but damn. If Pressly and MN don’t agree to a deal by Friday’s deadline, they’ll still probably end up agreeing to one and avoid any hearings. Until actually sitting in front of arbitrators, the two involved parties can continue negotiations.

Cowboys? What the f*ck?

That’s a real hard deadline you have their, MLB. What a joke. I always wondered where my WI Public University professors got their contradictory approach to cutoff dates from.

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com