Because the baseball world collectively wonders the place top-tier free brokers like Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery and Matt Chapman will signal, it appears scarcely a day goes by with out no less than one group successfully proclaiming itself to be out of that market. The Rangers, Blue Jays, Angels, Giants, Nationals and Mariners have all seen a prime baseball ops government or possession consultant forged doubt on their skill and/or willingness to make additional free agent additions of notice. Add the Twins to that rising checklist, as proprietor Joe Pohlad mentioned in an look on WCCO radio at the moment that his membership isn’t prone to make a big late splash like they did when signing Carlos Correa a pair offseasons in the past (hyperlink through Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune).
“…We’re not going to exit and spend $30MM on a participant proper now,” Pohlad plainly acknowledged with out mentioning any of Bellinger, Snell, Montgomery or Chapman by title. “The gamers which might be on the market proper now that most likely a bunch of followers are speaking about, we aren’t available in the market for these gamers.”
Minnesota by no means appeared like a superb match for both of the place gamers — notably Chapman — however the Twins are recognized to be searching for rotation assist after seeing Sonny Grey, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle depart as free brokers. A late cope with Snell or Montgomery would’ve registered as one thing of a shock, given the group’s candid acknowledgment of plans to scale back payroll amid tv uncertainty this winter, however their late entry into the Correa market a pair winters in the past would possibly’ve left some to wonder if an analogous strategy might be within the offing right here. Joel Sherman of the New York Submit wrote simply yesterday that he “wouldn’t low cost the Twins as a wild card” for the remaining starters, however Pohlad’s feedback at the moment strongly recommend in any other case.
The Twins mentioned early this winter that payroll would probably take a step again, and on the time, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported a tough goal of $125-140MM. Minnesota at present sits simply south of that quantity, at a projected $123.5MM per Roster Useful resource. It needs to be famous that Pohlad didn’t rule out any subsequent additions in any respect — slightly only a massive play on the prime finish of the market.
“…There are positively different gamers that may have a optimistic impression on our group that [president of baseball operations Derek Falvey], I’m certain, is taking a look at,” Pohlad added.
The Twins, as an example, have reportedly expressed curiosity in unsigned gamers like Michael Lorenzen, Adam Duvall and Michael A. Taylor. Signing one and even two of these names would value significantly lower than a run at Montgomery or Snell. Additionally they watched outdated buddy Jake Odorizzi’s current exercise for groups. Falvey and his employees have additionally by no means been ones to shrink back from trades late within the offseason. Offers to accumulate Pablo Lopez (Jan. 23) and Odorizzi (Feb. 17) had been each accomplished nicely after the New Yr of their respective offseasons. The acquisition of Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan got here on the eve of Opening Day in 2022. It stays doable that some pitching or right-handed-hitting outfield assist might be acquired through that market.
Typically talking, it’s been a quiet offseason for the Twins. They shipped stalwart infielder Jorge Polanco to the Mariners late final month in a deal netting right-handers Justin Topa and Anthony DeSclafani and prospects Gabriel Gonzalez and Darren Bowen. Minnesota netted about $6.5MM in that deal as nicely and reinvested that cash in free agent offers to signal Carlos Santana and Jay Jackson. Extra just lately, they flipped utilityman Nick Gordon to the Marlins for lefty reliever Steven Okert.
