The Twins announced the acquisition of veteran outfielder Manuel Margot, infield prospect Rayne Doncon and cash from the Dodgers in exchange for minor league shortstop Noah Miller. Los Angeles is reportedly covering $6MM of Margot’s $10MM salary for the upcoming season. The Dodgers originally received $4MM from the Rays when acquiring Margot alongside Tyler Glasnow earlier this winter; Tampa Bay also remains on the hook for a $2MM buyout on a $12MM club option for 2025.
The Twins placed right-hander Josh Winder on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot for Margot, announcing that Winder has a scapular stress fracture. His exact timeline in unclear but he’ll be ineligible to rejoin the club until late May at the earliest.
Minnesota has been on the lookout for a right-handed-hitting outfielder who could cover all three spots for much of the offseason. They’d previously been tied to free agents like Adam Duvall and Enrique Hernandez, and they’d also maintained an interest in re-signing Michael A. Taylor, who belted 21 home runs as a Twin in 2023. However, it seems they’ve found a deal to their liking on the trade front, presumably ending those free agent pursuits.
In Margot, the Twins are acquiring that righty bat they’ve been seeking but are also buying low on a player who’s been hampered by knee troubles dating back to the 2022 season. Margot missed roughly half of the ’22 campaign with a significant strain of the patellar tendon in his right knee. He was limited to just 363 plate appearances and turned in a solid, if unspectacular .274/.325/.375 slash (101 wRC+). He followed that up with a .264/.310/.376 line in 336 plate appearances this past season.
Had Margot enjoyed a season of his typical defensive excellence in ’23, that offensive output would’ve made him an above-average all-around contributor. But in the wake of that knee injury, his once-elite defensive grades slipped closer to average. Statcast noted that Margot’s range and sprint speed both declined in 2023. Defensive Runs Saved pegged him at -3 on the season, while Statcast’s Outs Above Average credited him at +3. Either way, it’s a notable drop for a player who posted 13 DRS and 16 OAA as recently as 2021. The Twins, presumably, are confident that as Margot distances himself from that knee injury, he can rebound in the field — if not back to peak form than at least to a clearly above-average defender at all three spots.
In Minnesota, Margot will provide the Twins with some insurance in the event of another injury to rarely-healthy center fielder Byron Buxton. Beyond that, he’ll give the Twins a righty bat that can spell lefty-swingers Matt Wallner and Max Kepler in the corners. Margot is a career .281/.341/.420 hitter (109 wRC+) against left-handed pitching, so he’ll likely see his fair share of pinch-hitting opportunities for a Twins club that tends to play matchups throughout the game. Margot can also serve as a late-game defensive upgrade in left over Wallner or a late-game pinch runner. Even with a downturn in his sprint speed, he still ranked in the 75th percentile of MLB players last year, per Statcast.
The Twins will also pick up Doncon, a 20-year-old infielder who signed with the Dodgers for just under $500K as an international amateur during the 2021-22 signing period. FanGraphs ranked him 12th among Los Angeles prospects as recently as last season, touting potentially plus raw power and an above-average hit tool as his best tools. The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked him 19th among L.A. farmhands just last week.
Doncon has played shortstop, second base and third base in the Dodgers’ system and climbed as high as A-ball during 2023 — his age-19 season. He spent the entire year at that level and posted underwhelming numbers (.216/.283/.368) — but did so against much older competition. Scouting reports suggest he’ll have to move to either third base, second base or the outfield as he fills out his projectable 6’2″, 176-pound frame. Doncon possesses significant power potential but questions about his pitch recognition and eventual defensive home. He’s a couple years off from being a potential big league factor, but at this point he’s a more highly regarded prospect than Miller.
Doncon’s inclusion in the deal aligns with the Twins’ general M.O. in deals of this nature; Minnesota tends to push trade partners to include prospects of varying quality even when they’re the team acquiring the established player (e.g. Jose Salas in the Pablo Lopez trade, Gabriel Gonzalez in the Jorge Polanco deal, Ronny Henriquez in the Isiah Kiner-Falefa swap, Brayan Medina in the Chris Paddack trade, Francis Peguero in the Sonny Gray trade, etc.).
As for the Dodgers’ end of things, they’ll add a former supplemental first-rounder in the deal. Miller, 21, was the No. 36 overall pick by the Twins in 2021 but hasn’t lived up to that billing at the plate thus far. He’s regarded as a solid defender at shortstop but has posted only a .220/.326/.318 batting line in the minor leagues, including a .223/.309/.340 slash in High-A last year. Miller gives the Dodgers a glove-first shortstop option who can begin the 2024 season either with a second run at High-A or in Double-A. Even if his bat never comes around, there’s utility upside for Miller within the next few years based on the quality of his defense.
Like Doncon, it should be noted Miller’s pedestrian production in 2023 came against much older and more advanced competition. Both players were more than two years younger than the average player at their respective minor league levels. Neither needs to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft until after the 2025 season.
As with the Twins getting Doncon included in this deal, the Dodgers’ acquisition of Miller fits a recent pattern. Los Angeles has bought low on recent high-profile draftees that needn’t be added to their 40-man roster this winter while performing maintenance to make room for new acquisitions. In addition to Miller, the Dodgers picked up former Yankees first-rounder Trey Sweeney in their Victor Gonzalez swap and former Cubs second-rounder Jackson Ferris in trading away Michael Busch.
Perhaps most importantly for the Dodgers, the trade of Margot frees up a roster space. In that sense, this trade has largely facilitated the team’s re-signing of utilityman Enrique Hernandez to a one-year contract. The Twins had been in the mix to sign Hernandez and were reportedly one of four finalists. Instead they’ll go with a hitter who’s been more productive over the past few seasons and can capably fill the same role in the outfield, but lacks the infield versatility. Taking on $4MM of Margot’s deal makes the transactions cash-neutral for the Dodgers, who subsequently guaranteed Hernandez the same amount in free agency.
Juan Toribio of MLB.com first reported that Margot had been traded to Minnesota. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Miller was going back to Los Angeles. Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Extra Base reported Doncon’s inclusion in the deal. Jeff Passan of ESPN added that the Dodgers were sending cash to the Twins as well. Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic first reported the Twins were taking on $4MM.
Hate to see you Marleave, love to watch you Margot
Marley and you
Dog dies, Manuel cries
Spoiler alert! I still haven’t finished the movie
I’m watch Marley and Me right now love baseball too
Pretty sure article is inaccurate, Rays are on the hook for the buyout for next season. Anybody else read that?
Like the special prize out of a Cracker Jack box!
Making room for KiKi?
How right you were
Right from the start
Don’t Margot breaking my heart
Woo hoo, nobody knows it (nobody knows it)
Kiki?
Dee
That’s too harsh. I’d rate the move at least a C+
Only player I’ve ever drafted in both minor leagues. Really underrated ball player that should provide some great depth for the twins right now.
Thanks so much for sharing. Sharing is caring.
KIKEEEEEE IS BACKKKKKK
We named our cat kiki, each time he’s made it back. We now have 3 kikis
Huge
Guess that closes the book on Taylor returning.
Didn’t expect this. Nice pickup for the Twins.
Stand down Margot stand down please, stand down Margot
Nice English Beat reference.
Should be his walk-up, make that stand down music whenever he strikes out
Nice Elvis Costello reference.
We’ll never forget his Linsanity run with the Dodgers
Now that they got Margot, they need to trade for Robbie and Ken.
Dodgers fire sale begins.
It’s Margot, it’s Margot, it’s Margot
They deferred this trade for almost 2 months.
Seems like only yesterday that Margot was hailed as Mookie 2.0
I don’t remember that comparison
Neither do I. Definitely a prospect, but not a no doubter like Mookie.
Mookie was a low top 100 prospect.
Mookie was the 62nd ranked prospect by MLB.com in 2014 (the year he made his MLB debut). Strangely Margot was ranked as the 23rd best prospect in Baseball by MLB.com in 2017. So while there may not have been any actual comparisons between the two, Margot was considered the better prospect
Mookie was a 65 FV prospect. Margot was a 55 FV prospect. # ranking is not as important as scouting grade.
HOF, no one can remember that comparison because no one outside of the voices between Insane’s ears were privy to such nonsense.
It was literally yesterday. Already had 2.0 sewn onto his Dodgers uniform.
Noah Miller is apparently the player heading to the dodgers in the deal. Former first round pick, glove first shortstop. Anyone know anything else about him?
The link is to the wrong Noah Miller.
Yea lol
He’s supposedly absolutely amazing at defense. His bat improved in the second half of 2023. No one is sure if that’s a fluke or he’s finally showing something offensively
His brother is Owen Miller of the Brewers
Dodgers had to take Margot to get Glasnow, it was a matter of time before he was gone.
Probably means Enrique Hernandez or Vargas fills the last bench slot.
I’m thinking Vargas, Dodgers brass has been very high on him this spring and Kike recently was said to be choosing between 4 teams, none of which were the dodgers.
However I would be very happy if the dodgers proved me wrong. Love Kike!
Could be right. Although that was before the Margot trade. Could it be he delayed his decision because of possible Margot trade. The timing sure is interesting. Vargas didn’t show much and still scares me defensively wherever you put him. Bat is not good enough to justify bad glove. But we’ll see, all players develop with different timing.
@mlbdodger
Just saw the headline for Kike. You were right… lets go
He’s back! Wow.
Trade for them to trade for another guy.
Taking a page out of the Braves’s playbook.
Bigger trade incoming.
“In Margot, the Twins are acquiring that righty bat they’ve been seeking but are also buying low on a player who’s been hampered by knee troubles dating back FOREVER, or at least 2012”
FIXED IT FOR YA.
Dodgers legend Manuel Margot. Tried and failed to steal home in the World Series.
Ya can’t replace Jackie!
great….another centerfielder with a bad knee….
The Twins sure have their share of injury prone players. Hopefully Buxton and Correa spend less time on the DL this year. I would have preferred Taylor to Margot, personally.
He’s cheaper than MAT. If Taylor would play for $4m or get the Dodgers to pay half his salary I’m sure he’d be welcome.
This means Kike to the Dodgers.
Are Dodgers receiving more back from Minnesota?
No
Dodgers are said to be sending the Twins $5.5 million with Manuel Margot, so Twins get Margot,, Doncon and 5.5 Mil for Noah Miller which I think is a good deal
Good for the dodgers as well. Basically a 1 for 1 swap of margot for kike. Which in my opinion is an upgrade.
Cash means nothing to the dodgers so it’s owen miller for rayne doncon then. Dodgers must see something they like in Miller.
Miller’s only real eye popping stat is his WALK RATE, but I doubt they see really much else.
Must be the hair then
Excellent glove, never put it together at the plate. Maybe 2024 is the year.
Love this trade! What an offseason for the twins
Trade Action is the best action! Sounds like a cleaner patth to playing time for Margot, but sucks to have to leave that LA juggernaut.
so you refer to Noah Miller simply as “minor league infielder” which he is……..but he was also Minnesota’s #1 Draft pick last year. I think he’s deserves a bit more pub. JMO. Love the site.
2021 was NOT last year.
Draft: 2021, Minnesota Twins, Round: CB-A, Overall Pick: 36
My bad, it’s 2024. Your right.
Comp round pick in 2021
Rojas, Taylor, and Kike?
And barnes. Sounds about right.
Any idea if or how much luxury tax money this saves the Dodgers?
Seems this article has the wrong link to miller – cause that miller is 19, catcher, and playing for University of Michigan
the real Noah Miller is 21 and putting up below average stats (outside of his walk rate)
It is Noah! Read the article!
They fixed it since I wrote that.
I’d rather have Taylor. Insane if they are taking on his entire contract! I don’t get this one at all.
the Twins have now traded their top 5 picks from the 2021 draft.
Jackie was out! Just ask Yogi!
Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded.
Is there a source for the Rays sending $4 mil to LA with Margot? I’ve only seen they would pay the option buyout of $2 mil.
Dodgers received $2 million for 2024 and $2 million in 2025 (for the buyout) from the Rays. They were on the hook for $8 million of Margot’s $12 million guarantee and now the Twins are paying $4 of that. Signing Kike for $4 million makes this an exactly money-neutral deal for the Dodgers. It totally makes sense for both the Twins and Dodgers. Interestingly, Margot’s guarantee will now be equally divided by three clubs, with the Rays, Dodgers, and Twins each paying $4 million.
Spot on Lebowski
A net neutral money trade (adding Kiki) with each team making a small prospect challenge swap
Margots got the higher ceiling at a 1/4 but Kiki is the better fit for LAD on that same 1/4 contract
Baseball can get a bit monotonous over the long haul, guys like Jesse Orosco, Hanser Alberto, and Kiki have always given the Dodgers that extra little zest to keep chugging. The Adrian Gozalez’s teams lacked these character’s and I think it had a unquantifiable impact
So I wonder if the twins cut him during Spring Training and another team picks him up. He gets a new home and they pay league mininum. Will 4 teams sharing his salary be a record? Maybe flip him to the Angels and then they cut him August 31st. So we get 6 teams. One from each division would be fun.
So no difference to LA’s bottom line. Swapped out an OF’er for a multi position player and a former first round pick.
Yep
Actually they are paying $16.8 million for him to play for the Twins.
Dodgers were going to pay Margot $10 million.
Now they will pay the Twins $6 million towards Margot and Kike $4 million.
Margot does not get a raise.
I think I understand what he is saying, but I think he still has his numbers wrong. The Dodgers are paying 110% CBT fine for every dollar they spend of payroll, so they are paying $6 million of Margot’s salary plus 110% of that or $6.6 million in CBT fines. A total of $12.6 million for Margot.
Hernandez is $4 million in salary plus $4.4 million in CBT fines. A total of $8.4 million.
I was just comtemplating how to get Hernandez on the roster the last couple of days.
It obviously came down to moving Taylor or Margot.
I think Margot is ever so slightly better than Hernandez (FG projects him for a 96 wRC+ and 1.3 WAR per 600. Hernandez is at 85 and 0.9) and fits the roster a bit better (he’s a better defensive OFer, Herhandez can play IF, though).
I thought the move would make sense if it lead to the Dodgers getting back more future value. I don’t really see it in this trade. FanGraphs gave Doncon the higher future value grade (45 to 40). Doncon is more volatile though, the defense is iffy but the bat could be special if he can solve plate discipline. Miller has the higher floor due to better defense and a safer bat but lacks the offensive upside.
I trust the Dodgers’ F/O knows way more than I do about this and if they like it, who am I to question them?
Gotta keep it lite, 162 is a beast
Guys like Hanser and Kiki help not just the team but the fans as well stay more engaged over the long summer
Interesting take Cap, one I had not really considered before.
Exactly! Let’s watch the Dodgers today to see what color hair and how much bling Kike is sporting!
Millenniums Rule.
10% below league average. Underwhelming player. Decent bench depth for the Twinkies, though.
MIN MAN MAR GOT
Dodgers are now complete. Kike is back!
The Dodgers are paying $16.8 million for Margot to play with the Twins and they added $8.6 million for Kike to come back?
They are paying Kike 4 million and TB sent cash over in the deal. The Dodgers are only sending 2 million of their own money.
The fate of Twins essentially rests on four patellas…
Frankie Valli and the Four Patellas.
I feel like Larnach doesn’t really have a place in that OF mix anymore. Might be a good target for San Diego, they need a LH outfield bat.
Larnach hasn’t really been completely healthy over the past couple years, so he needs a year to prove he can stay on the field and can hit at this level. He’s still got enough prospect glitter that they see a higher ceiling for him than Margot, but this is his year to grab a role before the next generation of young OF run him down from AA.
Their backup CFer for Buxton, aka as their starting CFer.
That would be a big problem. If he is getting 750+ innings in CF this season then the Twins season has gone off the rails.
Some serious K rate being thrown around between LA and Minnesota.
This could be a mistake.
This is a decent pick up for the Twins. Titles get won not just with the best 5 players, but the guys in the 20-26th spots. Can play all three OF spots, hits okay not great. Can pinch run, pinch hit, late inning OF replacement.
Tampa is on the hook for $4 million TOTAL for Margot, $2 million this season plus the $2 million buyout.
Got to stink being on one of the best two teams in baseball that’s almost guaranteed a playoff spot to going to a team that although prob the favorite to win that division, no guarantee. Plus Minnesota vs LA. I’ve never been to either, but I can’t imagine they are remotely similar places to live
That’s three first rounders from that draft the Dodgers have scooped up now.
I like this trade for us. We got our backup right handed hitting outfielder plus a prospect and some cash, for a glove first minor league shortstop who would have been positionally blocked in Twins organization…