The Washington Nationals will hopefully welcome back two amicable players in 2016 following a dugout feud towards the end of the season while the Minnesota Twins will say goodbye to a longtime MLB veteran.
Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon are those two Nationals players. Both competitors are known for being emotional on the field and it apparently got the best of them in late September when they got into a scuffle in the team's dugout.
Papelbon was suspended for the final weekend of the season and his status with the team next year could be in limbo. However, Harper still wanted to make sure things were cool between he and Papelbon.
"Since the end of the season, Bryce Harper has reached out to Jonathan Papelbon to make sure their relationship as teammates is functional next season," writes Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post.
"'Papelbon and Harper are fine together,' one person inside the Nationals said, referring to Harper's phone call. 'Harp just wants to win. All he cares about is that we have a 45-save relief pitcher who's going to help us.'"
That's good news for the Nationals, who are looking to rebound after a horrid 2015 season.
On the other hand, Twins outfielder Torii Hunter had an impressive age-39 season and batted .240/.293/.409 with 67 runs scored, 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 139 games. Minnesota also made big strides after four consecutive 90-loss seasons.
However, Hunter, now 40, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in late October that he plans to retire.
He officially made that announcement on Thursday. Check it out below:
Hunter finished his 19-year MLB career with a .277/.331/.461 stat line in seasons with the Twins, Los Angeles Angels (5) and Detroit Tigers (2). He amassed 1,296 runs scored, 353 home runs, 1,391 RBI and 195 stolen bases in 2,372 games.
He'll be missed by the Twins, who were expecting him to come back next season. The team reportedly tried to convince him to play one more season, but Hunter insisted he hang up the cleats.
