Chelsea Football Club, a West London soccer team that is one of the most famous and popular clubs in the English Premier League, is using the same hotel as a headquarters while the team competes in the monthlong FIFA Club World Cup, a 32-team international tournament being staged for the first time in the United States.

“We’ve seen their staff all over the place, and a lot of players, too,” said Baldelli, a big fan of international soccer — though especially of Liverpool, one of Chelsea’s EPL rivals. “I recognize some of these guys, absolutely. João Pedro was next to us in the coffee line today,” he added, speaking of Chelsea’s newly signed striker.

Some Twins players have chatted with the soccer players in the hotel’s weight room, Baldelli said, and the team’s chefs rode an elevator with some staff members.

Chelsea has played round-robin games in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Orlando, each time returning immediately afterward to the base hotel in Miami Beach. Last weekend, Chelsea advanced to the quarterfinals with a victory over Benfica, a Portuguese team, in Charlotte; they’ll take on the Brazilian team Palmeiras on Saturday in Philadelphia.

“It’s pretty cool to see a big-league team like that up close,” Baldelli said.

Security is also much tighter than the Twins are used to, several players said, with identification required to enter the hotel and noticeably more guards patrolling the grounds.

Infielder Jonah Bride, designated for assignment Sunday to make room for Royce Lewis’ return to the active roster, cleared waivers Wednesday and was assigned outright to St. Paul.

“I’m glad. It gives us someone we can trust and turn to” if necessary, Baldelli said of Bride, who went 15-for-72 (.209) in 10 weeks with the Twins. “He’s a versatile guy. He handled the role of a bench player like a veteran. I prefer to keep Jonah in the organization.”

The Saints lost 2-1 to the Gwinnett Stripers on Wednesday in Laurenceville, Ga., when Conner Capel hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning.