Another couple to add from early ‘70s Twins:
* Releasing Luis Tiant in 1971 after he had broken his scapula the previous season. The injury was feared to be career threatening, so he was released and subsequently went on to be ace for the Red Sox for nearly the entirety of the’70s.
It’s a particularly painful transaction since the previous year the Twins had included 3B Graig Nettles in the package to acquire Tiant.
* Releasing Jim Kaat in the 1973 season. It seems this was a revenge move on the part of Calvin Griffith who had been engaged with a protracted and acrimonious salary negotiation with Kaat following a stellar 1972 season. Kaat was claimed by the White Sox and went on to have two standout seasons in Chicago, winning over 20 games and having an ERA around 3.00 each season.
You have to wonder if a starting rotation helmed by Tiant, Kaat, and Bert Blyleven supported by Rod Carew might have made those mid ‘70s Twins teams something to remember.