Latest news with #Minnesota-native
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Twins Trade Two Relievers at Last Minute
In case the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline wasn't insane enough, Derek Falvey decided to get a tip in at the buzzer. Of course the most shocking news was deciding to move Carlos Correa and his contract back to the Houston Astros. Having already made a plethora of moves, the Twins president of baseball operations sent two more relievers packing as the clock struck zero. Griffin Jax and Louie Varland both have new homes. That means Minnesota sent out a whopping five of their eight relievers to new teams prior to the deadline. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Sale Reportedly Gaining Steam… with Some Doubters Minnesota Twins Make Unprecedented Amount of Roster Moves MN Twins Earn Praise for One Prospect Return Griffin Jax goes from MN Twins to Tampa Bay Rays It was expected that Griffin Jax could be traded along with closer Jhoan Duran. The latter went first to the Philadelphia Phillies. The former was held onto until the waning seconds, but he's headed to the Tampa Bay Rays. Jax is 30 years old and under team control through 2027. He is making just $2.37 million this season, and despite a gaudy 4.50 ERA, he owns a 2.00 FIP and has been as dominant as ever. With a 1.5 fWAR, Jax has the best mark among Twins relievers, and is actually above the 1.3 fWAR owned by Jhoan Duran. The tally makes him the 5th-best reliever in baseball by fWAR. The Rays sent Taj Bradley to the Minnesota Twins. He's a former fifth round pick (2018) and was a top 25 prospect in baseball as recently as 2023. Bradley has made 69 appearances (67 starts) across three seasons at the big league level for the Rays. The numbers haven't worked in his favor yet though. He owns just a 4.70 ERA (4.33 FIP) and his 9.6 K/9 has been watered down by a 3.3 BB/9 and 1.5 HR/9. Related: Minnesota will look to push his development towards the player that owns a 2.90 ERA across 366 1/3 minor league innings. Bradley is not arbitration eligible until 2027 and is under team control through 2030. Blue Jays grab Varland and France from MN Twins It wasn't just Jax that was traded up against the deadline. Louie Varland and Ty France both found themselves headed elsewhere, and they'll need their passports to get there. The Varland inclusion is an interesting one. Toronto was in the market for a leverage bullpen arm, and after missing out on other options, they apparently approached Minnesota about the remade starter. Ty France had little value as a first baseman with an 86 OPS+, but his $1 million contract was easy to throw in. It's jarring to see the Minnesota-native Varland, who's under team control through 2031, leave. He owns a 2.02 ERA (2.89 FIP) this season and has been used a ridiculous 51 times already. A true development story, that one should sting a bit. Kendrys Rojas is a left-handed pitcher and the fifth best prospect in the Blue Jays organization per MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old Cuban reached Triple-A this season. He has 11 appearances (10 starts) across four levels in 2025 and owns a 3.46 ERA. In 252 2/3 minor league innings he has a 3.31 ERA with a 10.6 K/9. Related: Alan Roden is a Wisconsin-native that made his big league debut this season. He was third-round pick out of Creighton in 2022. The left-handed outfielder has a .204/.283/.306 slash line in 43 big league games this year. In 32 games with Triple-A Buffalo he owns a .918 OPS, and he has an .866 OPS across 298 total minor league games. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Sale Reportedly Gaining Steam… with Some Doubters Minnesota Twins Make Unprecedented Amount of Roster Moves MN Twins Earn Praise for One Prospect Return
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former MN Vikings Linebacker Calls It a Career
The Minnesota Vikings started training camp this week and Warren Sharp called their defensive front seven the best in the league. That hasn't been the case in quite some time, and it's due to the additions they made on the line. The linebacker tandem of Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman flashed well last year. It was the Minnesota-native Cashman that came home after Jordan Hicks signed with the Cleveland Browns. Hicks signed a two-year deal with Cleveland for $8 million. The veteran played the first year of that contract in 2024, but that's where things will end. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Might Have Pablo Lopez on Trade Block Too MN Vikings, Josh Metellus Contract Done 4 Vikings Defenders Who Could Earn Bigger Role During Training Camp Jordan Hicks retiring from the NFL The Cleveland Browns linebacker position lacked depth this season. They targeted Carson Schwesinger in the NFL Draft, and assumed that veteran Jordan Hicks would be present for the second year of his deal. He was absent at the start of training camp, and now has provided a reason why. Last season, his only one with the Browns, Hicks played in 12 games. He missed time due to a multitude of different injuries last season, and famously suffered a serious injury with Minnesota in 2023. Hicks suffered a shin contusion against the New Orleans Saints on November 12, 2023. It didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary, but developed into compartment syndrome and needed to be rushed to the hospital. He returned six weeks later and finished the final three games of the regular season. With Cleveland last season Hicks recorded two sacks and 78 tackles. He added four tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. It was the culmination of 10 seasons in the NFL. He concludes his career with 16.5 sacks and 952 total tackles. Related: Hicks spent two seasons with Minnesota and was seen as a solid veteran leader. His only career fumble return for a touchdown came on October 15, 2023 against the Chicago Bears. At 33 years old Hicks has plenty of life ahead of him to live. He earned just shy of $44 million over the course of his career. The veteran linebacker also leaves the game with a Super Bowl Ring from his 2017 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cleveland Browns will now have to figure out how they'll move forward at the position. It's just the latest iteration of another knock against an organization that has become synonymous with them. Related Headlines Minnesota Twins Might Have Pablo Lopez on Trade Block Too MN Vikings, Josh Metellus Contract Done 4 Vikings Defenders Who Could Earn Bigger Role During Training Camp
Axios
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Twins debut new foods, self-checkout stands for 2025
Pickle pizza and pork butt platters are among the new concessions debuting at Target Field for Thursday's Twins home opener. The big picture: The Twins rolled out about 21 new food and drink options at a media preview on Tuesday. Kyle's thought bubble: My favorite was the Truly On Deck restaurant's grilled Spam sandwich with bacon and onions. The Minnesota-native meat could prove divisive with fans. Try it once! Plus: The new Kramarczuk's sausage — a "Cherry Bomb," with dried fruit and a nice kick — also ranked high for me. They're selling it on an epic six-sausage sampler flight. The intrigue: Fans will be able to ring up their own food orders at new self-checkout kiosks in sections 105 and 109 — historically one of the ballpark's busiest concession areas, the team said. Stunning stat: The new kiosks could speed up checkout for ballpark essentials — brats, fries, cheese curds and drinks — by as much as 40%, Delaware North manager Pete Spike told Axios. The stands expand on a concept previously only used at Target Field for beverage sales. Here are some of the other new food options debuting at Target Field this year: 🐷 Vinai's fried pork: Chef Yia Vang 's crispy pork butt tossed in sweet and sour sauce with cabbage slaw, cucumbers and pickled carrots. Section 223 🧇 Chicken & waffles: Official Fried Chicken is adding a platter with mini waffles and tenders smothered in hot honey. It also unveiled a new fried chicken-bacon-ranch sandwich. Section 134 🗡️ A "Steak Machete": An 18-inch-long steak quesadilla at the Taco Libre stand, which also sells steak bowls. Section 103 🍗 Toki Doki: The Eat Street burger joint is serving wings with both a dry rub and a homemade, gluten-free gochujang sauce. Hrbek's Bar 🧋 Boba tea: Niko Niko 's signature milk tea, a Hawaiian fruit tea and a strawberry lemon spritz. Section 107 🥒 Pickle pizza: A Pizza Lucé concept with mozzarella, sliced pickles and a dill garnish. Section 223 🌮 Walleye tacos: Branded by Lord Fletcher's and tossed in tequila lime slaw. Gate 34
Associated Press
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Atticus Publishing proudly presents, 'The Frenchie Friends Trio: Origin Story' by Kimberly Nokk
The Frenchie Friends Trio Sets Off on a Whimsical Journey ALEXANDRIA, MN, UNITED STATES, January 28, 2025 / / -- Children's literature welcomes a fresh and funny addition with the release of The Frenchie Friends Trio: Origin Story by Kimberly Nokk. This charming tale, explores the adventures of three quirky French bulldogs: Max, Gunther, and Zeno. Through their escapades, the book teaches children the valuable lessons of friendship, uniqueness, and teamwork. In her debut children's book, Minnesota-native Kimberly Nokk draws from her extensive background in Psychology to create a narrative that not only entertains but also educates. Nokk, a PhD holder from St Cloud State and Walden University, infuses her storytelling with humor and relatability, encouraging young readers to embrace their differences and work together. 'The idea for The Frenchie Friends Trio came from my desire to impact others positively while expressing myself creatively,' says Nokk. 'This book reflects my passion for helping others discover and utilize their full potential in a fun and engaging way.' The Frenchie Friends Trio: Origin Story invites readers to join Max, Gunther, and Zeno as they tackle everyday challenges with wit and bravery. The book promises to be a delightful read for children and parents alike, packed with humor and heartwarming moments. 'The primary message of the book is for kids to not be afraid to be themselves and to show their strengths,' Nokk explains. 'Each character in the book is unique, brave, and powerful in their own way, which I hope will inspire young readers to feel the same about themselves.' The Frenchie Friends Trio: Origin Story is available for purchase at major bookstores and online retailers. For more information, visit or follow Kimberly Nokk on Instagram @thefrenchiefriendstrio. Kimberly Nokk is an accomplished psychologist and author from Alexandria, Minnesota. With multiple degrees in Psychology, including a PhD, her career is marked by a commitment to learning and helping others achieve their potential. Nokk's work often integrates humor into educational concepts, making learning enjoyable and accessible. Her storytelling captures the essence of her approach to life and work, one that is full of energy, creativity, and compassion. Atticus Publishing LLC +1 (888) 800-1803 Instagram Legal Disclaimer:
