LAS VEGAS – You never know who you will run into during the winter meetings.
Winter Meetings Confidential: Infield prospect Nick Gordon trying to put on weight
December 12, 2018 at 1:38PM
Tuesday, former major league pitcher Tom Gordon was making the rounds on radio row, conducting interviews as he starts his new gig in community relations for Perfect Game, the company that holds tournaments and showcases for amateur players across the country.
Gordon also is the father of Seattle outfielder Dee Gordon and Twins infield prospect Nick Gordon. And Nick just happened to be with his father. So it was time for an update. Nick batted .333 in 42 games for Class AA Chattanooga but only .212 in 99 games with Class AAA Rochester. He hit .186 over his last 61 games.
He vowed to work on his conditioning and said he has traveled to the Twins facility in Fort Myers, Fla., on four occasions to spend several days working out. He has altered his diet and is gaining weight — and anyone who has seen Nick, listed at 6-foot and 160 pounds, knows that weight gain is a good thing for him.
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One thing to keep in mind if the Twins' interest in veteran slugger Nelson Cruz gets serious: Cruz has a great history with Twins General Manager Thad Levine. Cruz played for the Rangers from 2006 to 2013, which came during Levine's tenure in Texas. There's definitely mutual interest between the Twins and Cruz, but will it lead to a contract offer?
One former major league pitcher at the winter meetings believes Cruz, despite being 38 years old, has the swing to produce another 40-homer season.
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The Walt Disney Company is struggling to sell 22 regional sports networks, and Twins owner Jim Pohlad could be part of the solution.
Disney had tried to sell all the networks — which includes Fox Sports North — to a single buyer but has been unsuccessful. The Mouse now is looking to sell them individually. And, according to a source, Pohlad is interested in buying FSN.
This is a condition of Disney's $71.3 billion merger with Fox. As part of the agreement, Disney has to sell the regional sports networks it is acquiring because it already owns ESPN. Discussions are underway with potential buyers for the 22 stations.
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Twins President Dave St. Peter declined to comment when contacted about Pohlad's interest in acquiring FSN.
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The eight Twins headed for arbitration are Royce Lewis, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach.
