General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Spanky99]

Atkins still made some good moves in 2022 and 2023. The Chapman trade was great and he still made some great FA signings in Gausman & Kikuchi that offseason. The following offseason, Brandon Belt and KK were solid signings.

 

I think Atkins biggest mistakes were a misjudgment in roster construction. Like for example, the 2021 team lacked a very good bullpen which cost them from making the Playoffs by one game. In 2022, it was awful defense. In 2023, it was the lack of punch in the lineup after going too heavily on defensive minded players. In 2024, it was some poor FA signings (outside of IKF) along with the weak farm system being exposed when they lost a lot of BP arms or other players to injuries.

 

Atkins has been so/so during his tenure here. He's done some things very well but has also done some things very poorly. It's been mediocre overall, which is a fair assessment.

 

I wasn't talking about the be all man, it'd never finalize.

[Stangstag]

AA traded for Donaldson and signed Russell Martin to that 5-year deal prior to the 2015 season. He never really went on a crazy spending spree or scorched earth during the offseason.

 

At the trade deadline, different story. Went after David Price, Tulo, Ben Revere, Latroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe.

 

Jays don't really have the assets like they did in 2015 to acquire big pieces at the trade deadline. Atkins will have to spend his way pretty much to add wins for 2025.

 

Sure they do. They can definitely make trades, just the farm will likely be bottom of the barrel if they choose to go that route.

 

They’re in a tough spot

[Jays24]

“We know the Blue Jays have been looking to fill the third base spot more permanently for the past couple of years,” ESPN’s Buster Olney said recently on TSN1050’s First Up. “They made Matt Chapman [an] offer for about $125 million early in the 2023 offseason. Bregman fits [their needs] in a lot of ways.”

 

Bregman, Teo and 2 elite bullpen arms... I don't ask for much but that's the minimum this team needs to be in contention next season lol.

Edited October 18, 2024 by Jays24

[glory]

[Laika]

 

Uhhhh good riddance I guess lol

[Stangstag]

“We know the Blue Jays have been looking to fill the third base spot more permanently for the past couple of years,” ESPN’s Buster Olney said recently on TSN1050’s First Up. “They made Matt Chapman [an] offer for about $125 million early in the 2023 offseason. Bregman fits [their needs] in a lot of ways.”

 

Bregman, Teo and 2 elite bullpen arms... I don't ask for much but that's the minimum this team needs to be in contention next season lol.

 

Arenado trade could also work

[jaysblue]

“We know the Blue Jays have been looking to fill the third base spot more permanently for the past couple of years,” ESPN’s Buster Olney said recently on TSN1050’s First Up. “They made Matt Chapman [an] offer for about $125 million early in the 2023 offseason. Bregman fits [their needs] in a lot of ways.”

 

Bregman, Teo and 2 elite bullpen arms... I don't ask for much but that's the minimum this team needs to be in contention next season lol.

 

If they have $45-50M in payroll to spend, not sure they have enough. Bregman will match what Chapman got or likely more. Teo after the season he had likely gets a 3 or 4 year deal worth $20M + AAV. Two "elite" bullpen arms are going to likely be around $12-15M AAV each as well. Unless the Jays are allowed to spend more than the $45-50M, they likely have to aim a lot lower than the names you suggested.

[jaysblue]

Arenado trade could also work

 

I mentioned Arenado's name last year as a possible trade candidate and the issue was that the Jays didn't have enough money and that his contract was awful.

 

His contract isn't that bad moving forward with the Rockies paying a portion of his 2026 and 2027 season. $52M owing over the next three seasons which isn't bad at all. Maybe a trade reignites his bat again. He still produced a 3.1 WAR this past season despite the poor offensive numbers. Maybe there is another 5 to 6 WAR season in him.

[jaysblue]

Sure they do. They can definitely make trades, just the farm will likely be bottom of the barrel if they choose to go that route.

 

They’re in a tough spot

 

They likely can't acquire a David Price type of arm at the deadline or another top player given the state of their farm system. There will be competition for any top arm or player available at the deadline. Would be tough as it stands now, but yes a lot could change during the season especially if some guys in the minors get off to solid starts and build up some value.

 

Jays need to add some elite pieces now, not in July. Best way would be to spend as much money as Rogers allows this offseason and then hopefully use whatever assets they have at the July Trade Deadline to patch up any holes on the roster or for upgrades.

[L54]

4M each of his final three years is paid by COL which isn’t nothing. Obviously the luxury tax number matters, but the actual commitment looks like

 

2025 - 17M

2026 - 12M

2027 - 11M

 

Probably a move they should consider if they are going to be serious in 2025. They need upside more than anything

 

Bregman looks like a time bomb to me. I wouldn’t want to be saddled with the contract he’s going to get. Plus imagine just taking another round of Houston’s sloppy seconds and paying them on the wrong side of their careers

[L54]

They likely can't acquire a David Price type of arm at the deadline or another top player given the state of their farm system. There will be competition for any top arm or player available at the deadline. Would be tough as it stands now, but yes a lot could change during the season especially if some guys in the minors get off to solid starts and build up some value.

 

Jays need to add some elite pieces now, not in July. Best way would be to spend as much money as Rogers allows this offseason and then hopefully use whatever assets they have at the July Trade Deadline to patch up any holes on the roster or for upgrades.

 

We don’t know what the farm system will look like in July. All it takes is a couple players to pop and then you have capital to spend

[Laika]

Jays don't need a 3B they have gold glove nominee Ernie Clemens

[jaysblue]

4M each of his final three years is paid by COL which isn’t nothing. Obviously the luxury tax number matters, but the actual commitment looks like

 

2025 - 17M

2026 - 12M

2027 - 11M

 

Probably a move they should consider if they are going to be serious in 2025. They need upside more than anything

 

Bregman looks like a time bomb to me. I wouldn’t want to be saddled with the contract he’s going to get. Plus imagine just taking another round of Houston’s sloppy seconds and paying them on the wrong side of their careers

 

Would rather trade for Arenado and his contract than signing Bregman to a 7 or 8 year deal of $25M AAV per season.

[L54]

The can really only add at two spots and that’s LF or 3B though and there are zero 3B I would want to sign as free agents

 

Ernie Clement should become Chris Taylor and just play everywhere

[L54]

Would rather trade for Arenado and his contract than signing Bregman to a 7 or 8 year deal of $25M AAV per season.

 

If that’s what Bregman ends up with then I agree

[glory]

Arenado has a full NTC I believe so might not be an easy trade to pull off, but yeah if it’s between trading for him or overpaying Bregman, then I’d easily take Arenado.

 

Definitely think the Jays are going to trade prospects this winter. They have Bo for one more year, Clement on the bench, and their wet dream as far as prospects go in AAA (Kasevich - high contact, low K’s, no power, good defense). I could see Jimenez with no options remaining being moved. They can’t fill all their holes from free agency.

[MikeM3]

How do you know that Bannister and Ecker are "good" and "ahead of the curve"? What's this opinion based on? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm certainly curious how you're so firm with this opinion.

 

Well Ecker speaks for himself with that Rangers offense that won them a WS.

 

Bannister isn't as proven but looks really promising. Guy makes his own Twitter threads for reclamation projects on cws

 

[jaysblue]

The can really only add at two spots and that’s LF or 3B though and there are zero 3B I would want to sign as free agents

 

Ernie Clement should become Chris Taylor and just play everywhere

 

Would be the ideal role for Clement if this team plans on contending. Always need Chris Taylor type of guys around.

[Brownie19]

Well Ecker speaks for himself with that Rangers offense that won them a WS.

 

Bannister isn't as proven but looks really promising. Guy makes his own Twitter threads for reclamation projects on cws

 

 

In 2023, the Rangers offense was great. 3rd in MLB. That offense fell to like 18th last year, with LOTS of down years from their stars and young players.

 

Reminds me a lot of the Guillermo Martinez lead Jays over the past few years doesn't it?

 

Is the difference that the team won the WS and the Jays lost in the 1st round?

[MikeM3]

In 2023, the Rangers offense was great. 3rd in MLB. That offense fell to like 18th last year, with LOTS of down years from their stars and young players.

 

Reminds me a lot of the Guillermo Martinez lead Jays over the past few years doesn't it?

 

Is the difference that the team won the WS and the Jays lost in the 1st round?

 

Also his work with San Fran. Remember that outlier year they had where everyone had career year. That was Ecker too

[Spanky99]

lulz

[Jays24]

If they have $45-50M in payroll to spend, not sure they have enough. Bregman will match what Chapman got or likely more. Teo after the season he had likely gets a 3 or 4 year deal worth $20M + AAV. Two "elite" bullpen arms are going to likely be around $12-15M AAV each as well. Unless the Jays are allowed to spend more than the $45-50M, they likely have to aim a lot lower than the names you suggested.

 

Ya I agree but that's the position they've put themselves in. Anything less is just a waste and we might as well start a full rebuild with new management. A team that finished 7th worst in baseball would typically require a massive boost.

 

They could also get creative and trade whatever prospects we have to fill the void in the pen. Usually pen arms don't demand the biggest haul prospects wise. Go out and sign 2 hitters that will slot in our top 4 of the lineup with Springer moving to the 5th spot.

[Spanky99]

lulz

[Stangstag]

Arenado has a full NTC I believe so might not be an easy trade to pull off, but yeah if it’s between trading for him or overpaying Bregman, then I’d easily take Arenado.

 

Definitely think the Jays are going to trade prospects this winter. They have Bo for one more year, Clement on the bench, and their wet dream as far as prospects go in AAA (Kasevich - high contact, low K’s, no power, good defense). I could see Jimenez with no options remaining being moved. They can’t fill all their holes from free agency.

 

Poop.

 

Arenado strikes me as the type of guy that would veto a trade to Toronto, full stop.

[Brownie19]

Also his work with San Fran. Remember that outlier year they had where everyone had career year. That was Ecker too

 

10-4 - maybe he's elite, but he's coming off a bad year. In 2021, we had Pete Walker turning water into wine and Martinez leading one of the best offenses in baseball. A few years a later and our staff are dinosaurs who are a joke.

 

Ecker coming off a complete stinker - where the team's offense fell off a cliff and returning champs were a joke. Maybe it was an off year for him, or maybe he's falling behind. No idea how anyone knows. If he can fix the White Sox, then just put him in the HOF.

[Spanky99]

10-4 - maybe he's elite, but he's coming off a bad year. In 2021, we had Pete Walker turning water into wine and Martinez leading one of the best offenses in baseball. A few years a later and our staff are dinosaurs who are a joke.

 

Ecker coming off a complete stinker - where the team's offense fell off a cliff and returning champs were a joke. Maybe it was an off year for him, or maybe he's falling behind. No idea how anyone knows. If he can fix the White Sox, then just put him in the HOF.

 

lol... true talk.

Edited October 21, 2024 by Spanky99

[BigCecil]

Heard some BNS Sportsnet talk this am that I thought was interesting.

 

Swanson $3.2M AAV in 2025 - figures he will likely be non tendered and offered ML deal. Swinging strike % and contact numbers vs him not worth the cost.

 

Romano $8M AAV for 2025 - big tender/ non-tender decision to make with him coming off arm surgery.

 

Yimi 6.5 off the books but Green $10.5M AAV chews up a lot of payroll space coming off mediocre season.

 

The pen remake is going to be intriguing watch this off season.

[G-Snarls]

Heard some BNS Sportsnet talk this am that I thought was interesting.

 

Swanson $3.2M AAV in 2025 - figures he will likely be non tendered and offered ML deal. Swinging strike % and contact numbers vs him not worth the cost.

 

Romano $8M AAV for 2025 - big tender/ non-tender decision to make with him coming off arm surgery.

 

Yimi 6.5 off the books but Green $10.5M AAV chews up a lot of payroll space coming off mediocre season.

 

The pen remake is going to be intriguing watch this off season.

 

Would anyone take Green and most of his salary?

 

I've always liked him but I lack confidence he'll be worth the $ next year.

[Terminator]

 

No idea if he is any good or not but his contract wasn't renewed by the Twins after this season's collapse.

[Laika]

May 2022 The Athletic

Twins hitting coach David Popkins is ‘the real deal’ despite lack of experience

FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 22: Hitting coach David Popkins #79 looks on prior to a spring training game against the Atlanta Braves on March 22, 2022 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)

By Dan Hayes

May 26, 2022

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Save Article

When they hired him last November, the Twins wanted hitting coach David Popkins to provide new ideas in what they believe to be an ever-changing landscape.

 

Following a historically slow start to the 2022 season, Twins hitters appear to like the message they’re hearing from Popkins, 32. Whether it’s the new practice techniques he implemented, how he breaks down analytical information and scouting reports or the individually tailored plans he provided, Popkins has made a strong first impression on Twins hitters.

 

“It’s all we need,” outfielder Max Kepler said. “(Popkins) knows when you have a certain type of player that is more of a feel hitter and doesn’t need all of the detailed analytics and numbers, mechanics — he has a good feel for each guy.

 

“You have to work with what you have in the present. He’s aware of that. That’s what works for me. For some other guys, they might like to lean on 2020, ’19, wherever they had the most success. But I try and work with what I have and he’s open to doing that.”

 

Popkins’ personal experience has taught him to be open-minded. Hoping to limit struggles during his own minor-league playing career, Popkins worked with six different hitting specialists who’d had success with both major- and minor-league clients.

 

He started with longtime hitting specialist and Dodgers consultant Craig Wollenbrock and current Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc. He later went to Driveline Baseball and worked with Philadelphia Phillies minor-league instructor Jason Ochart. Then he kept searching.

 

“It just came from failing in my own career and diving in and trying to find what was the right solutions,” said Popkins, who played six professional seasons. “I went to a lot of the gurus.

 

“I noticed nothing was the same.”

 

Last October, the Twins re-assigned Edgar Varela, who’d been their hitting coach for two seasons, and began to search for a guru of their own. A month later, Popkins was hired.

 

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said recent advancements in hitting are similar to the tectonic shift Major League Baseball experienced with pitching. Rather than get left behind, the Twins want to be at the forefront of those changes and believe Popkins, who only had one previous season as a minor-league hitting coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers, could help bring them about.

 

“Hitting has accelerated in a way in the last 12 to 24 months at the major league level,” Falvey said. “Your players are expecting to have some of those resources, have people that know how to use that information, how to translate it for them. I remember I had this conversation five to seven years ago about pitching, and now all of a sudden we’re here on hitting. It’s the same thing on the other side. …

 

“He’s really an up-and-comer.”

 

In the first two weeks of the season, the Twins offense labored intensely and produced historic lows. That wasn’t the impression Popkins had hoped to make.

 

He’d been brought in to overhaul the program. Instead, the Twins limped out of the gate.

 

The club’s 51 hits were the fewest in team history through nine games. The Twins were shut out twice and scored three or fewer runs six times. They were only averaging 3.2 runs per game.

 

Popkins didn’t panic. He had already experienced this in 2021 with the High-A Great Lakes Loons. Early on, the most prolific offense in Great Lakes history looked like a dud, including being dismantled during the opening week of the season by Dayton.

 

How Dragons pitchers attacked during that opening series was counter to what was expected. Loons hitters were unprepared and overmatched.

 

“They kicked our butts,” Great Lakes manager Austin Chubb said. “A lot of backwards type pitching, soft stuff when they’re behind in the count.”

 

The Loons struggled for the first half of May. But nothing was worse than the stretch against Dayton, which won five of six games.

 

Popkins had drawn up scouting reports based on 18-month-old information because he had nothing else. No games had been played since 2019. Dayton’s pitching style had completely changed. Over six games, Great Lakes produced 16 runs on 23 hits while striking out 64 times. They finished 5-for-33 with runners in scoring position.

 

“That was a very big wake-up call,” Popkins said. “We were using a lot of the stuff from 2019, a lot of the pitch characteristics and shapes. … With the ride and how much off-speed they were using that whole series, it was just time to make an adjustment. We had a certain swing plane the Dodgers believe in and it’s great. There’s a lot of things it helps and it still was used. But there needed to be some calibrations to cover the new style of pitching.”

 

Adjustments were made. Eventually, the Loons heated up.

 

Popkins watched video of Dayton’s pitchers to prep for their next meeting a month later. He even watched the catchers to see what they preferred.

 

Great Lakes scored 34 runs over six games when the teams met again in June. The powerful display hinted at the summer to come. Great Lakes averaged 5.8 runs per game and blasted a franchise-record 187 home runs, smashing the old mark with weeks to go in the season.

 

“The next time we got them we were ready,” Chubb said. “His ability to make adjustments and to deliver the message to the players was really impressive.”

 

So even as the Twins failed to push across early runs, Popkins remained confident. The Twins were near the top of baseball in hard-hit rate, exit velocity and pitches seen over the first few weeks of the season. The results weren’t there, but the underlying numbers kept the Twins from panicking.

 

“David’s doing a great job,” Baldelli said in April. “He’s focusing on the preparation. He’s focusing on having the right types of conversations with the players, getting guys in a good frame of mind to hit when the game starts.”

 

A month later, the Twins have started to hit. Though they’ve been dogged by injuries to key performers and inconsistent weather, the first-place Twins entered Thursday fourth in the American League in OPS and sixth in runs. The offense increased its OPS from .688 in April to .733 in May, which has led to nearly a half run more scored per game.

 

“We started like dead last (in 2021),” Popkins said of parallels between the teams. “It was bad. Struck out a lot. We were not even close to being a good offense (early). I learned last year that the season’s very long. Those underlying principles are actually more important than coming out, making a huge bang.”

 

 

 

The Twins are utilizing new equipment. The drills employed in batting practice and the cage have a distinct look. The information has been delivered with a different voice. And everything is individually tailored to each player.

 

Outfielder Jake Cave said in spring training he liked how Popkins often drops helpful observations into their conversations, a quick tip and a compliment. He liked the new toys, too.

 

“Heavy balls, heavy bat,” Cave said. “Working on some different angles to see some things, working on some different machines.

 

“I’m not a guy who necessarily understands all the analytical stuff all the time. He’s brought some drills to me that I don’t have to think about that. It just kind of puts my body in the right position because of what I’m doing as opposed to thinking of it. That’s really big for me.

 

“He comes up sometimes and says, ‘Hey, I saw this.’ It’s also a lot of positive reinforcement. I hear him talking to the guys. I’ve had (coaches) that just tell guys the things they did wrong the day before.”

 

Byron Buxton overhauled and simplified his swing without the help of a coach during the 2018-19 offseason. His career has taken off since. Though he doesn’t spend much time talking mechanics, Popkins has other ways to help Buxton.

 

“It’s more like what pitchers are going to try to do this year,” Buxton said. “Lot more technology. The spin rate, how much depth it got down, little meetings like that is kind of what we go through to figure out the pitching.”

 

Popkins spent the entire offseason watching video of Twins hitters to get a sense of who they are. After his hire, Popkins called the players to establish an early line of communication. But he still had more than a few names on his call sheet when the lockout shut down MLB on Dec. 2.

 

Forbidden to contact players, Popkins instead consumed more video.

 

“I’ve taken some pretty deep dives,” Popkins said. “Watching every game, seeing everything, the story of the at-bat. Do they have fears of certain things? How would I attack them? Really trying to get in the mind of pitchers and see how they were exploiting some guys and maybe the limitation. After that I’ll go into isolating each guy and breaking down an individual plan for them.

 

“Just have a menu of things that if they want it, it’ll be there.”

 

When players finally arrived, you couldn’t wipe the smile off Popkins’ face. You also couldn’t find him. Whether it was standing behind the cage during batting practice, working with players in the indoor cages or breaking down video, Popkins was always on the move.

 

“Obviously, (the lockout) made it tougher withholding something you’re addicted to,” Popkins said. “It’s been incredible. I don’t think I ever realized how good these guys are. … You set up some environments for them and they tend to dominate.”

 

 

David Popkins works with outfielder Max Kepler. (Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins)

Chubb estimated Popkins spent up to 14 hours on days off devising scouting reports during his time with the Loons. Every Monday before a series began, Popkins spent the entire day writing reports on pitching staffs that were often 16-17 pitchers deep.

 

“In the beginning it was very detailed, exactly what we needed to know about the pitcher,” Dodgers minor-league outfielder Ryan Ward said. “As the season grew and he learned us individually, he did an excellent job of being able to individualize the scouting reports. He would tell me what he knew that I needed to know that would help me succeed against every pitcher I was about to face.”

 

But information isn’t all Popkins offers. Ward swears by his technical approach, too.

 

Ward overhauled his swing last season and had a breakout campaign, hitting 27 homers after blasting only four in 2019. He credits Popkins for teaching him a hover move that allowed him to get more weight on his back leg as he went from no stride to adding a leg kick.

 

Once they had the timing down, Ward needed help with his pregame routine. Popkins, of course, had plenty of ideas.

 

“There’s no one way with him,” Ward said. “Pop’s real good with adjustability. We were trying to figure out a pregame routine that would lock me in. We started with some flips inside working in and out and on field with an away round. I said ‘I don’t feel like this is helping me.’ He’s very approachable.

 

“We must have gone through three or four routines until we found one.”

 

Popkins’ fascination with swing mechanics began during his playing career. An undrafted free agent out of Division I UC Davis, Popkins signed with St. Louis’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in June 2012.

 

He was supposed to be there for a week. He lasted three seasons and played another three of independent ball, retiring after the 2017 season.

 

Popkins’ minor-league career peaked when he reached Double A in 2014, quite the feat for a player who wasn’t drafted. He said his career taught him different paths exist for all players. There’s no one way.

 

Popkins started to get a better understanding of swing mechanics when he started working with Wollenbrock in 2013. There, he learned the value of video.

 

“I would watch for hours and I’d write, on a little notebook, similarities,” he said. “I was looking at the wrong things back then, but it was the right idea. ‘Knees pinched in. Back elbow leads.’ Now, I have a pretty good grasp of what I’m looking for and what needs to be aligned, where the angles need to be to match the plane of the incoming pitch.”

 

Ahead of his 2017 season with independent Sioux Falls, Popkins went to Driveline and worked with Ochart.

 

“I learned a lot about external focuses and some of the skill acquisition stuff they do there, which was great,” Popkins said.

 

There were more trips to other specialists. While it gave Popkins a better understanding of hitting, the work never translated to on-field success. But as a coach, Popkins has all sorts of ideas.

 

“It’s a lot of trial and error,” Popkins said. “You put yourself in positions in the mirror. You do a lot of practice reps. You do a lot of video reps and see what are the commonalities. When I’m hitting this pitch right, what am I doing? What’s misaligned when I’m not hitting it right? It’s kind of the same thing when you’re working with players as well. There’s certain commonalities and angles and alignments that happen when players are really successful on certain pitches.”

 

Popkins thinks his college background in communication with a minor in psychology helps him relate to his hitters. He knows his own struggles as a hitter does.

 

“I feel a little bit of their joy and I definitely feel their pain,” Popkins said. “That’s the thing that haunts me from my own career and gives me empathy for how hard this game is. … I have a pretty strong emotional connection to wanting to see that player succeed and be the best of his ability with his body and his mind.”

 

Popkins understands his hitters may have their own external coaches and isn’t intimidated. His goal is to make sure his hitter has every tool he needs to succeed.

 

“You have to find a way. It doesn’t matter if it comes from their hitting coach at home, it comes from their dad, it comes from anyone on their staff,” he said.

 

“As long as that player is getting what that player needs and is having relative success, (that) is literally all that matters.”

 

Popkins is relatively inexperienced as a coach, but the Twins aren’t worried. They believe his character counters any hurdles his youth creates.

 

Falvey thought the work Popkins did in the offseason would nullify any age concerns players might have.

 

“You always know that’s a bit of a risk,” Falvey said. “But his humility, the ways he goes about trying to navigate, is what really sold us.

 

“He’s in there crushing the video, just watching every player again. And he had been doing that all offseason, too, and he was just getting prepared for when people are here. When you start from a place of being prepared … that’s how you build the trust.”

 

The Dodgers believed in Popkins enough to hire him on the spot in 2019.

 

Technically, the Dodgers signed Popkins to a minor-league contract on March 16, 2019, and made him a player-coach. Popkins spent the season doing swing work and performance science with the organization’s Rookie Arizona League hitters in Glendale, Ariz. He would have done the same in 2020 before COVID-19 wiped out the season.

 

Popkins loved his assignment but was advised to take the Great Lakes job in 2021.

 

After the 2021 season, the Dodgers knew what they had in Popkins and suspected other teams might, too. They planned to promote him to minor-league hitting coordinator.

 

Then the Twins called.

 

Based on the begrudging responses they received from the Dodgers front office when asking about Popkins’ availability, the Twins had a sense they were hiring the right guy. Said one Dodgers executive in November: “They did really well, unfortunately.”

 

“His name wouldn’t have been a secret for very long,” Baldelli said. “He has the skill set to be an amazing young coach. I think we’re very fortunate to have him.”

 

Though they only spent one season together, Chubb has no doubt his former hitting coach is up to the task.

 

“He’s the total package, a guy that can teach the swing, understands movement and the way the body works along with the ability to game plan, break down pitchers and then the ability to connect with players,” Chubb said.

 

“I don’t see it being a big jump. … The game is about building relationships and if you can do that, you’re going to get buy-in. As soon as he gets buy-in from one guy, you’ll see that kind of spiral and the entire Twins team will catch on and figure out he’s the real deal.”