Nash Walker

#Break18

A 22-year-old superstar signed a monstrous contract today as spring training commenced for a handful of teams.TATÍS SIGNS HISTORIC EXTENSION San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr., once a Chicago White Sox prospect, is one of baseball’s most electric stars. He’s played in only 143 big-league games, hitting .301/.374/.582 with 39 home runs, 24 doubles and eight triples. He’s been coined by many as the newest face of Major League Baseball. Tatís was set to make the league minimum in 2021. That’s not happening. Reports emerged tonight that Tatís has agreed to a 14-year, $340 million extension with San Diego. The deal is set to break multiple records. It’s the largest guaranteed contract to a pre-arbitration eligible player, per FanSided’s Robert Murray. It’s also the third largest extension in MLB history, edged out by only Mookie Betts ($365M) and Mike Trout ($360M). The Padres are the first team in major league history to sign two players to $300-plus million contracts. San Diego’s current infield of Tatís, Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Ha-Seong Kim have signed contracts for nearly a billion dollars ($812 million). Twins fans can rejoice that the White Sox traded Tatís for a 34-year-old James Shields in 2016. Shields went on to post a 5.31 ERA in 76 starts for Chicago. A SPECIAL DAY Hope springs eternal. The spring brings hope. Hundreds of players flocked to their respective camps today as preparation for the 2021 begins. Fans clamored for videos of their favorite pitchers and catchers long-tossing in the Florida & Arizona sunshine. The Twins are set to report later this week but perhaps without Tyler Duffey and Andrew Albers, at least initially: HOPE FOR FANS AT TARGET FIELD? The Twins have teamed up with 3M, who is now the team's "official science partner," per a team-issued press release. The goal is for 3M to help the Twins in welcoming fans back to Target Field. FANGRAPHS INTERVIEWS SABATO ... David Laurila of FanGraphs interviewed Twins prospect Aaron Sabato, who ranked #8 on Twins Daily's prospect list. The 2020 first-round pick grew up playing middle infield and insists that he has more athleticism and will provide more defensive value than most are projecting. "Obviously, I’m not going back to the middle of the infield, but whether it’s third or first — I know it’ll most likely be first — I can play a corner," Sabato said. "I think I proved to the coaches, and the staff, down in instructs that they didn’t draft a DH. They drafted a guy who could field, maybe an at elite level." That was just one of the interesting anecdotes from the interview, which is well worth your time. ... AND RANKS SIX TWINS IN TOP 100 PROSPECTS Eric Longenhagen unveiled FanGraphs' top 100 prospects for 2021. Six Twins were included on the list and one just missed. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Using PECOTA projections, who has the ability to impact the Twins most at their peak performance?For this exercise, I looked at the 90th percentile outcomes for the Twins. Baseball Prospectus’ famous PECOTA projections has a tool to see the upside of players. Who, at their 90th percentile of production can make the biggest impact for the Twins? BYRON BUXTON 90th percentile: 127 G, .268/.333/.515 (.848 OPS), 26 HR, 5.18 WARP Buxton’s recent power advances have furthered his upside, which was already enormous. He’s slugged a ridiculous .534 over the last two seasons with 60 extra-base hits in 126 games. He saved more runs defensively than any centerfielder in baseball in 2020, despite playing in only 39 of 60 games. Buxton also led the Twins in bWAR (2.1) and was on pace to be a 7-win player over 130 games. The Twins have had just seven 7-win hitters in team history: Rod Carew (three times), Kirby Puckett (twice), Tony Oliva, Joe Mauer, Zoilo Versalles, Bob Allison and Chuck Knoblauch. No one with less 300 games played since 2017 has more bWAR than Buxton (9.8). He played in 65% of games in 2020, his most since 2017 when he appeared in 140 and finished 18th for A.L. MVP on mostly defense alone. There’s legitimate reason to believe Buxton’s power is here to stay, too: Buxton is in his prime. His health is massively important to the Twins in 2021. He can be the difference between 90 and 100 wins. He can be the difference between a first round exit and a World Series title. He’s *that* much of an elite talent. MIGUEL SANÓ 90th percentile: 144 G, .272/.375/.579 (.954 OPS), 38 HR, 5.05 WARP Even if he regresses some, Nelson Cruz should again be an anchor in 2021. Josh Donaldson will produce when healthy. Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers will be a formidable offensive duo. The real right-handed wild card is Sanó. The lineup could middle or thrive depending on his production. PECOTA confirms what we know: he carries massive upside. This ridiculous .954 OPS is just 31 points lower than Sanó’s OPS in 2019, when he hit 34 homers in just 105 games. Sanó was putting together a really strong 2020 season after a slow start, hitting .248/.347/.552 with 18 extra-base hits in 32 games through Aug. 31. He then went 12-for-81 (.148) to finish the season. He struck out in 46% of his plate appearances and walked just three times. Sanó's highs are very high and his lows can be very low. If he has more peaks than valleys in 2021, the Twins will benefit greatly. MICHAEL PINEDA 24 GS, 131 IP, 2.66 ERA, 10.1 K/9, 1.99 WARP PECOTA is beyond bullish on Kenta Maeda for 2021, projecting his 50th percentile ERA to be worse than *only* Jacob deGrom and Clayton Kershaw. The system likes José Berríos as a top 30 to 35 starter. The Twins hope both those projections are true and that J.A. Happ and Randy Dobnak will eat quality innings on the back end. The ace in the hole could be "Big Mike." Pineda was fantastic in his final 14 starts of 2019. He posted a 2.96 ERA and held opponents to a .650 OPS. He continued that excellence into five September starts in 2020. If he can pitch like that over a full season, the Twins will boast a very good top three for the playoffs. Pineda’s health and production is key to how the rotation holds up in 2021. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Derek Falvey and Thad Levine stayed patient and tactical in re-signing the team’s beloved kingpin.The Twins made it clear in the aftermath of losing their 18th straight playoff game: they wanted Nelson Cruz back. The legendary slugger has been the heart and soul of the club for the last two seasons. Cruz shared a similar sentiment. It still took 125 days to happen. The lack of communication from MLB regarding the universal DH pushed Cruz to wait longer than expected. The chronicles of Cruz's free agency confirmed our interpretation of the Twins' philosophy, too. Per reports, the Twins made at least three offers to Cruz. He stood his ground, insisting on a multi-year contract. Given how much Cruz has meant to the Twins and the community, fans understandably clamored for the team to meet his demand. The Twins stood staunch in their position of committing just one year, and Dan Hayes reported that they were never going to offer the 40-year-old Cruz a two-year pact. It was a calculated gamble by the front office, one that led to a “staring contest” and anxiety amongst fans for months. Throughout the process, though, the team continued to express their love and admiration for Cruz. It was imperative, while still staying firm with their contractual desires, to relay that Cruz means the world to the franchise. Fishy reports of the White Sox “interest” in Cruz didn’t force the Twins to give in. They instead took advantage of the MLBPA rejecting MLB’s offer that included the universal DH. This was an outcome they likely projected. By surveying the other suitors in the A.L., it was easy to see that Cruz had little in the way of alternatives. Marcell Ozuna, a much younger and safer long-term bet than Cruz, provided the opportunity to gain anchorage. On Tuesday evening, Darren Wolfson reported that the Twins had an offer out to Ozuna and wanted a prompt answer. Hours later, Cruz finalized his deal. Similar to the leak that the Twins were “out of the bidding” for Josh Donaldson, the front office concluded that they held more leverage than the free agent. With an offer on the table just weeks before spring training, the Twins couldn’t afford to wait for their last two major offseason signings. Both tactics worked: Donaldson and Cruz are Twins. The Cruz saga was the culmination of the Falvine era. They value intangibles. They value flexibility. They found neutrality between loyalty and wisdom. They publicly praised Cruz for months while stiff to their desires. They got Cruz on *their* terms. That was the goal. A risky but highly respectable strategy. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Awesome write-up Parker. I think Colomé is my favorite addition, given the cost. Love the White Sox angle and that cutter.

With financial flexibility and a familiar, beloved face still available, the Twins’ offseason is ready for its finishing touches.The Twins didn’t trade for Blake Snell. Or Yu Darvish. Or Joe Musgrove. They didn’t shock the world and sign George Springer. Or DJ LeMahieu. They stayed quiet for months and months, waiting for the market to come to them. Two lower-wattage pitching pickups in Hansel Robles and J.A. Happ provide ample depth, and maybe even some upside, for a combined $10 million. Snatching up Andrelton Simmons to double their free-agent spending also improves the club, perhaps significantly. The Twins will have a different look and feel in 2021. Simmons at short, Jorge Polanco at second and Luis Arraez in the Marwin González role is sure to fascinate. For now though, this team is an unfinished product. The White Sox are widely seen as the team to beat in the A.L. Central in 2021. Huge seasons from Eloy Jiménez and Tim Anderson in 2020 sparked even more excitement around the South Siders. The addition of Lance Lynn to a rotation with Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel is a bit scary. The bullpen, now fronted by former Twin Liam Hendriks, will breath fire. Fangraphs’ Dan Szymborski projects a 91-win tie for first, assuming these are the rosters on opening day. But they aren’t. The Twins have, even in a conservative estimate, about $12-15 million left to spend. Coincidence? Not at all. The Twins want their DH back. Cruz wants to be back. It’s a matter of time, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. Nightengale also tweeted that the White Sox have “little room” to operate financially after signing Liam Hendriks for $54 million. If that’s the case, the Twins will catapault as slight to moderate favorites after the re-addition of Cruz and another bullpen arm. Cruz has little incentive to sign soon with the National League DH rule still in negotiation. He’s working out like a madman at his own home gym, crushing baseballs into nets and breeding his son, Nelson Cruz Jr., to do the same. He’s preparing to see his name in the heart of Baldelli’s lineup for the third straight season. There are cons to bringing him home. While it seems like Cruz will never stop hitting, he will. His bat and or body will slow down. Whether that’s in 2021 or beyond is the key question. If it takes matching a two-year deal, you may see the Twins pivot. It’s unlikely, though, that the 40-year-old Cruz will command that type of commitment, especially without DHs in the National League. With the White Sox out, his list of suitors is incredibly limited in the A.L. The Twins are at a point, with Josh Donaldson in year two of his deal, to maximize the now. The rotation is in fine position, the defense will be nasty (good nasty) and the bullpen has considerable upside. The payroll is set up for one last ride with the great Nelson Cruz. The stars seem to be aligning. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Over $100 million worth of contracts were handed out Friday. The Yankees re-signed arguably their best hitter and a two time Cy Young winner.DJ LEMAHIEU RE-SIGNS WITH YANKS FOR SIX YEARS, $90 MILLION The Twins were engaged on LeMahieu two winters ago but never made him an offer, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson. The Twins instead signed Jonathan Schoop while the Yankees inked LeMahieu for two years and $24 million. Since joining the Bombers, LeMahieu ranks sixth in the A.L. in fWAR (7.8), wRC+ (146) and wOBA (.388). He finished fourth and third for MVP while helping the injury-plagued Yankees to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. As one of the best pure hitters in baseball, LeMahieu leads the league in batting average (.336) since 2019. This deal guarantees the 32-year-old $15 million per year through 2026, his age-37 season. COREY KLUBER JOINS GERRIT COLE IN NEW YORK FOR $11 MILLION Kluber entered free agency with more than one question mark. He’s coming off two injury-plagued seasons at 35 years old. The upside, however, is dreamable. Kluber is one of this generation’s very best. He is deserving of a lucrative one year, “prove it” deal and he got it with the Yankees. According to Mark Feinsand, the deal is worth $11 million guaranteed. The Twins did offer Kluber a contract, per Wolfson. Even with Kluber gone, there are plenty of options remaining on the starting pitching market. Top dog Trevor Bauer continues to survey while Jake Odorizzi, Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton also wait patiently to sign fresh contracts. Outside of New York... KURT SUZUKI SIGNS WITH ANGELS FOR ONE YEAR, $1.5 MILLION Suzuki has been really solid at the plate since leaving the Twins after 2016. He hit .272/.337/.475 (111 wRC+) with 50 home runs in 304 games for Atlanta and Washington. The Angels seem to have a knack for former Twins catchers, also signing Jason Castro last year for one year and $6.85 million. Castro was then traded to the Padres midway through the shortened season. TWINS ADD INTERNATIONAL SHORTSTOPS Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported that the Twins signed Danny De Andrade of Venezuela for $2.2 million and Fredy LaFlor, of the Dominican Republic for $1.1 million. Both are shortstops and were among MLB Pipeline's Top 30 International Prospects. Sanchez also reported that the Twins signed catcher Giovanny Rivero. 13 PLAYERS FAIL TO AGREE ON ARBITRATION DAY Carlos Correa, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Shohei Ohtani, and Ian Happ, among others, failed to agree on contract figures with their respective clubs. The Twins signed José Berríos ($6.1M), Taylor Rogers ($6M), Byron Buxton ($5.125M), Tyler Duffey ($2.2M), Mitch Garver ($1.875M) and Caleb Thielbar ($700,000) over a month ago, allowing them to avoid arbitration altogether. SEE ALSO Why You Shouldn't Be Mad About "Losing Out" On [insert Top Reliever Here] Free Agent Faceoff: Kiké Hernández vs. Tommy La Stella Running Down the Hall (of Fame Ballot): 2021 Edition Comparing the Twins and White Sox Projections Click here to view the article

A pair of pitchers came off the free agent market Thursday, signing one-year deals. Could Corey Kluber be next?RHP ARCHIE BRADLEY JOINS PHILLIES ON ONE-YEAR, $6 MILLION PACT Among 48 relievers with at least 200 innings pitched since 2017, Bradley ranks 10th in FIP (3.19), 17th in opponent OPS (.651) and was tied for ninth in ERA (2.95). His 18.3% strikeout-to-walk rate is tied for 21st with Sergio Romo. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Diamondbacks with the seventh overall pick in 2011. He spent his first five and a half years in Arizona before being dealt to Cincinnati at the 2020 trade deadline. He allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings for the Reds. Bradley figures to immediately assume an important role in Philadelphia. The Phillies’ bullpen produced negative-0.9 fWAR with a league-worst 7.06 ERA in 2020. The Twins are presumably in the market for another right-handed reliever but according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, they never had much interest in Bradley. The top remaining relievers on the market include Brad Hand, Alex Colomé, Trevor Rosenthal, Shane Greene and Joakim Soria, among many others. LHP ALEX WOOD AGREES TO ONE-YEAR, $3 MILLION DEAL WITH GIANTS Twins Daily's Nick Nelson wrote last offseason that Wood was the most intriguing free agent on the market. Wood was coming off an injury-wrecked 2019 but sported a career 3.40 ERA and 3.49 FIP. He signed a one-year, $4 million contract to return to the Dodgers. He threw just 282 pitches during the regular season due to shoulder inflammation. There's certainly upside here for the Giants. The crafty lefty was an All-Star for Los Angeles in 2017, pitching to a 2.72 ERA and 25% strikeout rate in 150+ innings. He took a step back in 2018 before multiple injuries limited him to only 48 1/3 innings combined between 2019 and 2020. Wood's contract contains incentives that can push the total value to $10 million, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. OLNEY: COREY KLUBER COULD SIGN WITHIN DAYS After impressing with 30 pitches for 25 teams Wednesday, Kluber’s market is hot and ready. Buster Olney of ESPN reported today that Kluber’s free agency “will likely reach a conclusion by this weekend.” Kluber posted a sterling 2.85 ERA, 2.83 FIP and 28% strikeout rate in five consecutive 200+ inning, top-10 Cy Young campaigns from 2014 to 2018. His last two seasons have been derailed by a broken forearm, an oblique strain and most recently a muscle tear in his right shoulder. If Kluber returns to form in his age-35 season, one team is promised a ridiculously good value. MLB LOOKS AHEAD TO FRIDAY’S ARBITRATION FIGURE DEADLINE Predicting arbitration values has never been more difficult. Given the shortened season and limited counting stats, it’s expected that this process will not be smooth for most teams and their players. The Twins can keep their attention on adding to the club, however. The team locked up José Berríos ($6.1M), Taylor Rogers ($6M), Byron Buxton ($5.125M), Tyler Duffey ($2.2M), Mitch Garver ($1.875M) and Caleb Thielbar ($700,000) over a month ago, allowing them to avoid arbitration altogether. SEE ALSO Twins Expected to Be Aggressive As 2020-21 International Signing Period Opens Twins Hinting at a Huge Month Free Agent Faceoff: Kiké Hernández vs. Tommy La Stella Running Down the Hall (of Fame Ballot): 2021 Edition — Follow Nash Walker on Twitter here Click here to view the article

Francisco Lindor has exited the American League Central. What does this mean for the Twins and the cost of a trade for Trevor Story or Javier Báez?BLOCKBUSTER EMERGES News broke Thursday that the New York Mets would be acquiring Lindor, the electric 27-year-old whose best baseball is seemingly ahead of him. This move was inevitable. Cleveland shopped Lindor to the Dodgers last offseason but couldn’t strike a deal, spurring the 2020 World Series Champions to acquire Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. This time around, Cleveland wouldn’t be denied. There was no chance they were going to pay Lindor an estimated $19.5 million in his final year of arbitration after a year with lost revenues. It was equally implausible for the pocket-clenching Indians to extend the face of their franchise for what he believes he’s worth. Twins fans can first breath a sigh of relief. Since his debut in 2015, no player has more hits against Minnesota than Lindor (112). He’s hit 17 homers off the Twins, tied for second-most with Josh Donaldson. He ranks second in runs created (64.6) to only teammate José Ramírez (65.8). In the most polite way possible, see the door, Mr. Lindor. COOKIE CLEARS OUT Lost in the galore of Lindor is the other player heading to Queens. Carlos Carrasco, who posted a strong 3.59 FIP and 29% strikeout rate in 2020, will join Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and eventually Noah Syndergaard atop the Mets’ rotation. Cleveland cut their 2021 payroll to a dwindled $40 million. Ramírez, the A.L.’s 2020 MVP runner-up, is their highest paid player at $9.4 million. Cleveland has flipped Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and now Lindor and Carrasco within 18 months. The Mets sent four players with a combined 20 years of team control in return. Perhaps the most exciting of the bunch, shortstop Andrés Giménez projects as a glove-first starter, if not an offensive liability. Amed Rosario, once a top prospect, will look to discover in Cleveland what made him so desirable as a youngster. 20-year-old righty Josh Wolf will enter Cleveland’s mad pitching lab that seems to create aces on call. The youngest player in the deal, 19-year-old Isaiah Greene projects as a centerfielder with some upside at the plate. Simply, Cleveland received two major-league ready middle-infielders in Giménez and Rosario and two younger prospects in Wolf and Greene. MLB Trade Simulator says it was an equally valuable deal. The idea that Lindor could join the Twins was always far-fetched. Cleveland would have to be blown away by an offer to surrender such talent to their divisional foe. There are other shortstops, though, who could shift Jorge Polanco to a utility role in 2021 before Royce Lewis hopefully fills the position permanently in 2022. Among free agents: Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons and Didi Gregorius. For trade targets... EL MAGO Cubs star Javier Báez. The brother-in-law of José Berríos also has only one year left before free agency. Báez is projected to make just under $11 million, a very reasonable price for his upside. The Puerto Rican slugger is also one of the best defenders in the game. Báez has saved more runs (33) than any shortstop in baseball over the last two seasons. Among 30 shortstops who’ve spent at least 200 games at the position since 2016, Báez ranks 3rd in slugging (.490) and home runs (108) and 6th in bWAR (18.0). Even with a poor 2020 season, Báez has an extremely favorable outlook. He isn’t as good as Lindor but also costs nearly $10 million less. His price in a trade would likely require one of the Twins’ top five prospects or a slew in the 6-15 range. STORYBOOK ENDING Trevor Story's fate is easier to predict. The Rockies aren’t competing and would probably love to save $18.5 million for 2021. Story is a premium athlete with a huge bat. He’s slugged a monstrous .585 in five years with Colorado while saving 45 runs defensively, good for third among shortstops during that span. MLB Trade Simulator is much more realistic on his value in a trade than they are on Báez’s. One year of Story is valued as almost the same as six-plus years of Alex Kirilloff or four-plus of Max Kepler. In a quantity-over-quality deal, the Rockies or Cubs may seek a package with 18-year-old OF Misael Urbina, who hit .279/.382/.443 in the Dominican Summer League in 2019. Joining Urbina could be Keoni Cavaco, the toolsy shortstop picked 13th overall in the 2019 draft. Maybe RHP Blayne Enlow is involved, too. The Twins' seventh, 10th, and 20th best prospects, plus perhaps one more piece could be enough to pry one of these expiring stars loose. This is simply framework speculation. THE DIVISION The Twins won seven of 10 games against Cleveland in 2020. Lindor hit .317/.341/.488 while scoring or driving in eight of the 26 runs scored (31%). Cleveland won't replace Lindor's production but it's not all doom and gloom. Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac and their never-ending growth of starters will keep them relevant. Franmil Reyes has undeniable power and Ramírez is a Twins-killing star. The outfield remains a mess, accumulating negative-1 fWAR in 2020, the second lowest in the A.L. The rotation is strong but won't make up for their massive flaws in lineup and roster depth. Cleveland has officially waved the white flag on their divisional dominance. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

I always appreciate your kind words. Go Twins!

KSTP 5 Eyewitness News reporter Darren Wolfson joined the Locked On Twins podcast Tuesday with juicy news on the Twins’ offseason pursuits.“The Twins haven’t even come close to being as aggressive for Nelson Cruz as other teams.” If the Designated Hitter is not expanded to the National League, Cruz’s list of suitors shrinks considerably. It’s not a surprise, then, that both the Twins and Cruz are hesitant to move forward on a deal. Wolfson acknowledged that the Twins want their heartbeat back and Cruz’s “number one choice” is to return in a Twins uniform. Wolfson said the Padres have shown interest in the 40-year-old masher. “The Twins have brought Marcell Ozuna’s name up.” Similar to Cruz, Ozuna has very little incentive to sign a contract until the DH rules are finalized. Ozuna bet on himself after a down 2019 season, signing a 1-year, $18 million deal with Atlanta for 2020. This move replaced the also-right-handed Josh Donaldson in Atlanta’s lineup after he signed with the Twins. Ozuna responded by hitting a monstrous .338 with a 1.067 OPS and an NL-leading 18 home runs. His 179 wRC+ ranked behind only Juan Soto and Freddie Freeman among MLB-qualifiers. MLB Trade Rumors projects Ozuna, who just turned 30, to receive a four-year, $72 million deal. Wolfson “would be surprised” if the Twins traded for Cubs’ Javier Báez The Yu Darvish trade spurred speculation that the Cubs could sell off more of their expiring contracts. Báez fits that bill. He has one more year of arbitration at a projected $11 million. The superstar defender struggled mightily at the plate in 2020, hitting .203 with an OPS more than 40% below league average. Báez was one of many usually good hitters who struggled in the truncated season. The electric brother-in-law of Twins starter José Berríos has the fourth most home runs (108) among qualified shortstops since 2016. Báez is also a terrific defender, saving more runs (33) than any shortstop in baseball over the last two seasons. "The Twins have had dialogue with Andrelton Simmons" Wolfson said, along with Marcus Semien, the Twins have at least inquired on the former Angel. Simmons is entering free agency after playing only 30 games in 2020 due to a left ankle injury. The 31-year-old ranks 10th among all position players in bWAR (36.8) since his rookie season in 2012. Simmons is perhaps the best defender in all of baseball. He’s saved 191 runs in his career, more than any player at any position during that time. The difference in DRS between Simmons and the second-placed Kevin Kiermaier (69) is the same as the difference between Kiermaier and the 32nd-placed Byron Buxton. Simmons is no pushover at the plate either. He’s hit a respectable .281/.329/.401 (99 wRC+) with 129 extra-base hits in 437 games since 2017. The Twins talk parameters of varying contracts with RH RP Joakim Soria Even after signing Hansel Robles to a 1-year, $2M deal, the Twins are seemingly in the market for another right-handed reliever. Wolfson said the Twins offered Soria a one-year deal for “more than Robles got” but not signficantly more. Wolfson went on to say the Twins also talked a two-year deal with Soria, albeit with less average annual value. It remains to be seen whether the two sides strike a deal. I pegged Soria as a strong fit for the Twins earlier this offseason. The Twins have inquired on “almost every” top free agent Wolfson made sure to say that inquiries are much different than offers. It sounds like the Twins are doing their due diligence, surveying the market and looking for ways to extract value. Wolfson says he believes the Twins have asked about “70-plus” free agents. The Twins have “100%” called on Sonny Gray and Joe Musgrove Wolfson believes the Twins are also exploring the trade market for upgrades. Reports have addressed the availability of both Gray and Musgrove. Gray has more pedigree with two top-10 Cy Young finishes and a career 117 ERA+. Musgrove is coming off a year where his strikeout rate ballooned to 33%, enticing many that he could thrive away from the rebuilding and less-progressive Pirates. "The Twins will move; it’s just a matter of when" This offseason has been slow for most teams, including the Twins. That doesn’t signify that significant additions aren’t on the way. Wolfson says the Twins have the payroll flexibility to make impact moves. In simple terms, hang tight. LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE AND SUBSCRIBE TO LOCKED ON TWINS. FOLLOW THE SHOW ON TWITTER HERE MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Darren Wolfson confirmed rumors Saturday night on KSTP 5 Eyewitness News that the Twins are eyeing former Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien.It's well known that the Twins will need to fill at least one utility spot this offseason. Creative minds have wondered whether Jorge Polanco could be the answer, opening up the possibility that Minnesota signs a starting shortstop this winter. Maybe the Twins believe the same. Darren Wolfson confirmed Saturday that the Twins have "real interest" in Marcus Semien. A replay of the news segment is available at KSTP's Twins page, Semien is discussed around the 45-second mark, but here is the clip below. Semien put together a truly tremendous 2019 season, hitting .285/.369/.522 with 33 home runs, 43 doubles and seven triples. He finished third for AL MVP behind Mike Trout and Alex Bregman. No matter which way you cut it, that miraculous season looks to be an outlier. Semien hit just .250/.312/.407 in the four years prior to his 2019 explosion. A down 2020 season seemed to add fuel to that fire. This inconsistency and the slow market has seemingly muddied his contract outlook, leading Ken Rosenthal to mull whether he'll get just a one or two year deal. Could this be an opportunity knocking for the Twins? Could Semien thrive as a right-handed hitter at Target Field after years in foul-heaven Oakland? Would Polanco, with his ankle and all, be better served in that utility role? It seems we'll find out soon enough. SEE ALSO Should Jorge Polanco be the Twins Utility Man? Reacting to Twins Blockbuster Trade Speculation Twins Future Position Analysis: Shortstop MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The Twins will need to fill at least one utility spot via free agency or trade this offseason. Given the injury histories of Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez, Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson, this role has started a ton of games over the last two years. Let’s debate a few options.Kiké Hernández THE BAT: Hernández clearly sticks out on this market. His recent playoff heroics pushed Twins fans to focus on his fit with the hometown club. The 29-year-old has hit .240/.312/.425 (97 OPS+) since 2015 for the Dodgers. He owns a career 120 wRC+ against lefties, a matchup in which the Twins oddly struggled in 2020. He’s a right-handed hitter, allowing him to spare Luis Arraez or Jorge Polanco, who is much better as a lefty. His on-base ability is a concern, however. Hernández owns just a .296 OBP over his last 608 plate appearances. In another area the Twins seem to value and lack at times, Hernández has great energy. He’ll call out his team publicly for lacking juice on the diamond and in the dugout. Another infusion of life and edge wouldn’t be the worst thing for Rocco Baldelli’s group. Hernández could provide that postseason boost he’s supplied to the Dodgers, finally helping to push the Twins over the top. THE GLOVE: Hernández is a plus-plus defender at second. Only the back-to-back Gold Glove winner Kolten Wong has saved more runs at the position since 2019. The emergence of Corey Seager has limited Kiké’s time at short over the last few years. In over 530 career innings there, Hernández has saved three runs defensively. His ability to back up Polanco is key. Do the Twins believe he can play regularly in the hole? Kiké is intriguingly solid in centerfield. He’s played 1,000-plus innings out there, saving four runs. Similar to Seager, 2019 N.L. MVP Cody Bellinger has kept Hernández away from center in recent years. He’s also played third, left, right, first and even got an out on the mound in 2018. He’s the definition of super-utility. The Twins seem to agree: Jurickson Profar THE BAT: Profar was ranked as the No.1 prospect in baseball in 2012. He was largely a disappointment, hitting just .229/.309/.329 (71 OPS+) through the first seven seasons of his career. Now into his late 20s, Profar has been much better since 2018. His OPS+ has jumped 30%, now placing him slightly above league average. His walk rate remained a solid 8.9% and he’s laced 47 homers and 65 doubles over the last 341 games. He had a career year in 2020. He hit .278/.343/.428 (113 OPS+) in 56 games for the Padres. His bat looks good enough to start, which may be an issue for the Twins’ chances of signing him. THE GLOVE: Profar’s metrics paint him as quite poor on the dirt. He’s cost his teams 20 runs at second base, six at short and four at third. He hasn’t played shortstop since 2018 when he tied for third worst in outs above average (negative-7) at the position. He was absolutely brutal at second base in 2019 with negative-15 defensive runs saved, the worst among all second baseman. He’s been much better in the outfield in a more limited sample. He saved three runs in left field in 34 starts in 2020. THE BOTTOM LINE Given the Twins’ need for a solid back-up infielder, Hernández makes a lot more sense. Profar’s defense isn’t much of an upgrade over Polanco, even if he can still play short. Hernández can seemingly fill-in for Byron Buxton in center as well. Given Hernández’s struggles at the dish in recent years, though, one must wonder if shooting higher in free agency is a more desirable option. There’s also the trade market, where someone like Ketel Marte may reside. What do you think about filling the utility role? Comment below! Click here to view the article

Trade for Lindor, sign him to a 10-year, $300 million deal. Buck is a free agent after 2022, move Royce to center, Polo utility and Arraez at second. Hello: 1. Lindor SS 2. Donaldson 3B 3. Kepler RF 4. Cruz DH 5. Kirilloff LF 6. Lewis CF 7. Arraez 2B 8. Sano 1B 9. Jeffers/Garver C

After hitting the most home runs by a catcher with less than 100 games played in 2019, Mitch Garver flopped at the plate in a limited 2020 sample. By some prominent data, though, his approach actually improved.1. He chased less balls Garver was already excellent at laying off, chasing only 17.4% of pitches in 2019. That number dropped to a stellar 16.1% in 2020. Part of that is his overall passiveness in the shortened season. Garver swung at only 6.2% of first pitches, down 14.5% from his world-beating 2019 campaign. This suggests he never quite had his timing right. The plate discipline remains elite as he enters 2021. There was a belief that pitchers had adjusted to Garver. That really isn’t the case. He saw the exact same % of pitches in the zone over the last two years (48.3%). Pitchers threw him an almost equal amount of fastballs, actually slightly more. The problem was Garver’s contact rate. His ability to make contact on pitches in the zone dropped 14.6%. Stunningly, even though he barely chases, his contact rate on those pitches dropped nearly 25%. Those two numbers, in-zone contact rate and chase-contact rate, are usually positively correlated. 2. He still bopped with authority Garver’s fly-ball rate plummeted over 13% from 2019. More encouragingly, his average exit velocity jumped up to 92.4 mph, which would’ve ranked in the 91st percentile had he accumulated enough batted ball data to qualify. His hard-hit rate remained elite at 50%, which again would’ve placed him in the top 10% of the league. Garver’s average launch angle dug deeper into the “barrel zone” at 19 degrees. His swing was dialed to replicate 2019 in seemingly every way. He just couldn’t catch and size up pitches and consistently find his groove. 3. He continued to whoop lefties Analyzing platoon data after 81 plate appearances is the epitome of small sample size. We’ll do it anyway. Garver, amid all of his whiffing and lack of production, found a way to punish southpaws. He hit .304/.385/.435 off lefties, solidifying Rocco Baldelli’s confidence in him in those matchups, even when he’s struggling mightily. This, however small the sample, is an important development for 2021 with Ryan Jeffers emerging as one of the better young catchers in the game. Having two right-handed catchers isn’t ideal, but Garver has shown that he should be starting every time a left-handed starting pitcher is on the mound. A (hopefully) full spring training and (hopefully) more clarity on the schedule should help Garver regain his timing again in 2021. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article