Monday Slightly-After Morning Minnesota: free agents and old friends edition

Previously on Twinkie Town:

• Jonathan Gamble examines if Mitch Garver is due for some positive regression. I won’t spoil the answer for you, but it is either “Yes,” “No,” or “Maybe.”
• The talented and charming members of our staff give their picks on who Minnesota should pursue in the Free Agent starting pitcher market, proving either Jake Odorizzi is a very desirable pitcher, or Minnesotans (and friends!) are a bunch of sentimental saps. (Or both. Probably both.)
• TJ sagely thinks a reunion with the Big Sexy Cat, Bartolo Colon, would be the right choice. For some reason this is categorized under satire. Can we get someone to fix that?
• Brandon rounded up all the news in the AL Central in case anyone wanted to take the “Know Thine Enemy” thing from gamethreads more seriously.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

• The Twins signed a (probably) minor league deal with pitcher Derek Law. You might not know who that is, but you can’t deny the pun potential is extreme
• MLBTR also recently did their annual Offseason Outlook for the Twins. I always look forward to reading these every year because they give you a good look at the big picture.
• Twins Daily takes a look at some interest FA candidates to potentially replace Nelson Cruz and Eddie Rosario. Personally I would like to replace Nelson Cruz with Nelson Cruz, but we can’t always get what we want.
• In a video message to Twitter, Rocco’s Modern Baldelli donned a St. Paul Saints cap, hinting at the long expected announcement of the Saints as a the Twins new AAA team. Elsewhere in the minor leagues, it seems Wichita might be the new AA team. Good news for all of you Kansas..ians? Kansasites? Kansasholes.

• Speaking of the guy mentioned 5 bullet points and one sub-category ago, The Athletic examines how different Johan Santana’s Hall of Fame candidacy would have gone if he hadn’t been robbed of a Cy Young award in 2005. (An award that ultimately went to Bartolo Colon, in case you didn’t get that.) Forever HoF in my heart, Johan. Maybe its time for another comeback? Get that band back together.

Around the World in Bases and Balls:

• The Cubs promoted old friend Cr416 8r35l0w the Science Guy to Assistant General Manager. We weren’t wrong when we memed about how smart he is!
• For Sport Illustrated, Emma Baccellieri profiles a great and timely old-timey name in Turkey Tyson.
• Maybe I should I bring back Old Timey Baseballer of the day.
• Changes to the playoffs are likely coming to the MLB whether you like it or not. Maybe it is time to rethink the way we do playoffs?

Today’s soundtrack is one of the most recognizable compositions in video game history, provided you were born 1970s Japan.