This story was excerpted from Do-Hyoung Park’s Twins Beat e-newsletter. To learn the complete e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
The Winter Conferences aren’t even upon us but, however the two free brokers who the Twins misplaced from their rotation — Kenta Maeda and Sonny Grey — have already discovered new properties, leaving the membership trying elsewhere for pitching.
The pitching workers was the bedrock of the Twins’ success final season, and now, they’ll be trying to exchange Grey’s exemplary manufacturing whereas additionally addressing their different wants — specifically, middle discipline and a right-handed bat for first base and the outfield.
“I believe the place we felt we have been and a few of these groups that proceeded additional than we did — we do not see as huge of a spot,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey mentioned on the GM Conferences in early November. “We expect Pablo [López] strains up with anyone on the prime. We expect we now have some premium guys in the course of the order that may go stack up with any of those guys, too. I believe once we have a look at that, that provides us a variety of optimism.”
However with the Twins having mentioned that their payroll will seemingly lower in comparison with their Opening Day 2023 worth of $153 million, how can they stroll this tightrope as they nonetheless search enchancment, look to construct on their success and defend their American League Central championship? Listed below are three questions that would play into that:
1. Who’re they keen to commerce?
If historical past is any indication, the commerce market will seemingly be an element. This entrance workplace braintrust merely has not proven a propensity to pay the open market worth for needle-moving beginning pitchers, which might seemingly be attributed to the better threat that pitchers signify and the shortcoming for them to influence the crew on daily basis.
Minnesota has gotten round that by buying and selling for pitchers who’re comparatively price managed earlier than they hit free company or by discovering short-term, lower-value offers to plug the gaps.
The commerce market may additionally make sense given the composition of this roster. Longtime cornerstones like Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler may very well be intriguing choices for commerce companions given their manufacturing and relative price management, in addition to the presence of children who’re in a position to fill their positions. There’s additionally Christian Vázquez, who had a disappointing first 12 months in Minnesota and misplaced all postseason enjoying time to Ryan Jeffers.
If the Twins are to search out significant pitching assist, although, a number of of these veterans won’t be sufficient — and so they’re seemingly going to be relying on prospects within the higher ranges of the Minors like Austin Martin, David Festa and Brooks Lee to offer significant assist in the Majors in 2024. Would they be keen to half with, say, No. 4 prospect Marco Raya in a much bigger deal?
2. How pressing is the necessity for pitching?
This can be a important query, as a result of there are different wants. The argument may very well be made that discovering one other Byron Buxton insurance coverage choice (like Michael A. Taylor final season) or one other significant right-handed bat may very well be extra urgent than changing the misplaced manufacturing of Grey and Maeda.
Discovering replacements for Grey and Maeda actually feels extra pressing because of the recency of their departures, however it’s additionally value noting that, as of this second, the Twins may nonetheless fill out a full rotation with López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack and Louie Varland, which isn’t a spot they’ve typically been coming into offseasons up to now.
“It isn’t only a pitching, pitching, pitching focus — although we’re at all times targeted on, ‘How can we add pitching? How can we develop it?’” Falvey mentioned. “However we do really feel like we stroll into this offseason possibly with a greater total pitching group than we have walked into any of our latest offseasons.”
With that mentioned, the Twins have been on this state of affairs final offseason and so they nonetheless traded for López and bumped Ober from their Opening Day rotation — a transfer that proved prudent resulting from accidents sustained by Maeda and Tyler Mahle. With there nonetheless being discuss of doubtless leaving Varland within the bullpen, depth would definitely assist — and it’s seemingly there will probably be some reinforcements on the best way.
Nonetheless, if the Twins are going to be allocating commerce sources or free-agent funds for additions, it’s value questioning what sector of the roster stands to realize most from reinforcement.
3. How lengthy are they keen to attend?
In concept, the Twins may discover solutions to those questions internally, significantly with regard to first base. Jose Miranda may very well be within the image in some capability, although to what extent seemingly gained’t be clear till Spring Coaching.
Keep in mind, the Twins didn’t signal Donovan Solano — who performed a big position in 2023 — till properly into Spring Coaching. There’s nonetheless worth available in these kinds of signings after the Twins have a greater sense for the place Buxton and Miranda are health-wise and performance-wise.
There may be threat, although, in that — whether or not it’s pitching or position gamers. The Twins could be on the mercy of the market and have to select from the gamers nonetheless obtainable, at which level many fascinating choices would seemingly be signed to different organizations.