Good question. Will the former MVP be back in a Twins uniform in 2014?
Justin Morneau and the Pirates were bounced from the National League playoffs by the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night in game five of the divisional series.
Morneau went 2-4 and scored a run. He batted in the middle of the order the majority of his time in Pittsburgh, which began when the Twins traded him on Aug. 31. The former slugger failed to hit a home run as a Pirate, and his overall performance doesn’t look like it’s going to make him the target of a bidding war when free agency opens after the World Series.
Justin Morneau ended up hitting .267 with zero homers, three RBIs, and a .316 slugging percentage in 31 games for the Pirates.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) October 10, 2013
Will the Twins offer Morneau a deal? The answer is unknown, but the speculation has already started. Twins beat writer for the Pioneer Press Mike Berardino’s gut-feeling is that Morneau will return.
Almost certain. 2 years at reasonable number should get it done “@lucasklaehn: @MikeBerardino you really think he ends up back in MN?”
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) October 10, 2013
Surprised to see how "no offer" is picking up steam in this Morneau/#mntwins debate. You do know Mauer still wants to catch, right?
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) October 10, 2013
Berardino is taking things one step further. He wants fans to suggest to him what a fair offer to bring Morneau back would be? Offer him your opinion right here.
Twins fan Edward Thoma wrote on his Baseball Outsiders blog that Morneau is more of a “roadblock” at this point in his career, and it’s time for the organization to go in a different direction.
One thing is certain, Morneau will join a group of first-baseman in the 2014 free agent class that are obviously on the back end of their careers. Included on the list: Kevin Youkilis, Travis Hafner, Paul Konerko, Lance Berkman and Jason Giambi just to name a few.
