Justin Morneau is taking on an increased role as part of the Minnesota Twins broadcast team. First reported by Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune, the retired first baseman will be in the Twins TV booth as an analyst for 80 games this season.
FOX Sports North recently stated their Twins’ broadcast lineup hasn’t been finalized, but according to Hartman, Morneau is adding to his schedule, while Hall of Fame pitcher and longtime analyst Burt Blyleven will work less games. The 68-year old Blyleven contributed as an analyst for 80 games in 2018, 50 last year and will likely reduce his schedule to 30 broadcasts this season.
Meanwhile, Morneau has continued to increase his analyst work for the Twins in recent years. After sitting out the 2017 season, the former MVP and four-time All-Star officially retired and joined the Twins TV broadcast team in 2018, calling more games in 2019 and now taking over as their lead analyst this season.
In addition to joining their broadcast team in 2018, Morneau also took on a role in the front office which was described as assisting with “position player development by focusing on transition programs and teaching an understanding of major league expectations, environment, and culture.” Whether or not that has changed was not announced, but recently, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made it clear he was not comfortable with journalists moonlighting as front office personnel.
“Let me give you a short answer on that one: No. I’m not all that comfortable with it. I’m really not,” Manfred said earlier this month according to the New York Post’s Ken Davidoff. “But it’s a topic that remains under discussion internally. As you know, it causes a lot of complications, not just on this particular incident or comments, but in general.”
“This particular incident” referred to Pedro Martinez and Jessica Mendoza criticizing Mike Fiers for exposing the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. Martinez works for MLB Network and TBS as an analyst, while also contributing as a special assistant to the Boston Red Sox. Mendoza is an ESPN analyst and has since resigned from her role as a baseball operations adviser to the New York Mets.
Unlike Mendoza and Martinez, Morneau will not be working as an analyst on the national stage. Similarly, Kirk Gibson continues to call games locally for the Tigers on FOX Sports Detroit while working as an adviser to general manager Al Avila. But again, whether or not Morneau is still working in the Twins front office has not been reported in conjunction with the news that he’ll be taking on an increased analyst role.
