The Twins signed infielder Daniel Robertson to a minor league deal, The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Phil Miller reports. Robertson was outrighted off the Brewers’ 40-man roster this past summer and elected free agency after the season, thus making him eligible to sign during the lockout as a minor league free agent.
A veteran of five MLB seasons with the Rays, Giants, and Brewers, Robertson has yet to truly follow up on his impressive numbers in the second of those seasons, a .797 OPS campaign with Tampa Bay in 2018. Robertson hit .262/.382/.415 over 340 PA in what seemed like a breakout year, but after a thumb injury brought an early end to his 2018 season, he has since hit only .209/.317/.292 in 351 PA over the 2019-21 seasons.
Robertson (who turns 28 in March) will now look for a fresh start in Minnesota. Tim Beckham also recently signed a minors deal with the Twins, so the club will have two experienced options in Beckham and Robertson battling alongside Nick Gordon and Jose Miranda for a utility infield role. Gordon is the only left-handed hitter of that quartet, so the others could be competing to be the right-handed side of the bench equation.
The versatile Robertson has plenty of experience as a shortstop, third baseman, and second baseman, plus he has expanded his utility range by also playing a handful of games as a corner outfielder and first baseman. Since the Twins have left-handed bats lined up at second base (Luis Arraez) and in the outfield (Max Kepler, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff), there is perhaps opportunity for Robertson to work his way into a platoon should any of this group struggle against left-handed pitching. Of note, Robertson and Beckham were both teammates on the 2017 Rays, when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was a member of Tampa Bay’s coaching staff.
And here’s to you, Mr Robertson!
Tampa loves you more than you will know…. Whoa whoa whoa….
Rays bless you please, Mr Robertson. AAA holds a place for those who play
Remember the days when you were released from Tampa and your career was basically over since no one wanted a player who couldn’t stick with the Devil Rays? Those days are long gone. Former Rays players are now sought after given their experience with analytics-driven metrics and because Tampa has so much young talent, they have to release some pretty decent bench players / veterans to keep their young core intact.
Or it could simply be a case of it’s who you know, more than what you know. Having played for Baldelli gave them an in.
Now sign Si Robertson.
Good luck Dan!
I hope Miranda gets the utility role. He absolutely dominated AAA, and has always had an intriguing bat.
Arraez is the utility guy. It will take a trade or injury for Miranda to get his coffee. He’s a guy might be time to trade high on
While Robertson was in Tampa, he and his wife did a TON of charity work; wound up on the network for all his efforts. Since he’s still a minimum-wage guy. it means a bit more than when a gazzilionaire tosses a few bucks to a charity.
Seems to be a good guy; hopefully Rocco can help him stick.
Solid signing. Hard worker with talent and upside who could still prove to be a very decent major leaguer.
Decent in the field but at least with the Brewers, he was mostly a void at the plate.
I thought it was the former closer at first. I’m sure he’s still around, but it’s David.