12:51pm: If Morrison signs with the Twins, it’ll be a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2019, per Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link). The White Sox have also shown interest in Morrison, Wolfson adds.
12:42pm: The two sides are “in serious talks” and closing in on a deal, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN tweets.
10:16am: Although first baseman Logan Morrison enjoyed a career year with the Rays in 2017, he hasn’t encountered a robust market in free agency. Legitimate interest in Morrison has been hard to come by since he became available in November, but he may not be out of work for much longer. The Twins are interested in the 30-year-old, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports (Twitter link).
MLBTR recently made a case for someone to sign Morrison, arguing that Minnesota would make sense as a destination because of the unspectacular production the team received from its designated hitters in 2017. Twins DHs Robbie Grossman and Kennys Vargas combined for league-average numbers, hitting .249/.344/.404 with 20 home runs and a .156 ISO in 720 plate appearances, and the club hasn’t made any notable additions at the position since then.
Morrison, meanwhile, set career highs in most offensive categories, slashing .246/.353/.516 (130 wRC+) with 38 HRs and a .270 ISO in 601 PAs. While the left-handed hitter entered last season with uninspiring career numbers, the significant gains he made with respect to hitting more fly balls (46.2 percent, up from a career 37.5 percent) and drawing more walks (13.5 percent, compared to a 10.5 percent lifetime mark) add intrigue to the outstanding production he logged in Tampa Bay. Statcast data provides further hope for Morrison, who ranked 26th in barrels per PA and 32nd in balls hit at least 95 mph in 2017. He also concluded the year with a .365 expected weighted on-base average that slightly outdid his real wOBA (.363).
Despite his quality 2017, Morrison reportedly isn’t sitting on any offers in the early stages of spring training, which could make it difficult for him to secure a deal in line with MLBTR’s pre-offseason projection (three years, $36MM). The Twins may be in position to land him for a cheaper-than-expected cost, then. But in the event Morrison inks a multiyear deal, he could emerge as Minnesota’s starting first baseman in 2019 if the team doesn’t re-sign soon-to-be free agent Joe Mauer.
Might be a good move
Twins are putting together a competitive squad, may be in on Lynn or Cobb
Has anyone reported where they want their 2018 budget should be at?
No, but they typically say they’ll spend 50 to 52 percent of revenue. If Forbes is anywhere close I think that would be about 130M (but I haven’t looked in months so only guessing).
That being said, I think they’ve been under 50 percent for years now so just because it could be 130 doesn’t mean it will be.
Correct. Carl Pohlad was very formulaic with his payroll, and the boys seem to be following in those footsteps.
Getting Lynn or Cobb would complete the team. Santana, berrios, odorizzi, Lynn or Cobb, sounds pretty good.
Wouldn’t mind the move but Twins need a strong right handed bat more than left handed.
Exactly my thoughts. Morrison’s production against lefties was worse than our current DH, and it’s our slugging against lefties that we needed to improve, hence the early interest in Napoli. Morrison would hit righties better than Grossman (assuming Morrison’s 2017 isn’t a one-off), but they must decide if that’s high enough up the priority list to justify the add.
Grossman is naturally right handed and better from that side so you could platoon Morrison vs tougher L starters plus I believe a L bat better protects Sano.
Morrison and another decent pitcher signing will give the twins a chance at competing.
They should ALREADY be competitive.
Spot on
Would be a good move
If you throw 2/20 or 3/30 at him you are set at DH.
Might come cheaper than that. I like LoMo as a solid LH power hitter.
Heck 2yr/$12-14mil with $2.5mil+/yr in incentives is not bad for either side at this moment.
Well said
Great fit at DH and 1B is covered properly if Mauer is hurt. They also should probably trade Grossman if they aren’t going to give him an everyday OF spot.
This is a relief. I’d much rather they nab LoMo Than Napoli who they’ve been circling. Some of those HRs might become doubles with the high porch at target.
Sign him.
Then ya know wrap things up with the Archer/Colome trade and we’re good to go.
Archer/Colome will cost the twins a lot of their top 1-20 prospects.
Tampa has said Archer and Colome won’t be dealt yet … I could see them waiting until July
It would be nice for The Twins to get Archer, or Colome, but I The Rays aren’t really shopping either right now. Instead, they should go after one of Lynn, or Cobb.
Can’t understand why the White Sox don’t go after Lo Mo. Might be better defensively at first than Abreu and still need a DH at the same time.
Cause they won’t be competing this year.
“MLBTR recently made a case for someone to sign Morrison”
This post’s author really needs to show some agency. He was the one that wrote the post about Morrison the other week and he should point that out rather than attribute it to MLBTR.
Upgraded production at the right price