Minnesota Twins ownership update: THREE limited partners?!

Minnesota Twins ownership update: THREE limited partners?!

It's the Score North Twin Show. >> Baseball. >> All right. Score North Twin Show. Sports Dad, Jud Dex here. We're back. We are It's been a while. Well, you were actually on Thursday episode. >> I was on Thursday one, but I hadn't been on one quite uh in quite some time before that. I think >> it has been a bit. Uh as a dad, my days blend together. So sometimes even though it was 5 days ago, like was that yesterday or was that a month ago? >> And you've done a bunch of shows. >> Never know. I've done I've done done some solo shows, some shorts, some shorts. So uh you've seen those on the channel. Hit the like button and subscribe button for Minnesota Twins content. Appreciate you guys. Uh so Judley, I wanted to hop on here with you and talk about this because we have an update on the Twins ownership front. Um Dan Hayes the Athletic uh reported on Tuesday morning that uh the Minnesota Twins are nearing the close of a partial sale that will clean up the club's finances in what is described as quote significant uh and could set up the stage for a more lucrative deal in the future. Uh you can go subscribe to The Athletic, you can find the whole big piece here from Dan, but a couple nuggets here that are worth exploring and worth uh letting our audience in on here. So, originally stated as a sale to two limited partners, repeated delays in the process are due to additional smaller ownership groups emerging and purchasing shares of the franchise add-ons that required Major League Baseball approval. There was enough interest from those limited partnerships to form a third minority ownership group, said multiple people with knowledge of the process. So, we heard two groups forever. um this uh third group that's coming in. So, one is local. We It's been rumored it could be Vard Partners. Charlie Walters had that a couple weeks ago. The other national group is uh described as New York Bankers according to Dan. And this new third group is believed to be a consortium of limited partners who wanted to purchase small chunks of an MLB franchise and were previously involved in other um mashiations of the sale. So a third team has basically entered the chat here in terms of clearing up the debt. Now again, is this um is this gearing up towards a sale in like three to four years? Dan also kind of talks about that and that is probably a likely scenario or at least maybe it plays out like that. But after knowing not knowing who these limited partners are and the long delays well a big part of it is because a third a third group has uh has entered the chat here. What what what are your thoughts on this as uh as the twins now have more clarity on their minority investors? >> My thought hasn't changed. Um so if it's two or three I don't really care. And it's interesting here that Hayes's report says not every name is expected to be revealed. This is clearly a smash and grab to me, which means that these people are coming in because they see they're going to help pay the debt and then there and and it's sort of talked about and this is not surprising. They're going to help pay the debt. They know there's almost certainly going to be a 2027 lockout. Baseball should come out of that in better financial shape and then they're going to sell. Um, and I don't think these, my guess is these three groups are not going to allow the pole ads to say, "Oh, hold on a second here. We want to keep you involved. We love baseball." Like, if you literally have a groups that aren't named, they have no interest. They have an interest in the interest of base of of the money. They have it's not like they want to own own a team long term. Uh, and the VA partners basically sets up in that same way. they come in and help a distressed uh group pay off stuff, in this case the debt, and then they sell. So, this doesn't change my opinion. I'm also going to guess that when you are involving this many groups that are basically not in this for the long term, that it's taken baseball quite some time to vet them cuz they do get like you've got to have as a group that's going to come in your ducks in a row to use a cliche. Um, so this hasn't this doesn't change my opinion a bit a bit. They're going to have they're going to get the debt paid off probably. They're going to have more money to work with, but do I really think at the end of the day that the twins are going to start to spend more? No. No. I think you're going to have to I think what you're going to put up with is a year of the pole ads financial distress will be lessened by a lot. 2027, we probably unfortunately won't have baseball for quite some time. And then I think it's in 2029. I think all of the the TV contracts, including the national ones that were signed, are through 2028. So, the hope is going to be that everybody can get out at that point. And then they'll be sold hopefully to a group that really cares about baseball. That's my that's my cliffnotes of of what I've thought and sort of what Hayes lays out here. I don't think this has anything to do with baseball. I think it has to do with finances. >> Yeah. And this has been such a strange process going back to them pulling off uh the team off the market last August and then when Rockco gets fired, Dererick kind of lays out this plan of we got to wait for clarity on them and they're going to have a say on the team and this this and that. I think that to be honest, I I think that is all mostly bologoney. um bologoney in the terms of like yes they they now have board seats and and whatnot, but like they they don't they don't care about adding to the Minnesota Twins in terms of talent on the field. They're they are in here to pay off significant debt that the Polads have accured over the last years and they have no interest in helping make the Twins a better team necessarily. their goal here, as Jud kind of laid out and as Dan reports here in the Athletic, that once the labor strike ends, which I don't think so, this is going to be a nasty CBA labor deal. Like, don't get me wrong, I don't think we're going to lose a full season of baseball in 2027. My my hunch on this, just a hunch, just my thought is I just I don't think they're going to play 162. I think they're going to play some forms of games. I I do think they'll get games in. I would I'd be shocked if they canceled a full season. I do think there's going to be a reduction of games, which actually, by the way, I am all for. I wish baseball would go to 120 games um or whatever it's going to be. But, um their their goal here is to get out of that labor deal and then new TV money, make this investment worth their while. So then they helped pay off this reported, you know, debt of $500 million, these minority guys that have come in can say, "Uh-huh. Okay. You're welcome. give us give us our money and give us and and let's return that investment, you know, times whatever it's going to be, which will be significant. So, yeah, like it potentially puts the Twins in a position where they can sell the team maybe like at the start of the new decade or near it. Uh but the these limited partners coming in aren't going to uh are not going to be helping the Twins on the field, >> right? Which is too bad. Um not entirely. Well, it's not surprising at all. G given when when we heard about this, it was clear that these weren't investors that loved baseball. So, I'm not surprised. It's too bad. The only thing I'll disagree with you a little bit on is I think we lose I think we lose a full season if they really go after a cap. >> Like, if they really if the owners go after a cap, I think we're going to lose a season unless the players just cave. And and look, I mean, the difference here between past work stoppages in baseball and what we're about to see is this is going to be the first real lockout. So like the owners are going to lock them out. And then if they're going to go after, let's just say for the sake of this, a structure that is a NBA like cap, which we both admit confuses us to no end. Like it's not like a, oh, this is what the cap is. It's like all of these different things. Um, I think we might lose a full year because players are going to be loathed to do that. But at the end of the day, I think the owners know there's going to be enough guys if we lock these guys out and say, "Here are the terms of what we want. >> There's going to be a lot of players who are going to have have wives and families that say, "We need a paycheck." Like like that's the biggest thing in football is they don't get locked out or they don't have problems because players, there's a ton of players who are like, I got to get paid. I'm not going I don't care about the future. I care about my paycheck. So, >> I do think that that could be a problem. But as far as the twins go, nothing here surprises me. Um, I guess the only thing that surprises me a little bit, I guess, and I will say I'm naive, is if you do have some of these groups who have a seat at the table who are not named. That's a little bit. So, like I thought we would at least learn who the investment firms were. Um, that's even worse news. But uh yeah, I wouldn't look for this team to make any substantial moves until they actually have until the pole ads are gone. >> Yeah. Yeah. And again, I this doesn't put the twi twins on a faster track necessarily to sell like as in sell like in the next year or two. Uh this is going to be something that's going to take take some time. So >> yeah, limited partners coming in. Now there's a third group. Um to Jud's point, like who are they? Like we VA partners was the reported local one from Charlie Walters. Dan reports here that there's a group of New York bankers that are maybe the national one. And then the third one is this other limited group that's had I want to know more about them. Who are they? Who who is that this third group that as Dan reports here, let me get back pull up the article here. Um is believed to be a consortium of limited partners who want to purchase small chunks of an MLB franchise. Like the hell does that mean? Uh, it means that they it mean there is if you believe that when the lockout is done, >> Yeah. >> that the that the game is going to get itself right, there's a lot of incentive to invest now, >> right? >> Because you'll take cuz you'll take a hit right now. >> But like like if baseball comes out of this in really good shape financially, you're going to make a killing. So So like if if you are just a cutthroat business person, this makes sense. But I'm just saying if you're a Twins fan, me saying that is not good news for you. >> No. >> Like it's not good news for th for those of us who watch the team. This is not good news. Um if you're the polls, it's time to throw a parade and pop the champagne. >> Yeah, absolutely. Clears up some debt for them, puts them in a better situation. Um speaking of that, the Twins made a free agent edition. Uh they signed Josh Bell on Monday morning. Josh Bell. Come on now, Josh. What's the list at now of teams like the Red Sox were one who hadn't I saw a list a couple years ago who hadn't signed a free agent? >> Yeah, Red Sox are one of them. Are the Pirates one of them? >> I know they tires on Kyle Schwarber. Um >> yeah, that didn't work out for him too well. >> No, it did not. Uh Josh Bell though coming in here. Bell uh at one I forgot about this. Um at one point Josh Bell was like one of the best prospects in baseball. He was as high as the 25th best prospect um according to baseball perspectus uh going into the 2017 season. He's he's a solid hitter. Like his career OPS plus of 114. Um has just shy of 200 career home runs mostly with Pittsburgh Washington. Um he's actually been in the National League almost exclusively. He did spend 97 games with uh Cleveland in 2023, but outside of that has has primarily been in the National League. um a a switch-hitting first baseman who defensively is very limited. Uh like legitimately one of the worst defensive first baseman in baseball. And even last year kind of distanced himself uh from playing a lot more first base. He actually in uh in like what 120 games or so and or 130 games or so actually DHD in 98 of them. He only played first at 33 games. So, defensively limited, but like good pop in the middle of the lineup. Like I expect him to hit, you know, fourth, fifth, sixth. Uh again, has had hit 22 bombs last year, but uh Josh Bell finally a free agent addition to this uh Minnesota Twins team. >> Okay, so let's break this down a little bit as much as we can. Um I got to think he's going to DH a bunch as well. Cody Clemens plays some first. I'm curious how how much they think that Cody has a future here because he came here, played well at times. I want to say his finish to to the season, correct me if I'm wrong, was awful. Uh, but he's a good glove at first base, they can use a DH. I mean, my guess is that Josh Bell will split time because it's the one weird thing is the last two years or the previous two seasons before this, Carlos Santana comes in and he wins a gold glove. Ty France. Now, I know he was traded to Toronto, but he won a gold glove, too. So, like the Twins actually got really good solid glove work at first base, uh, with Bell. I would imagine that you're not wetted at him playing first a ton. I've always found it intriguing when he went to Cleveland that it was such a brief stint because I remember that and I mean Josh Belt at the time was pretty good and I thought, "Oh boy, that's going to give them a slugger." And, uh, that fizzled out really quick. >> Yeah. didn't have the wind tunnels on is what what the problem was. Um >> I'll say that you're gonna get in more trouble. >> So >> So Bell is a switch hitter and here but here's the issue though. So >> okay, >> Bell does hit righties really well. He last year like an 804 OPS hit 265. Um hits righties very well. Cody Clemens is hits left and so he exclusively also hits righties very well. Had n all of his home runs came against right-handed pitching. He he was atrocious against lefties. Okay. >> And Josh Bell can't hit lefties well either, but I would imagine if there's a lefty starter, they're probably going to give Josh Bell the start at first base and Cody Clemens will likely have the day off. Uh so so it it Twins actually weren't really good at hitting righties last year. So like Josh Bell does help out with that, but I would imagine yeah, Cody Clemens still probably sees some time at first base. big clubhouse guy, too. Like, and I I know it, you know, some people mock it and laugh at it, but like that's why Kyle Farmer got brought back in 24, clubhouse guy. Like, they everyone loved him and and the vibes were good and and Cody did kind of have a calming presence about them in that, you know, tumultuous trade deadline season. And even though, you know, he finally, you know, clicked, I mean, he bounced around. He was a he was a third round pick, you know, seven, eight years ago, but found a footing here in Minnesota. So, yeah, Josh Bale enters the frey there. Uh now now the Twins have to go sign a reliever which by the way like the closing options like Kenley Jensen. Yeah, exactly. >> A what >> a what a closer Cole Sans. Uh because that's that's who's going to be likely closing games. Like they they and look the closing market's insane. Diaz got a record contract. Uh Raziel and Glacius got like 15 million per it >> I I I what was the Kenley Jensen contract? I think it was like 11 million. So like in my opinion like worth it. Like for God's sakes go get Kenley Jensen. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He he can still close. No question about it. >> And he go and you're going to see him a lot because he signed with the Detroit Tigers. >> You called it though. Um Fesa I think Fesa I which you've talked about this for like two years. Fesa is going to the bullpen like like they're going to move guys. I don't know. I mean, I think they'll sign a couple slappy relief pitchers, but I also think, as you've discussed for quite some time, they're going to take at least two guys who are rotation candidates and move them to the bullpen. The other slight reckless speculation that I would like to bring up is the first base job. So, I think there's a fighting chance that Luke Keshaw plays first base or the outfield. His arm is good. Now, there's been talk about him going to the outfield. I would not discount first base. I think there's a good chance of that because I think there's a very good chance that um you're going to see Royce Lewis at third. I don't know who at short, Brooks Lee. I mean, >> it's Brooks Lee right now. >> Okay, let's just say Brooks Lee and then Co Pepper at second base. >> Yeah, maybe down the line. >> I think they're going to rush people. I mean, the rest of the world now rushes guys, right? these guys are in no shape to like be like we got to protect these. So I just I think Keshaw remains a hu and and that dude can hit. Um at second base I thought he was okay. I mean I was not high on his glove at second base, but I do think that Keshaw belongs in the lineup for sure outfield or first base. But I don't think that we should sleep on him playing first base. >> Yeah, he's going to spend some time uh at left field and and getting some outfield time. that was talked about at the winter meetings from from Dererick Faly. Um, and they have no plan to put like because I I thought this last year like just put Trevor Lick there then like he's a bad he's slow as hell like >> he might not be here >> and well he he also might not be here. Uh but they have no plans to move Lick or Walner who are you know kind of bigger lugger guys that might profile as first baseman but they they have no plan to put them at first. Um, I mean, Keshaw's athletic enough. I would like to see him in a more athletic position like left field. I would like to I'd like to see that. Um, but yeah, maybe he does get some time at first. I wouldn't be I wouldn't be shocked by it. Wouldn't be shocked by I just think there's somebody else that they've got a plan for there >> because I mean I guess you could be like well Cody Clemens can split time but it as you just pointed out uh that if both Josh Bell and and Cody Clemens have the same strength at the plate doesn't make a lot of sense then to play them on the same day. I'm not saying Josh Bell won't play first base. I just think there's somebody else in mind and Keshaw strikes me as a guy that definitely could play there. I wouldn't be surprised if Lick is gone. And here's what I will say. Although his route to his routes to the ball were not great, but that can be worked on. >> The thing with Walner and Wright is if they can harness his fielding. >> Yeah, he's got a can. >> Dude's got a cannon for an arm. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah, great arm. >> I mean, that's my right field arm. Like, if I can get you to track the ball, which which he did at times, it was very weird. At times he looked fine, but at times he looked like a train wreck out there. But if I can get you to track the ball, take the right route, I want your arm in right field. >> Oh, totally. No, I I I He's athletic enough. But I think that, you know, he had the hamstring pull. I wonder if that limited him, you know, maybe >> from a range standpoint. >> Um, >> he's f he was faster. When he's healthy, he's faster than he than he looks he should be. >> He's deceivingly quick uh for Yes. his size. That That's 100%. So, all right. Josh Bell is signed. Twins got to go sign some relievers, too. Maybe they convert a few. >> Come on, Banks. We don't know your name. Come on. Cash influx, baby. >> Come on, New York bankers. >> Go baseball. Go baseball. New York bankers. Hit the like button and subscribe button here on the Score Twin Show. Any other breaking news, any other breaking signings or even more ownership update stuff, uh we'll be updating you. Talk to you guys soon.

Minnesota Twins ownership update! Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports a third limited partner is joining the Twins; What does this mean for a future Twins sale; Is this good or bad news for Twins; Plus, the Twins signed free agent Josh Bell and more on the SKOR North Twins Show.

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