Twins history: Two franchise greats left Minnesota just before the holidays

Twins fans have endured some devastating moves that have changed the direction of the franchise. Some players were traded suddenly, others signed with another team on Thanksgiving. Now that we’re in the middle of the holidays, it’s time to take another trip down Memory Lane to remember two homegrown talents who left the Twins in the happiest of times.

Corey Koskie signed with the Toronto Blue Jays the week before Christmas in 2004 after seven seasons with Minnesota, and Jacque Jones signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs six days before Christmas in 2005 after seven seasons with Minnesota.

Corey Koskie and Jacque Jones both left the Minnesota Twins over the holidays

Koskie was a key player for Minnesota as the club won three straight division championships from 2002 to 2004. Koskie generated an .800 OPS or better in six seasons with the Twins, finishing his tenure with the team with a .280 batting average.

Koskie you inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame last winter after totaling 101 home runs, 437 RBI, 180 doubles and a 116 OPS+ in a Twins uniform. He then spent a year with the Blue Jays, then one with the Milwaukee Brewers. He retired after the 2006 season.

Jones was also drafted by Minnesota and spent his first seven big league seasons with the Twins. With Minnesota, Jones was an all-around solid player who was able to single-handedly take over a game.

He hit 132 home runs, 189 doubles and 476 RBI with the Twins before moving to the Cubs before the 2006 season. Jones also played for the Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins, retiring after the 2008 campaign.

Jones finished his career with 165 home runs and a .277/.326/.448/.775 slash line. He and Koskie were both well-liked in Minnesota, but during the back-to-back holidays they left town for another organization — and rightly so. They were both paid well.