FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Twins have tried in past seasons to sign Jose Berrios to a long-term deal without any luck, and the righthander has moved on, looking to improve each year and increase his value.
While a Twins source on Friday said the sides have not talked since last spring, Berrios indicated that he has been having discussions with his agents about his future and hopes something can be worked out with the Twins.
Perhaps there will be come clarity in the coming weeks. Clubs often check in with agents, and vice versa, during spring training. This spring could be the setting for the sides to take another shot at a deal.
"Ah, like I don't wake up every morning thinking like that, 'Is that going to happen?' " Berrios said, "but for sure they're going to help me to be more focused on my work. Like the way I am right now."
Berrios, 26, will make $6.1 million in 2021, with one more year of arbitration remaining before he is eligible for free agency following the 2022 season. The two-time All-Star is 48-38 with a 4.19 ERA in five seasons with the Twins, including a 5-4 record and 4.00 ERA in the abbreviated 2020 season.
Berrios was 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA over his last seven starts and held Houston to one run over five innings on two hits and two walks in Game 2 of the Twins' wild-card playoff series with the Astros.
"I'm going to take that and use it for my experience and motivation," said Berrios, who will throw in the bullpen on Saturday. "You said it: My last few starts and also in the postseason were feeling great for me. I was doing well. So I wanted to keep building on that."
Kenta's cut
Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson watched as Kenta Maeda threw off a mound Thursday and liked what he saw. Maeda's pitches looked sharp and he looked ready to back up his 2020 season, in which the Japanese righthander finished second to Cleveland's Shane Bieber in American League Cy Young Award voting.