Twins fans have endured some devastating moves that changed the direction of the franchise. Some players were traded suddenly, others signed with a different team on Thanksgiving. Now, as we are in the midst of the holiday season, it’s time to take another trip down Memory Lane to remember two homegrown talents who left the Twins during the cheeriest of times.

Corey Koskie signed with the Toronto Blue Jays the week before Christmas in 2004 following seven season with Minnesota, and Jacque Jones inked a deal with the Chicago Cubs six days before Christmas in 2005 after seven seasons with Minnesota.

Corey Koskie, Jacque Jones both left the Minnesota Twins during the holiday season

Koskie was a key player for Minnesota when the club won three consecutive division championships from 2002-04. Koskie generated an .800 OPS or better in six seasons with the Twins, and ended his tenure with the team holding a .280 batting average.

Koskie was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame this past winter after totaling 101 home runs, 437 RBI, 180 doubles, and a 116 OPS+ in a Twins uniform. He then spent one year with the Blue Jays, then one with the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired after the 2006 season.

Jones was also drafted by Minnesota and spent his first seven big league seasons with the Twins. With Minnesota, Jones an all-around solid player who was capable of taking over a game all on his own.

Congratulations to John Anderson on a fantastic 25 year career at SportsCenter. Here are his #MNTwins highlights from Opening Day in 2002, featuring two home runs from Jacque Jones. pic.twitter.com/fcWO2OBbx5

— Twins Dingers (@TwinsDingers) June 29, 2024

He mashed 132 home runs, 189 doubles, and 476 RBI with the Twins before going to the Cubs for the 2006 season. Jones also played for the Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins, retiring after the 2008 campaign.

Jones ended his career with 165 home runs and a .277/.326/.448/.775 slash line. He and Koskie were each beloved in Minnesota, but during back-to-back holiday seasons, they left town for another organization — and deservingly so. They both got paid well.