The Twins made a Spring Training acquisition this afternoon, bringing in Manuel Margot from the Dodgers. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey told reporters that adding a right-handed hitting outfielder has been the team’s primary focus for the last couple weeks (link via Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic).
While Falvey didn’t rule out the possibility of further acquisitions, he implied the bulk of the offseason team-building is complete. “Realistically, with where our team is, with how the roster now is built out, with the way it looks, obviously we’ll keep monitoring where our roster is, the health of it. But this was the primary focus for us over the last little bit. I would say that’s by and large the big-picture items, but we’ll keep an open mind about different opportunities that present along the way,” the baseball operations leader said (via Gleeman).
Roster Resource calculates their payroll in the $127MM range, which aligns with early-offseason reporting that they were targeting a payroll between $125MM and $140MM. Margot adds insurance behind Byron Buxton, who is returning to center field after knee injuries limited him to designated hitter a year ago. He also adds a righty complement to left-handed hitting corner outfielders Matt Wallner and Max Kepler. The Twins recently brought in Carlos Santana — a switch-hitter who typically fares better from the right side — to balance a lineup that was quite a bit better against righty pitching than left-handed arms a year ago.
They’re also retaining righty-hitting utilityman Kyle Farmer for a second season. Minnesota acquired Farmer from the Reds last winter. He had a decent year, appearing in 120 games and hitting .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs. Between league average offense and the ability to handle anywhere on the infield, Farmer is a good depth player. Still, his rising arbitration price led to speculation he’d be traded or non-tendered, particularly with the Twins announcing early in the winter they were scaling back spending relative to last year.
Farmer acknowledged this weekend that he doubted whether he’d be back in Minnesota (link via Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune). “I always saw myself here, but all the trade rumors and non-tender stuff, I figured I wasn’t going to be here. It worked out good,” Farmer said. He admitted that it wasn’t until the late-January deal sending Jorge Polanco to Seattle that he was confident he’d remain with the Twins.
Minnesota and Farmer agreed to a $6.05MM salary for his final season of arbitration. He’ll likely collect a $250K buyout in lieu of a $6.25MM mutual option and become a free agent for the first time next winter. Farmer should occupy a similar multi-positional role as he played a year ago. Edouard Julien is stepping in at second base alongside Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and the Santana/Alex Kirilloff tandem throughout the infield.
Lewis showed the kind of talent that made him the first overall pick seven years ago. He raked at a .309/.372/.548 clip in 58 regular season contests and blasted four homers in six playoff games. He’s locked in as the starter at third base and looks like a franchise building block so long as he can stay healthy after twice tearing the ACL in his right knee.
The Twins have Lewis under club control for another five seasons. He’ll play this year on a near-minimum salary and qualify for early arbitration as a Super Two player next winter. There’s no particular urgency for Minnesota to try to lock him up on a long-term deal, which Lewis acknowledged (via The Athletic’s Dan Hayes).
“I would love to hear anything, but I don’t think right now they’re in a position to do that,” Lewis said about an extension. “Especially with the payroll and the TV stuff going down, they have some stuff financially they have to figure out first. I’m last on the totem pole.” The 24-year-old indicated he’d be receptive if the organization did make extension overtures but downplayed any urgency to lock in short-term earnings. Lewis acknowledged he’s “definitely financially secure” after signing for a $6.73MM bonus out of high school.
His asking price on an extension would only escalate so long as he remains healthy into his arbitration seasons. Yet it’s understandable if the Twins want to see a full year against MLB pitching (to say nothing of gaining clarity on their local TV deal) before seriously engaging in talks. Falvey spoke broadly of a willingness to consider extension possibilities with the team’s young players but told Hayes and other reporters the focus with Lewis is “(making) sure he’s on the field the full year and (continuing) to build into what he’s already scratched the surface on in his career.“
With the Twins likely out of the mix and Kike Hernandez coming off the board will Michael Taylor-to-the-Padres finally come true? How about Duvall to the Red Sox? I can’t remember a non-strike year when so many players were still available as spring training games were getting underway
Cleveland and the Angels should be sizing those two up, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Astros make a move for Taylor. The two teams with glaring holes – White Sox & Athletics – seem intent on screwing the pooch (& their fans) in a race to the bottom…
Still wish they would’ve picked up another starter, but I’m excited for this team
It seems very premature to be talking about an extension for Lewis. Too much injury history.
I would agree and they’re not minor injuries.
If Buxton can’t stay healthy as a DH what’s the likelihood he stays healthy playing CF?
At least he doesn’t jam up the rest of the lineup when he’s in CF. Either in CF or on the IL.
Why not RF? Or LF? Why only CF?
Because he’s still a good CF when he’s healthy? No reason to move a guy if he can still play the premium position.
To add, it’s been years since he injured himself running into walls, but it’s definitely safer for him to play CF because there’s only one wall.
I understand he’s most valuable in CF but if he gets hurt again then he’s no value at all and moving him to a corner OF cuts his plays in about half thus reducing that risk. Let the youngsters do all the running, he’s got a hose for an arm which aligns with RF, with regular ABs and healthy legs he’s a major offensive contributor, middle of the order type bat. But yet and confirmed by these replies, it’s either CF or bust with this guy.
He wasn’t healthy before he started DH-ing last year.
My understanding it that just standing was painful for Buxton last season. Sounds like that has improved with his latest surgery. Even if he doesn’t hold up for a full season, if they get his normal contribution in CF, that’s the best outcome. The offense isn’t as reliant on his bat as it used to be.
Maybe they could add Tommy Pham??
Should be a fun year as a Twins fan. Seeing Lewis get 500+ at bats, and HOPEFULLY seeing Buxton get 400+ at bats. Pitching should be pretty good, except losing Gray will make the starting staff a little weaker than last year. I expect Correa to bounce back to at least 3 or 4 fWAR
I’m hyped for a full season of Lewis
Solid squad but lack of starting pitching depth will hold them back.
They have stockpiled relievers to suggest they are expecting a lot of four to five inning starts. There will be a lot of shuffling between Target Field and St paul.
Royce definitely financially secure with his signing bonus.
Nice to hear he doesn’t live like an @ss and need to take an early career discount.
Lewis is a stud when healthy, but needs to prove he can last a season or two before any talk of an extension would make sense.
He’s worth a lot if he can stay healthy, but not much if he can’t.