Twins Sign Contracts With 7 Arbitration Eligible

Most times teams find themselves working to find common ground with arbitration-eligible players. When a player reaches arbitration, their salary is determined through a statistically-weighted process that incrementally pushes their value up alongside peers of similar production.

This year, the Twins offered arbitration to eight players. That number was larger, but some players were non-tendered and the Twins traded Gio Urshela. In acquiring Kyle Farmer from the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota added an additional player they needed to negotiate with.

None of the players that Minnesota needed to come to agreements with looked like there would be much gray area. Certainly, a few were extension candidates (and still could be). Going through them individually, you can see what the Twins ultimately signed them for, and what MLB Trade Rumors (in parentheses) projected them at going into the offseason.

Tyler Mahle $7.5M ($7.2M) Source
Acquired from the Reds last year at the trade deadline for Spencer Steer, Steven Hajjar, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Mahle could have been an extension candidate. He is entering the final year of team control and the Twins see him with substantial upside. Those talks can still take place.

Kyle Farmer $5.585M ($5.9M) Source
After dealing Urshela to the Angels, Minnesota acquired Farmer from the Reds for Casey Legumina. He may have been the Opening Day shortstop had Carlos Correa not be re-signed. Now he is likely to get playing time at all four infield positions as well as providing the team with an emergency catcher. 

Luis Arraez ($5M) - Numbers Exchanged Source
The Twins filed more than one million lower than Arraez. He has continually been involved in trade talks and there is some time for the two sides to come to an agreement, or potentially reach an extension.

Emilio Pagan $3.5M ($3.7M) Source
There is no denying 2022 was a tumultuous season for Pagan. Brought in to close games as Taylor Rogers' replacement, he cost Minnesota plenty and was knocked down to low-leverage situations. He remained on the roster all year largely due to his stuff, and down the stretch he made changes that had him looking like a potential asset again. It will take a significant trust factor for fans to believe in him again, but cutting bait this offseason would have looked odd.

Jorge Lopez $3.525M ($3.7M) Source
Acquired from the Orioles at the deadline for Yennier Cano, Cade Povich, Juan Nunez, and Juan Rojas, the Twins went after Baltimore’s All-Star closer. He struggled in Minnesota but tweaks back to his former repertoire could bode well for a return to high-leverage. Lopez has another year of arbitration eligibility for 2024 as well.

Caleb Thielbar $2.4M ($2.4M) Source
A late bloomer that has been nothing but incredible as a pen lefty for Minnesota, Thielbar was always a lock to be retained. Like Lopez, he has another year of arbitration eligibility as well.

Chris Paddack $2.4M ($2.4M) Source
Another potential extension candidate, Paddack was the prize of the trade that sent Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker to the Padres. His injury history was known, and he’s now recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will be back at some point this year, but a Michael Pineda type deal could still make sense.

Jorge Alcala $790K ($800K) Source
Limited due to injury last season, the hope is that Alcala will factor in as a high-leverage arm for Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen.

With the deals cemented today, the Twins payroll for 2023 has crossed the $140 million threshold and could be continued to rise. They came in roughly at $150 million a season ago, and there is no way Correa wanted to join a team that wouldn’t push the envelope. There is still work to be done with this roster, and adding an additional pitcher and an outfielder remain key needs.

Derek Falvey has noted that Minnesota will remain engaged up to and beyond the time they embark on Fort Myers, and as we have seen in recent seasons, there is no reason to believe they are done until Opening Day hits.