FORT MYERS, FLA. – Logan Morrison was introduced as a member of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays were getting ready to take batting practice at Hammond Stadium.
Morrison had played the previous two seasons with the Rays, and then left as a free agent – part of a major exodus of veteran players from the payroll-cutting franchise.
As with other significant free agents, it was a lengthy process for Morrison to find a new club – a Twins' deal that is likely to turn out to be for two years and $16.5 million.
Asked about the wait for a new team, Morrison said to a group of media that included Rays reporters:
"I think as the guys from Tampa know, I'm not very patient. It was definitely a test.''
Morrison might have been overstating that angle. Example A on this contrary view of Morrison's alleged impatience would be his first six weeks as Tampa Bay's first baseman in 2016.
He had to wait until May 17 – 28 games, 22 starts – before getting his first RBI. He was batting .119 with two doubles as his extra-base hits. On the 17th in Toronto, he finally delivered a run with a ground out, then knocked in another with a single.
The next day, Morrison hit his home run and was off on a hot streak. It was the first of 52 he would hit in two seasons with the Rays. And those first RBIs were also the start of the 20-game streak carrying into June when Morrison batted .423 with seven home runs and 18 RBI.