Deal done: the MinnesotaTwins are willing to spend a lot of money to sign a top free agent.
Executive chair of the Minnesota Twins Joe Pohlad has taken a beating since he stated last week that the team won’t be vying for one of the top free players left unsigned this offseason.
We’re not in the market for the guys that are currently available and that many fans are undoubtedly talking about, stated Pohlad. The Twins are still looking to acquire players, albeit they will presumably have lower price tags.
Twins fans, who had hoped their team would have a chance to sign an elite arm like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, or sign someone like Cody Bellinger, who has since rejoined the Cubs, were disappointed by Pohlad’s admission. Pohlad is a baseball executive in a cautious industry.
Fans had hoped for more ambition at Target Field after a season in which the Twins ended a two-decade postseason win drought. With a budding batting lineup, an above-average starting rotation, and one of the finest bullpens in the league, there is potential to capitalize on this chance.
Instead, the Twins acquired 38-year-old veteran first baseman/designated hitter Carlos Santana on a one-year contract along with bullpen arm Justin Topa, top-100 prospect Gabriel Gonzalez, and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani, ranked No. 4/5.Also, they recently made a trade for Manuel Margot, an outfielder.
In the meantime, the Twins lost another trustworthy arm in Kenta Maeda and one of the finest pitchers from the previous season, Sonny Gray, to free agency.
However, the truth is that the AL Central is subpar. The Tigers, Guardians, Royals, and White Sox are all in different phases of rebuilding or ineptitude, making the Twins the clear favorites to win the division this season.
Even while it would be exciting to watch the Twins sign a big free agent, there is a valid argument to be made for waiting to commit fully to this season.
With Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez leading the starting rotation and Chris Paddack, Bailey Ober (who should ideally improve this season), Louie Varland, and DeSclafani at the back of the rotation, the Twins, especially with their strong batting line and deep, potent bullpen, should be able to take the lead in the Central by mid-July.
Therefore, the Twins might have a far wider pool to choose from via a trade ahead of the July 30 deadline, using some of their prospects to bring in a top arm or a big bat from a failing team, rather than getting sucked into a bidding war for Montgomery and Snell now.
It’s not as though the Twins have been hesitant in recent off-seasons, either, as they surprised baseball last winter by signing Carlos Correa to a record-breaking six-year, $200 million contract after he had already startled the league with a three-year deal in 2022.
They have generally made good trades in the past few years; in 2020, they acquired Ryan from the Tampa Bay Rays in return for Nelson Cruz for half a season.
And then there’s the sensational transaction that sent Lopez—who has emerged as a true ace who guided the Twins to the postseason last year—to Miami in return for Luis Arraez.
The Twins then moved swiftly to give Lopez a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension, which now seems like a great deal.
