The Twins have been candid all all through the offseason about their plans to cut back participant payroll this winter, and so they’ve largely been profitable in that endeavor. RosterResource tasks the membership for a payroll of simply $124MM in 2024, which might signify a $35MM haircut relative to final yr’s payroll. Provided that actuality, Dan Hayes of The Athletic stories that the membership doesn’t plan on partaking in a “salary-dump” commerce this winter.
That’s absolutely heartening information for Twins followers, given rumors that swirled earlier this offseason indicating that the likes of second baseman Jorge Polanco, outfielder Max Kepler, and infielder Kyle Farmer have been out there in commerce this winter. Whereas Hayes left open the opportunity of a commerce coming collectively, he made clear that the membership doesn’t plan on dealing these gamers with a purpose to clear wage or add prospects. As a substitute, the Twins are angling to carry again main league expertise in any deal as they appear to construct on a 2023 marketing campaign that noticed the membership win its first playoff sequence in twenty years.
Hayes additionally signifies that the membership would favor to maneuver Polanco and/or Farmer moderately than Kepler, including that the “expectation” getting into the offseason was that Minnesota would transfer two infielders from their big-league roster to minimize the membership’s positional logjam. Setting apart Polanco and Farmer, the membership staff Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and Edouard Julien as possible regulars with the likes of Jose Miranda, Austin Martin, Nick Gordon, Willi Castro and high prospect Brooks Lee all more likely to spend a minimum of a while on the infield grime as nicely subsequent season. The identical goes for Alex Kirilloff, who figures to issue closely into the membership’s first base combine however has loads of expertise within the outfield as nicely. Against this, the membership’s outfield combine is far much less crowded, with Kepler, Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, and Trevor Larnach making up the membership’s major choices although Kirilloff, Martin, Gordon, and Castro all even have expertise on the grass as nicely.
Regardless of the membership’s obvious willingness to deal from its surplus, Hayes suggests {that a} deal doesn’t seem more likely to come collectively anytime quickly. Whereas he notes that the membership has recognized potential commerce companions and begun talks with them, lots of these groups are nonetheless ready to see how the remainder of free company performs out. That’s not essentially a shock given the variety of positional free brokers, starting from Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman to Justin Turner and Whit Merrifield, are nonetheless out there at this level within the winter.
If the membership hopes so as to add huge league expertise in change for parting with a longtime veteran like Polanco or Farmer, it’s not arduous to see what areas of the roster they might goal. The departures of Sonny Grey and Kenta Maeda have left the membership unusually skinny within the beginning rotation. Whereas a quintet of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Chris Paddack, Bailey Ober, and Louie Varland could be a viable group to hold into Opening Day, there’s loads of room for enchancment in that group and the membership lacks a lot in the best way of depth. Ought to any of the group’s beginning 5 endure an harm early within the season, the Twins at the moment determine to lean on an unproven arm like Brent Headrick or Simeon Woods-Richardson to take the ball each fifth day.
MLBTR took a take a look at attainable commerce companions for the Twins concerning Polanco final month, and lots of of those self same groups may additionally profit from the addition of Farmer as nicely. The Mariners, Cubs, Blue Jays, Giants, and Marlins have been among the many golf equipment talked about who may stand so as to add one other bat to their infield combine whereas additionally having the form of MLB-ready pitching depth that the Twins might be excited about from which to deal. Speculatively talking, a group just like the Dodgers or Angels may additionally profit from bolstering their infield depth given the unsure shortstop scenario in L.A. and the various accidents Anaheim’s infielders suffered final season. Each golf equipment even have controllable pitching choices who may theoretically be moved this winter, akin to Gavin Stone and Chase Silseth.