The Twins finally made their first significant move of the offseason this week, shipping out stalwart infielder Jorge Polanco in a trade that netted big league righties Justin Topa and Anthony DeSclafani as well as prospects Gabriel Gonzalez and Darren Bowen from the Mariners. The Twins picked up a net savings of $5.25MM in the trade as well, which president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has already suggested will go toward adding a bat from outside the organization. One possibility the Twins may be considering, per the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, is a reunion with veteran utilityman Donovan Solano.
It’s unlikely that the 36-year-old Solano would command the entirety of that savings, let alone any resources beyond that point. He played the 2023 season on a one-year, $2MM deal he signed with the Twins after spring training had already begun. Solano didn’t necessarily post eye-popping numbers but was a quietly important piece of the Twins’ AL Central title, turning in a strong .282/.369/.391 batting line with a career-high 8.9% walk rate against a 22.2% strikeout rate (just south of league average but also a career-high mark). That batting line was 16% better than average, by measure of wRC+, and Solano paired it with his typical defensive versatility, logging time at first base, second base and third base.
Bringing back Solano would deepen the team’s bench mix and once again provide a right-handed-hitting complement to lefty-swinging first baseman Alex Kirilloff. However, it’s also debatable whether the need is as pressing this time around as when Minnesota last signed Solano. Royce Lewis has emerged as the team’s everyday third baseman, with Carlos Correa at shortstop. The Polanco trade cleared the way for 2023 rookie standout Edouard Julien to step into an everyday role at second base. Kirilloff is likely to man first base, and the Twins have another right-handed-hitting option, Jose Miranda, as a righty option to pair with Kirilloff.
The 2023 season was an injury ruined disaster for Miranda, as he struggled in both the majors and Triple-A before eventually undergoing shoulder surgery. But in 2022, the former top-100 prospect debuted with a strong .268/.325/.426 slash and 15 homers — including a particularly stout .289/.348/.454 showing following a dismal three-week stretch to begin his career. If Miranda is back to full strength, he can certainly be that right-handed partner for Kirilloff at first base. And, the Twins also have former top-10 picks Brooks Lee and Austin Martin on the cusp of the majors, each adding to the infield depth.
To that end, Heyman notes that Minnesota is also exploring the market for outfield help. Presumably, the target would be a right-handed bat, as corner options Matt Wallner, Max Kepler and Trevor Larnach all bat left-handed. Byron Buxton expects to be back in center field this season after spending last year as a DH following knee surgery but is, as always, a major injury question mark. The Twins have utilitymen Willi Castro and Nick Gordon as center field alternatives, and the aforementioned Martin is also no stranger to the position. But a righty bat who can handle center field still seems like a prudent addition, whether that be a reunion with Michael A. Taylor or perhaps a different free agent like Adam Duvall or Randal Grichuk.
Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports that the Twins have indeed considered Duvall, specifically. The 35-year-old, righty-swinging slugger is capable of playing all three outfield spots but is best suited for corner work at this stage of his career. Duvall ripped 21 homers in just 92 games for the Red Sox last year while slashing .247/.303/.531 overall.
Contact and plate discipline issues have long plagued Duvall. He fanned in 31.2% of his plate appearances last year against just a 6.2% walk rate; in his career, he sports marks of 28.7% and 6.7% in those respective categories. The Twins had MLB’s highest strikeout rate last year, and while they’re subtracting Joey Gallo (42.8%) and potentially the previously mentioned Taylor as well (33.5%), they’ll also surely give more at-bats to young strikeout-prone players like Julien (31.4%) and Wallner (31.5%) in 2024. Adding another strikeout rate of 30% or more could be problematic, but they’re surely weighing that against the benefits Duvall could bring to the roster.
In the rotation, the Twins’ addition of DeSclafani has addressed some of the depth issues, though the veteran right-hander isn’t going to be mistaken as a direct replacement for outgoing Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray, who signed a three-year, $75MM deal with the Cardinals. The Twins, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, were showing interest in free-agent righty Michael Lorenzen before adding DeSclafani in the Polanco swap.
The addition of DeSclafani could well push young right-hander Louie Varland to the bullpen or the Triple-A St. Paul Saints’ rotation, but it’s not entirely clear yet whether it precludes the addition of someone like Lorenzen (a former teammate of DeSclafani’s in Cincinnati). Lorenzen made his first All-Star team in 2023 after a strong start to the season, and after being traded to Philadelphia at the deadline, tossed a no-hitter in his second start as a Phillie.
Things derailed quickly thereafter, however, as Lorenzen — a reliever-turned-starter — looked to fade down the stretch while navigating the tail end of a career-high 153-inning workload. He pitched to an 8.01 ERA in 30 innings following that no-hit gem, eventually being dropped from the Philly rotation to the bullpen. On the whole, Lorenzen finished with a 4.18 ERA, 17.8% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate.
Minnesota’s payroll currently projects around $118MM, which is about $37MM shy of last year’s $155MM mark. Earlier reports in the winter suggested a target in the $125-140MM range, so there ought to be room to add someone of Lorenzen’s caliber or a similar starter in free agency, particularly since they’re only on the hook for $4MM of DeSclafani’s salary. Further addressing the rotation isn’t a foregone conclusion, but it remains something for the Twins to consider as the clock to spring training ticks.
bmcferren
Pirates send Connor Joe to the Twins for Alex Kirilloff
Salzilla
Why?
Tabata's Adopted Son
Because yinzers want all the local boys back
HopefulTwinsFan
Twins need a CF more than a corner outfielder, and they wouldn’t part with their current 1B for someone they don’t need. I fail to see the logic of this proposal.
bmcferren
right handed outfielder/first base is being reported as a need for the Twins
Devil's advocate
Pretty lopsided deal there, considering Kiriloff still had loads of potential. Connor Joe, on the other hand does not.
LambchoP
I’d be cool with Duvall or Solano, but what we really need is an impact starter…
werbellik
Got any thoughts on who that impact starter might be?
OIC2021
So TradeRumors has become 24/7 Twins chat?
Why not talk about the best team in the division, the Guard…err Indians?
HopefulTwinsFan
The Twins just made a significant move; the Guardians haven’t recently. A small market team like Cleveland making few moves is likely to get less coverage, naturally…
D-Nice
You spelled Tigers wrong
OIC2021
You should resign from the TR insider group
LambchoP
Maybe if we can move anymore money off the roster by trading Vasquez or Farmer, maybe Montgomery? That’s wishful thinking though. I think we sign a 1b platoon guy or backup outfielder, and maybe a cheaper type starter to compete with Desclafini for the number 5 spot.
Rsox
Snell, but they would never pay for him. Montgomery could be a more realistic possibility
D-Nice
Shudda extended or resigned Gray. They ain’t getting anyone better than him.
Baldkid
He wasn’t resigning, already stated he wanted to play closer to home.
HalosHeavenJJ
Solano makes so much sense here. Covers third, platoons at first. Solid bay. Inexpensive.
martras
Solano can technically stand at 2B or 3B, but he’s a liability there, and he’s certainly not going to be starting over anybody. The Twins have more depth than they need in the infield already.
acoss13
You’re already planning for Rendon not to be available for 2024. That sucks, I really hope he plays a full season for once…
HalosHeavenJJ
It would be foolish to count on him. I’d love to see him play too, but we need a solid backup.
martras
Twins article, dude.
HalosHeavenJJ
Solano is a free agent. If he doesn’t fit on the Twins, he should have options elsewhere. Like here.
That’s all o was trying to say.
kingbum
Rendon complained publicly about season length, I think he’s brought “load management” to baseball. I’d pay 100 to 1 odds that Rendon does not play 150 games.
Jacksson13
Miranda can do the same thing….but cheaper. Remember it’s the Pohlads.
martras
If any team has a similarly marketable player who can do the same thing cheaper, they’re idiots to keep the more expensive player.
LambchoP
I’d like Solano. Can probably get him for 2-4 million on a one year deal. I’d like another outfielder though. We are way thinner in the OF than in the IF
martras
Here’s a reasonable depth chart as things stand:
C – Jeffers
1B – Kirilloff
2B – Gordon
3B – Lewis
SS – Correa
LF – Wallner
CF – Buxton
RF – Kepler
DH – Julien
UI – Farmer
UI – Miranda
UI/O – Martin
UI/O – Castro
BC – Vazquez
AAA OF Depth = Larnach, Thompson, Prato
AAA IF Depth = Lee, Prato, Severino
There honestly isn’t a lot of room for a bat to be added without a roster spot being cleared. Gordon is probably the most likely to be DFA’d to make room, but I think it’s doubtful he’d clear waivers so the Twins probably aren’t excited about that move. Starting Miranda or Martin in AAA probably isn’t ideal, but they both have options still.
LambchoP
Gordon will not be out starting 2nd baseman, Julien will. I think we need better pitching rather than more bench pieces…
martras
Despite people thinking Julien will be the starter, he’s really a butcher out there, and historically, the Twins haven’t wanted to play him in the field. I just don’t see the Twins being so excited to play Julien in the field.
Gordon is an odd one. He doesn’t really fit on the roster outside of starting 2B. As a utility infielder, the Twins don’t trust him at SS, and he doesn’t really have the range to be a proper CF backup for Buxton. I suppose Gordon could start in LF, move Wallner to DH and Julien to 2B, but that’s the same lineup with worse defense so that doesn’t make sense.
LambchoP
Historically twins haven’t wanted to play him in the field? He has been our starting second baseman since he was called up. Now that we traded Polanco, he’s our guy. And Gordon hasn’t played the infield in years, he’s a backup outfielder for us at this point…
twins33
And to add to what LambchoP said, Julien significantly improved on defense the further the season went along. Believe he ended up being average.
I’m not sure he’ll ever be great out there, but I can see him being average from now on with more reps.
martras
@LambchoP
@twins33
Gordon was the opening day 2B for the Twins in 2023 and played 1/3 of his games at 2B in 2022, but if you’re right, the Twins are likely to DFA him before the end of Spring Training because he won’t have a good place on the team.
Julien played at 2B because of injuries. His UZR, Range Factors, and Total Zone Runs are all awful. His OOA was average despite having one of the worst arms in baseball thanks to his unsustainably good error rate.
If you’ve followed Julien… I mean like at all, you’d know he was always without a defensive home from before he was drafted out of Auburn. He doesn’t have the tools to be a decent 2B even if he did have the instincts, which he also doesn’t have.
Then again, it’s not like Falvey’s teams have been particularly defensive minded. They kept playing the (literaly) worst defensive players based on UZR in history on a regular basis (Sano 1B / Polanco SS).
twins33
I’d be fine if they DFA’d Gordon. I’ve never been a fan. I’d make Farmer the starting 2B before I would Gordon. Julien is going to start somewhere and it’s not likely to be as the primary DH. Julien was the primary 2B last year and I expect that to continue.
And I have followed Julien through most of the minors. Yes, he did not have a home. Now he does. His metrics were bad, but I don’t really put full weight into defensive metrics good or bad because they are all wildly all over the place.
Watching Julien it was very clear that he wasn’t even average at the position when they first put him there and I’d say that lasted at least two months, but everyone started noticing that he was improving. His hands looked better and his range did too. I believe it was in the playoffs where he made a nice play to his right that the Julien of a few months before would have had no shot at.
I’m not saying he’s going to be Morneau out there (picking him because he wasn’t good defensively and after hard work became good), but I think he could be average which was basically what Polanco was.
D-Nice
I like this better
CF Meadows.
RF Greene.
1B Torkelson.
DH Carpenter.
LF Canha.
2B Keith
SS Baez
3B Veirling
C Rogers
C Kelly
INF/OF McKinstry
OF Baddoo
INF/OF Ibanez
L Skubal
R Maeda
R Flaherty
R Manning
R Olson
R Mize
I know you weren’t comparing. I just wanted to see what it looked like, lol
martras
I’m not concerned about the Tigers’ lineup at all. The rotation potential, though, that’s another matter.
FossSellsKeys
Baez? Canha? Carpenter? What is this, a list of guys who were good at baseball as recently as 2017? That’s a god-awful starting lineup. Pass.
User 2161944466
Don’t be sleeping on the Minnesota Twins this year. As trendy as it is to say to your colleagues the Royals could take the division, they still didn’t do enough to make up the thirty one game difference.
D-Nice
Tigers will be fighting Minnesota, IMHO
OIC2021
And they’ll both be looking up to Cleveland at the top
sammerhead18
Couldn’t agree more! Also I think the twins need insurance for buxton. Why not bring back Micheal Taylor too!!
LambchoP
I think the Tigers will give us the most problems…
OIC2021
The Indians have the best pitching and the most dominant closer
arby58
Twins will have a more healthy Correa, Buxton and full seasons from Lewis, Julien, and Wallner – meaning they will do something the Guardians can’t do, score runs.
twins33
The Guardians have had better pitching in 2019 and 2020 and the Twins still won the division those years. If the Guardians ever decided to put any effort into the offensive side, they’d be pretty good.
That being said, it’s definitely going to be a tougher fight for the ALC this year because so far the Twins have not obtained a number three or better starter which they absolutely need. I’m not convinced the Twins will be as good at run prevention due to that so it would not surprise me if the standings were much closer or the Twins don’t win it.
Jacksson13
I wouldn’t anticipate a signing of a FA position player until after Spring Training begins. Health of Correa, Buxton, Kirilloff, Miranda and Gordon all need to be taken into consideration. Also, is Desclafani going to be able to pitch right out of the gate or will he be on the DL for the beginning of or the entire season? Got to keep open the possibility of Farmer or Vasquez being moved to save the Pohlad family some more bucks.
martras
I don’t think Buxton, Correa and Gordon are concerns. Buxton’s been clear he’s ready to play CF out of the gate and he’s already running and taking normal daily batting activities. Correa declared it’s a normal offseason for him at this point and the foot hasn’t been an issue for the past month. Gordon broke his leg last year. It was healed up, but the Twins didn’t think he’d have time to complete a rehab assignment before the regular season ended.
Kirilloff and Miranda probably are since they both underwent shoulder surgeries. The last I heard on those guys was they were progressing well, but it wasn’t as concrete as Buxton and Correa’s declarations.
D-Nice
Those guys are concerns until they can play a full season, at least.
cman
Buxton can say all he wants that he’s ready, but he rarely starts over 60 games in Centerfield in any given season, so take what he said with a grain of salt.
martras
He will not play more than 80 games in a season. That’s not a concern. That’s just how it is. If you think anybody is banking on Buxton playing a full season, you’re crazy.
Jacksson13
Despite what the players say PRIOR TO ACTUALLY PLAYING and prior to what the members of the organization THINK with regard to the referenced players conditions; it would be prudent to wait before accessing their ability to perform.
Buxton could create a hole in CF
Correa’s condition could be chronic = many individuals take YEARS to recover and for some it is a recurrent, long term issue.
Gordon may have limitations on which positions he can now play = SS & CF may be behind him with only 2B & LF remaining..
For Miranda his 2023 may have been due to injury, the sophomore jinx or perhaps it was 2022 season that was the exception.
Kirilloff has been so dinged up, the long term jury is out as well as him needing a RH platoon partner.
LambchoP
I agree, I think the Twins are banking on healthy springs for our position players. Once spring games start and if anyone’s looking like they need to be on the DL then we might see a depth signing…
Jesse Chavez enthusiast
Not a big deal but I think you guys may have linked the wrong Austin Martin, obviously I was still able to look up the other Austin Martin but I just wanted to let you guys know in case you wanted to fix it for accessibility reasons. I appreciate the time and effort put into this free forum, and it’s easy to make small mistakes like that.
Finlander
Miranda was an impressive hitter in the minors prior to being called up for 2022, so I doubt that 2022 was the fluke year. More likely it was last year with the injury. I agree with an earlier post that the Twins will take a good look at where Miranda is in during ST with his health and timing before they look for a righty swinging 1B. It appears they have a stronger need for short term solid CF play to back up Buxton (maybe until Austin Martin is ready?), and I sure wish they’d find a solid #2-3 SP to count on for a playoff series rather than fiddle around acquiring #5 types with bad flexors.
Gordon has no options remaining, but you’d think he could be a decent toss in for a trade offer to a team that could play him.
Finlander
Last week while I was volunteering at the soup kitchen, I think I noticed a couple of Pohlads in line, unshaven and muttering something about lousy TV deals. Could have been a case of mistaken identity, but I wouldn’t count on Montgomery becoming a Twin.
MLBTR needs to hire editors
Adams proving once again he’s clueless about punctuation. “And” should never have a comma after it when starting the sentence. Fire Adams. He’s a hack.