Nash Walker

As the Twins survey the open market, there are three gut-wrenching players who may have them losing their appetite. The Twins should consider signing them to avoid further damage.The Joker: Didi Gregorius Typing that name made me feel anxious. Recency bias from the deafening grand slam in game two of the 2019 ALDS may have forced my hand. The reality, however, is that Gregorius has destroyed the Twins for much longer than last summer. In 32 regular season games against Minnesota, the one the Bronx calls “Sir Didi” has hit .345/.387/.655 in 125 plate appearances. Gregorius has at least 100 plate appearances against 12 other clubs, but his OPS is below .840 against nine of them. Target Field is his primary mashing spot, as he has a .418/.451/.761 line in 19 games in Minneapolis. To make matters much worse, Gregorius has carried this excellence into October. Gregorius has a 1.346 OPS against the Twins in four postseason games, including two huge, game-changing home runs. Must we watch the most recent example? The Green Goblin: Josh Donaldson There have been rumors swirling surrounding the Twins and Donaldson, and the speculation picked up when C.J. Cron was non-tendered on Monday, presumably opening an opportunity for Miguel Sanó to move across the diamond. Some Twins fans have pointed out Donaldson’s history at Target Field, and rightly so. In places where he has played at least 20 games, Donaldson has favored Minnesota the most. He owns an insane .373/.464/.819 line with 10 home runs in 97 plate appearances at Target Field. In his other 21 games against the Twins, Donaldson hit .417 with a 1.397 OPS. Although Target Field ranks 24th in home run factor, right-handed hitters have the advantage of a shorter wall in left field. Nelson Cruz has 100 at-bats or more at 15 MLB stadiums, and his 8.4% career home run rate at Target Field is the highest of any other ballpark. Donaldson has homered in 12% of his at-bats at Target Field: Thanos: Edwin Encarnación Encarnación is another righty with power that absolutely adores Target Field. In 45 games at the park, he has hit .302/.415/.633 with 17 homers and 46 RBI. Twins fans have long loathed the perched arm “parrot” rounding the bases after slugging a bomb over the left field wall. In 409 plate appearances, Encarnación has 27 home runs and a .287/.386/.568 line against Minnesota. The latest pounding came in the ALDS where he went 4-for-13 with two doubles. Encarnación went just 1-for-18 in the ALCS against Houston with 11 strikeouts. The Twins have an opening at first base, and although he is entering his age-37 season, Encarnación was a passable first baseman in 489 innings last year. He had -1 DRS and a -0.9 UZR, according to FanGraphs. Here is a recap of Encarnación helping the Indians beat the Twins in 2017: Should the Twins sign any of their villains to become allies? Comment below! The Locked On Twins podcast is back and will be posted every weekday on my Twitter @nashwalker9 and on the forums here at Twins Daily. The Locked On Podcast covers all things Twins (news, game recaps, analysis, etc.) join me for the ride! 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 missed on Zack Wheeler when he signed a 5-year, $118 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine made an offer that Wheeler may have considered had he not been tied so heavily to New Jersey and the National League East. The good news is that Wheeler is not the only realistic impact pitcher that the Twins can acquire. They took a considerable step forward by resigning Michael Pineda to a 2-year, $20 million contract late Thursday night. The rotation now consists of their three best starters from 2019 in Pineda, Jake Odorizzi and José Berríos, but there is more work to be done. Madison Bumgarner and Hyun-Jin Ryu are out there, and the Twins are reportedly in on both, maybe even more so for Ryu: https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1203085438719643648?s=20 Pros of Hyun-Jin Ryu: Ryu is an elite run preventer. He had the lowest ERA in the National League and a 163/24 K/BB ratio in 182 ⅔ innings for the Dodgers in 2019. The price for Ryu is a huge plus. He should demand a contract in the 3-year, $75 million range. With Falvey and Levine prioritizing clean books, Ryu fits the bill as a shorter-term commitment. Cons of Hyun-Jin Ryu: Well, age. Ryu has had considerable health issues throughout his career. Ryu pitched a total of 213 ⅔ innings from 2016-2018 after back-to-back 150+ inning seasons to start his major league tenure. Ryu has spent his entire career in Los Angeles and may not be looking to move to Minnesota if it is not for a substantial amount of money. The Dodgers may also have mutual interest in retaining the Cy-Young runner-up. Pros of Madison Bumgarner: Bumgarner was one of the best starting pitchers of the last decade, winning three World Series titles and pitching in four All-Star games with four top-10 finishes for the Cy Young Award. He is incredibly consistent, never posting an ERA above 3.90 in 11 seasons. Bumgarner is a workhorse, throwing over 200 innings seven times in his career. He is entering his age-30 season and still seems to have plenty left in the tank. Cons of Madison Bumgarner: The price of Bumgarner skyrocketed when Wheeler signed his massive deal. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that MadBum will likely demand $100 million or more himself. Bumgarner has nearly 2,000 innings on his arm and pitched in only 38 games between 2017 and 2018. He has also benefited from San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly confines, posting a 2.72 ERA at home compared to 3.53 on the road. Where should they lean? I do like Ryu, and I think he is effective again in 2020, but I think Bumgarner is the way to go. MadBum is a winner, and I think I would feel very confident with him on the hill in a playoff game. Who do you want the Twins to sign? Comment below!

The definition of passion is “strong and barely controllable emotion.” That would be an understatement for how I feel about the Minnesota Twins. How did this happen for me after so many years of tuning out?The date was Oct. 6, 2009. The Tigers and Twins battled in game 163 for the American League Central at the Metrodome. I am lucky enough to have a dad who brings me to the biggest games. I watched as Alexi Casilla bounced a grounder through the right side of the infield to score Carlos Gomez in the 12th inning, and Joe Mauer raced the pennant around the diamond. I was nine years old. I grew up in Plymouth and played hockey, football and baseball. I was often asked which sport was my favorite and it usually depended on the season. My attention on Minnesota sports was similar. In the summer, my dad and I would go to a handful of Twins games. In the winter, we would find our way to Vikings games, or usually just sit inside and watch NFL Redzone next to the fireplace. I’ve always been enamored with sports. I love the competition. I crave that feeling of winning. Hockey was the main focus for many for my friends, but I’ve had a special passion for baseball. I fell in love with the battle between a batter and a pitcher. I idolized Jacob DeGrom, Stephen Strasburg and Nelson Cruz through my teens, but my relationship with the Twins was more complicated. We’ve always supported the team and gone to games, but over the last 10 years, my Dad and I would mostly scoff at the Twins. We were frustrated. We wanted to be competitive. We loved the organization, but our passion was lost in the midst of many horrendous seasons. I wasn’t aware of the young talent in the ranks. I knew Jose Berríos had electric stuff, and I remember seeing Max Kepler grow and adapt to the majors. I didn’t expect the 2019 breakthrough, but who really did? I was surprised when the Twins signed the greatest slugger of the last decade in Cruz, knowing they usually didn’t make noise in the offseason. In early March, I was at the airport and decided to buy the 2019 MLB Season Preview from USA Today. As I read the Twins preview in my airplane seat, I felt a slim glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while. As the season went on, I became more and more engaged. I became a patreon of Gleeman and the Geek and started dancing to the opening theme song, I followed the likes of Ted Schwerzler, Seth Stohs and Tom Froemming on Twitter, and I planned my summer waitering job around Twins games. I was in love again. I am studying at the University of Missouri and acquiring a degree in sports broadcast journalism. I often miss home. The 2019 squad was outstandingly enjoyable, and they also connected me to my state. I felt comfortable and warm watching my hometown team. It may sound cliche, but I truly become more invested in baseball and the Twins every single day. Baseball-Reference has become my most visited website, I frequently check Darren Wolfson's Twitter replies for scoops, and I constantly think about the Twins and their affiliates. My passion for the club grew into writing at Twins Daily, and I’m lucky enough to have an audience on this incredibly interactive and impressive platform every Friday. My ultimate dream is to become the TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Twins. I’m confident and driven to achieve this goal, and attending a premier journalism school was step one. I am focused on following in the great Dick Bremer’s stead. Thank you for reading my story. I am very grateful to be a contributor for Twins Daily, and I can not wait for the future of the Minnesota Twins. How did you become a Twins fan? Comment below! Click here to view the article

I agree that Polanco’s power with the new ball can be questioned. I have trouble with the “value to the team” aspect of this. Polanco was extremely valuable in 2019. He played almost every day when most of the team was banged up at one point or another. He led the team in WAR and Jeff Passan ranked him in his Top-10 for MVP. He’s clearly one of the best players on the team.

The time is coming for more Twins prospects to join the club. In 2020, the team figures to dip into their deep pool of outfielders. Who seems most likely to see big league action first?Alex Kirilloff Kirilloff was selected by the Twins with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft as an 18-year-old. He was scouted as a great hitter and average defender with the ability to play first base. He played in 55 rookie games for Elizabethton after the draft and hit .306/.341/.454. Kirilloff missed the 2017 season after Tommy John surgery and was a question mark going into 2018. Kirilloff started the year in Cedar Rapids and was excellent, hitting .333/.391/.607 with 13 home runs in 65 games. The great first half propelled him to Fort Myers, where he hit .362 with a .943 OPS in the second half of 2018. This incredible bounceback drove MLB Pipeline to rank him as baseball’s 10th best prospect heading into 2019. The Twins started the 21-year-old at Double-A Pensacola, challenging him against older and more talented pitching. Kirilloff missed April with a wrist injury and returned rusty, hitting just .240 with a .682 OPS in May. Kirilloff battled back to hit .300/.338/.434 from June through August. He also caught fire in the playoffs, showing serious power potential with four home runs in four postseason games: Brent Rooker Rooker slugged .810 with 23 home runs in 67 games in his junior season at Mississippi State and was named the National Player of the Year. Rooker was picked by the Twins shortly after, going 35th overall in the 2017 draft. Rooker finished that season in the minors, posting a hefty .930 OPS and 18 home runs in 62 games between Elizabethton and Fort Myers. Rooker began his age-23 season at Double-A Chattanooga. 2018 was a considerable step back as he hit just .254/.333/.465 in 130 games. The power played as Rooker smacked 22 more home runs, but he struck out in 26% of plate appearances with a 9.8% walk rate. His path to the majors became murkier when Kirilloff broke out during the same year. Rooker started 2019 at Triple-A Rochester and played very well before a groin contusion knocked him out in July. Rooker hit .281/.398/.535 in 65 games with the Red Wings. Rooker participated in the Premier 12 championship this month and hit .300/.333/.800 with three home runs, including this miraculous blast in an elimination game: Luke Raley Raley, Logan Forsythe and Devin Smeltzer were traded from the Dodgers to the Twins for Brian Dozier at the deadline in 2018. Raley was a 23-year-old hitting .275/.345/.477 with 17 home runs in 93 games at Double-A Tulsa. Smeltzer has already provided value to the Twins, making numerous starts last summer, but Raley remains in the minors. Raley was off to a blistering start in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester, batting .302/.362/.516 with seven home runs in 33 games. In May, he injured his left ankle and was forced to undergo surgery to repair the dislocated tendon. He returned for a short rehab assignment in the GCL in September but ran out of time to return to Rochester. Raley played with top prospect Royce Lewis in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters. He hit just .244/.312/.439 in 23 games, but had a few very strong showings, including a 4-for-4 effort on October 19th. Raley hit two home runs with 3 RBIs in an 8-1 victory. He has clear power from the left side and was recently added to the Twins 40-man roster. Here is a clip of him at 2019 Spring Training: Trevor Larnach In 2018, Larnach hit a game-winning two-run home run in the College World Series, making him an instant legend at Oregon State. Larnach hit .348/.463/.652 with 22 home runs and led the Beavers to a National Championship. The Twins responded by drafting him with the 20th overall pick and sending him quickly to the minors. He hit .303/.390/.500 in 42 games between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids. Larnach started 2019 in Fort Myers and played 84 games for the Miracle, hitting .316 with an .842 OPS and 26 doubles. He was called up to Double-A Pensacola to play in 43 games for the Blue Wahoos. He kept it up, hitting .295/.387/.455 with seven home runs. Larnach won the Florida State Player of the Year award for his brilliance at the dish. Additionally, MLB Pipeline named him as the Twins’ Hitting Prospect of the Year. Entering his age-22 season, Larnach is picking up steam as a global name, and is currently ranked as the No.77 prospect in baseball. He should start 2020 in Pensacola, but could quickly move up to Rochester or even Minneapolis. Here are Larnach’s 15 hits in the 2018 College World Series, including that game-winner against Arkansas: Summary All four of these guys could have very bright futures in the majors, with Kirilloff and Larnach carrying more upside. Rooker and Raley have played at Triple-A, and they seem more major league ready. With the Twins in championship mode, they have serious considerations to make regarding these outstanding players. This chart shows that Rooker posted the highest OPS and would likely have been called up instead of LaMonte Wade Jr. in 2019, if not for the injury. Download attachment: OFers.png Click here to view the article

Good topic and article Cody! I really think Wheeler would be enticed by Falvey and Levine, and I think they should be considered a favorite to sign him. In my unbiased opinion, he will come to Minnesota. The White Sox and Rick Hahn recently told fans not to get "too excited" about their offseason and that winning is not a huge priority until at least 2021. The Angels will be focused on Cole and Wheeler seems out of the price range for San Diego with their various commitments and a desire to extend Tatis. I see the Twins as the best fit. I can't wait to find out! I am also nervous!

So good and fun to read Cooper. I would say my lineup would look like this: 1. Betts LF 2. Polanco SS 3. Rendon 3B 4. Kepler RF 5. Cruz DH 6. Grandal/Garver C 7. Sano 1B 8. Arraez 2B 9. Buxton CF MLB 2K13 MyCareer.

You are right! My mistake. Perhaps Astudillo or Cave would start at AAA to make room for Perez. Payroll would increase to about $130M.

Doc, Perez pitched seven games out of the pen in 2018 and had a 2.45 ERA. He has bullpen experience.

On the contrary, I believe Rosario should not be dealt for less than he is worth. For me, there is a small group of starting pitchers, including Bauer, that I would even consider moving Rosario for. As for Gordon, I believe he will be a productive pro but he is blocked by the SS heavy Twins and with the emergence of Arraez, there’s just no place for him. He’s a strong, moveable asset that many teams would benefit from.

Taylor Trammell hit .234/.340/.349 (.689) at Double-A in 2019. The highest OPS of his minor league career is .819 at Low A in 2017. Also, Bauer is gone in one year to free agency, as mentioned in the article. There is plenty of incentive.

The Twins are entering their most crucial offseason in many years. After winning 101 games and their first division title since 2010, Minnesota is primed to take the next step toward the fall classic. Why not bring the whole band back together? It worked in 2019.When I say bring the band back together, I mean everyone but Sam Dyson. Michael Pineda, Martín Pérez and Kyle Gibson are set to exit the rotation along with position players Jonathan Schoop and Jason Castro. The veteran ball of energy reliever Sergio Romo is also contract free. There are three prominent reasons why the Twins should bring them all back: 1.) These guys not only contributed on the field (some more than others), but there is serious chemistry and comradery among this group. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine carefully constructed the roster with both talent and charisma, and the team really seemed to gel on many fronts. 2.) The stars were limping in October. Mitch Garver was hampered by a hip impingement, Max Kepler was hardly healthy with a shoulder issue, Luis Arraez was hobbling, C.J. Cron battled a faulty thumb and Nelson Cruz played without a tendon in his wrist. Perhaps worst of all, both Byron Buxton and Michael Pineda were unavailable. When healthy and active, the 2019 team can win in October. 3.) There seems to be an assumption that because of the postseason, the Twins rotation was a mess in 2019. This is far from the truth. The starting rotation posted the fourth best fWAR in the American League, and the seventh best in the league. The bullpen was phenomenal, posting the third best fWAR in MLB. There are also ways for the Twins to improve pitching internally. The Twins are off to a phenomenal start as All-Star Jake Odorizzi accepted his qualifying offer and will return to the rotation in 2020. This was step one, here are the rest: Sign RHP Michael Pineda for 2-years, $22 million Pineda was great in the second half with a 5-1 record and 3.04 ERA. Pineda struck out 56 batters and walked just 12 in 53 ⅓ innings after the break. He is unavailable for the first 39 games, but the Twins would prefer an innings limit anyway. Sign RHP Kyle Gibson for 1-year, $9 million with $12 million club option for 2021 Gibson was a huge part of the Twins’ heartbeat. He leads with a great winning attitude and radiates positivity on and off the field. Jon Heyman reported Monday that Gibson is garnering interest from at least 1/3 of the league at the GM meetings in Scottsdale: Sign LHP Martín Pérez for 1-year, $5 million Pérez looked the part of a masterful pickup before the league figured him out and forced him off the playoff roster. There is legitimate reason to believe that Pérez can succeed in a bullpen platoon role. He has held lefties to a .639 OPS in his career. Sign RHP Sergio Romo for 1-year, $5 million Romo almost made up for the Dyson debacle by himself. The 36-year-old can still be a vital part of the bullpen because of his elite slider. Romo’s slider generated a 33% whiff rate and .184 batting average in 2019. He also held righties to a .205/.248/.394 line. He is a great clubhouse presence and the team seems to really admire him. Sign C Jason Castro for 2-years, $12 million Castro and Garver combined to form a lethal catcher platoon combo last year. Castro hit .254/.354/.497 against righties and Garver hit .321/.434/.736 against lefties. Castro is familiar with the split role and has repore with the pitchers above. Sign 2B Jonathan Schoop for 2-years, $16 million Luis Arraez is returning as the primary second baseman, but Schoop had a .917 OPS against lefties compared to a .696 OPS for Arraez in 2019. Schoop can slot into a defensive platoon role and Baldelli praised him as a phenomenal teammate in 2019. Summary Many will understandably point to the ALDS landslide when abolishing this plan. The Yankees were better than the Twins last year, but the gap is closing. Buxton was arguably an MVP candidate before shoulder surgery, and there is no reason to believe that he and the others can not continue to develop. According to MLB Pipeline, the Twins have the 3rd best farm system in the American League. The phenom flamethrower Brusdar Graterol should find himself in the rotation soon enough, and 21-year-old Jordan Balazovic is moving quickly. Additionally, top prospects Royce Lewis and Alex Kiriloff are chomping at the bit to reach the bigs. This roster won the AL Central by eight games and finished with the second best record in franchise history. This is hardly a failed offseason, and running it back may be the best option. Adversity will happen, but hopefully the Twins can avoid serious injuries down the stretch. Here is the 26-man look: Spending $10-20 million more is not worth breaking up team companionship and community. What do you think? More blueprints from our writers: Building a Bullpenner | Nick Nelson Making Big Betts | Nate Palmer Hooking a Big Fish | Ted Schwerzler The Window Just Opened | Jeremy Nygaard Cheat Off the Champs | Matthew Lenz Click here to view the article

As I was pondering about the potential rotation for the Twins in 2020, I remembered something. It had been in the back of my mind but it came to the forefront today. Thad Levine, in an interview with Aaron Gleeman, proclaimed that the Twins explored a trade during the season for Trevor Bauer. I can not remember the exact quote, but it went something like this: “We are interested in the player (Bauer), but it is unlikely that the Minnesota Twins will make a deal with the Cleveland Indians.” Of course, a trade between the Twins and Indians is unlikely to take place as they have become bitter division rivals, especially in 2019. Bauer was instead dealt to the Reds at the deadline in a three-team transaction that sent Yasiel Puig and Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes to Cleveland, while prospect Taylor Trammell moved from Cincinnati to San Diego. Bauer seemed excited to get out of Cleveland, later deeming that he “did not have fun there.” In 10 starts with Cincinnati, Bauer posted a 6.39 ERA and 2-5 record. The right-hander gave up 12 home runs in 56 ⅓ innings. Bauer was coming off a phenomenal season in 2018 where his FIP was a miniscule 2.44. Bauer went 12-6 and allowed just 0.5 home runs per nine while making his first All-Star game. He is a proven power pitcher with an average of 9.5 strikeouts per nine in his career. Cleveland has a surplus of pitchers, and dealing Bauer was a smart move. The irony is that Cincinnati does not need him either. The Reds have 2019 breakout Luis Castillo and another All-Star in Sonny Gray. Both are under team control until 2024. Additionally, the Reds top two (and three of their top four) prospects are pitchers. The Reds ranked 11th in the National League in team OPS in 2019 and their main priority will be acquiring impact bats this offseason. They are reportedly in on both Yasmani Grandal and Didi Gregorius. In order for this to happen, they need to shed salary. Bauer is estimated to make $18.6 million in his final year of arbitration. The Reds already have nearly $110 million tied up in 2020, and their total payroll was $128 million in 2019. They should be salivating at the opportunity to pick up someone like Eddie Rosario, who hit 32 home runs and drove in 109 runs in 2019. For the Twins, Rosario is below average, but for a team like the Reds, he would arguably be their second best bat next to Eugenio Suarez and will cost a manageable $9 million or so in 2020. That is where the Twins start. As Bauer only has one year of team control remaining, the Reds may not demand too much. Rosario and 24-year-old Nick Gordon, who hit .298/.342/.459 at Triple-A in 2019, should do the trick. The Reds are losing shortstop José Iglesias to free agency and Gordon seems ready for the big leagues. If Cincinnati misses out on Gregorius, they need a better backup plan than current starter José Peraza, who hit .239/.285/.346 in 2019. If you are doubting that the Reds would do this, I hear you. Remember though that Cincinnati has a below-average farm system, according to MLB Pipeline, and will lose Bauer next winter regardless. They can cash in now while still looking to compete in 2020. They would and should seriously consider this proposition. With this deal, the Twins gain an immediate top of the rotation arm in Bauer and do not strip the premier end of their farm system. Rosario, Gordon and a throw in of second baseman Travis Blankenhorn, who posted a .786 OPS at Double-A in 2019, will get this done. Jake Odorizzi is likely to return in one way or another, and Darren Wolfson confirmed Tuesday that the Twins are talking with Zack Wheeler: https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/1194376558200406018?s=20 The Twins could potentially start with a rotation of Wheeler, Jose Berríos, Odorizzi, and Bauer in 2020 with Brusdar Graterol on his way to starting soon. Yikes. Good luck, MLB. Would you want to face this team in the postseason? I sure would not.

Madison Bumgarner and Zack Wheeler headline the second tier of the starting pitching free agent class, representing realistic Twins targets. Both will likely demand contracts of four or more years and at least $18 million per season. Which pitcher holds the advantage?The case for Bumgarner: Bumgarner is one of the most prominent names in MLB, and for good reason. He was drafted by the Giants with the 10th overall pick in the 2007 Amateur Draft as an 18-year-old. Bumgarner quickly moved up the system, debuting in 2008 at Class-A and pitching 10 innings in the big leagues by 2009. Bumgarner started in 18 games in 2010 with a 3.00 ERA in 111 innings. That breakout season was a bridge to six straight dominant campaigns as Bumgarner appeared in four All-Star games and finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young each of those years. This stretch included three championships and a World Series MVP Award in 2014. For the first time since 2010, Bumgarner started less than 30 games in 2017 after a dirt bike accident sprained the AC joint in his left shoulder. Bad luck struck again in 2018 when a line drive drilled his throwing hand. Bumgarner nearly matched his combined total of 38 starts between those two years with 34 in 2019. In his illustrious 11-year career, Bumgarner has never posted an ERA above the 3.90 mark he had in 2019. Consistency is perhaps his greatest asset, and Bumgarner is still just 30-years-old. There seems to be an assumption that Bumgarner has less left to give. His average pitch velocity actually increased in 2019: With Bumgarner also comes postseason experience and October mystic. Bumgarner is 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA in 102 1/3 playoff innings. It is unwise to hang your hat on this, but there is absolutely a bulldog mentality and calm demeanor that gives Bumgarner an edge when the stakes are highest. The case for Zack Wheeler: One of the most enticing names of the offseason, Wheeler enters free agency after two phenomenal seasons with the Mets. Wheeler was selected by the Giants with the 6th overall pick in the 2009 Amateur Draft. Wheeler was traded to New York for Carlos Beltran at the 2011 deadline. Wheeler was called up in May of 2013 and looked great in his first two seasons, posting a 3.50 ERA across 285 1/3 innings. In the spring of 2015, Wheeler had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and was sidelined for the next two years. Wheeler returned in 2017 and was clearly rusty as he allowed 50 runs in just 86 1/3 innings. Full recovery showed in 2018 and Wheeler heaved his way to a sterling 3.25 FIP and 12-7 record, right back on track. Wheeler followed up his bounceback season with a 3.48 FIP and 195 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings in 2019. Unlike Bumgarner, Wheeler is an overpowering pitcher with a fastball that averaged 96.7 MPH last year. He is throwing as hard as ever and has a nice complement of pitches. Here is how Wheeler mixed up his offerings compared to 2018 and the seasons prior to Tommy John surgery: For the Twins, Wheeler may have an edge over Bumgarner as he is dominant against right-handed batters. Righties hit just .245/.274/.360 off him in 2019. With the American League Central loaded with right-handed sluggers such as Franmil Reyes, Eloy Jimenez, and Jorge Soler, Wheeler could give an added advantage to Minnesota. Who should get the final rose? Both of these guys are proven, but Bumgarner offers stability and consistency that Wheeler does not. On the contrary, Wheeler holds upside that could turn him into a superstar, while Bumgarner has possibly reached his 95th percentile of production. With either, the Twins are getting a serious upgrade to the staff and each guy brings different assets and limitations to the table. Let’s take a look at how closely they compared in 2019: Who should the Twins get? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Not registered? Click here to create an account. To stay up to date, follow Twins Daily on Twitter and Facebook. More from Twins Daily Exploring Five Twins Extension Candidates Important Dates for the 2020 Offseason Eyeing This Year's Most Intriguing Free Agent Click here to view the article

Rightly so, Twins fans are very excited about Brusdar Graterol, the flame-throwing 21-year-old from Venezuela. Graterol was called up to the Twins bullpen last summer and mostly impressed, even touching 102 MPH on his sinker. Graterol will be in the rotation soon enough, and his future partner in crime, the one they call "Jordy Blaze,” is on his way to stardom. Jordan Balazovic was drafted in the 5th round of the 2016 Amateur Draft out of Mississauga, Canada. Balazovic played in eight Gulf Coast League games as a 17-year-old and posted a 1.97 ERA. Balazovic was mediocre at Class A in 2018 with a 3.94 ERA and 7-3 record. While Balazovic had a pedestrian ERA, his peripherals were outstanding. He struck out 78 batters in 61 2/3 innings and allowed only 5 home runs. Balazovic massively improved in 2019 with a 2.18 ERA in four starts at Cedar Rapids with 14.4 K/9. It was quickly realized that Balazovic was ready for the next step. He was promoted to Fort Myers and continued his excellence. In 73 innings, Jordy-B struck out 96 batters and allowed just three home runs. Balazovic was an elite strike thrower, walking just 2.4 batters per nine innings. Balazovic increased his velocity and consistently lived at 95 MPH with his sinker. Balazovic has flashed a plus-slider and at times, a great changeup. With his velocity increasing, his complementary pitches are becoming devastating. Tom Froemming has great analysis here: The 6 foot 5, 215 pound up-and-comer is developing well-deserved praise and attention. Balazovic is ranked as the 76th overall prospect on MLB Pipeline. Balazovic just turned 21, and figures to start next season in Pensacola at class Double-A. With the developmental system instituted by Derek Falvey and company, Jordy Blaze carries unforeseen upside. Image Credits: Creator:Gordon Donovan Credit:Photo: Gordon Donovan Copyright:Photo: Gordon Donovan

At least some regression is expected after the Twins posted a ridiculous .270/.338/.494 (.832) line in 2019. It is likely that the overall offensive production will generally decrease as the baseball should be de-juiced and Nelson Cruz will be a year older. On-base wizard Luis Arraez will hit more than four homers, but do his peripherals show concern for regression in other areas?Luis Arraez was one of many breakouts for the Twins in 2019. Arraez ranked as the No.15 prospect in the Twins system on MLB Pipeline before the season. There was no doubt Arraez could hit, but his questionable athleticism and lack of power hampered his upside as a prospect. These stats say it all about how he fared in his first season in the big leagues: Arraez was called up in May and became nothing short of a marvel at the plate. His zone contact percentage was a pristine 94%, almost 11% higher than league average. His chase rate was well below average at 24.3%. Arraez made contact on 87.4% of pitches outside the zone, nearly 30% more than the average player. Arraez struck out just 7.9% of the time, ranking in the top 1% in MLB. It looks like the Twins have found an unlikely cornerstone piece. Arraez is a catalyst and a nightmare for an opposing pitcher. Arraez got ahead in 49% of counts, hitting .398/.497/.586 (1.083) in 163 tries after being up 1-0. When down 0-1, Arraez hit a pedestrian .291/.327/.342 (.669). When ahead in the count, he hit .448/.585/.676 (1.261) compared to .252/.252/.291 (.544) when behind. When controlling the count, pitchers had the luxury of shying away from the fastball, a pitch that Arraez hit to the tune of .364. Arraez whiffed on just 5.9% of fastballs but 12.5% of off-speed and breaking pitches. On off-speed and breaking pitches, Arraez had expected batting averages of .248 and .256, respectively. On the AL Central clinching night, Luis Arraez defied his Statcast trend on this 1-1 curveball from Drew VerHagen: Arraez hit .334/.399/.439 (.838) with a .355 BABIP in 92 games. In August, Arraez saw his BABIP lowered to a much more realistic .310. His monthly production responded as he hit .293/.350/.380 (.730) in 103 plate appearances. This is eerily close to the .286/.332/.395 (.727) line that Statcast expected from him this year. Arraez was coined as “La Regadera” (The Sprinkler) for his ability to spray hits all over the field. Arraez loves to push the ball, owning a 36.7% opposite field rate. Looking at his wOBA chart, he seems to have an eye for outside pitches. Arraez struggled with pitches located on the inner half, but crushed most pitches away: Pitchers will be adjusting to the surging sophomore in 2020. The strike zone will hopefully be around the same size (robot umps, please!), and Arraez can absolutely continue his production if he maintains elite plate discipline. This is a tall task for a young gun, but Arraez has been seemingly unfazed thus far. Getting ahead in the count and forcing fastballs is key for most hitters, but Arraez showed that this will be especially important moving forward. What do you think the future holds for Luis Arraez? Please comment below! For much more on Luis Arraez and his amazing campaign: Excellent Plate Discipline Emphasizes Why Luis Arraez Deserves Starting Spot in 2020Twins Daily 2019 Awards: Rookie of the YearThe Future Value of Luis Arraez Click here to view the article

The Twins bullpen was mostly great in 2019 as they finished with the third best WAR in baseball, per Fangraphs. They had the best second half reliever WAR and watched Tyler Duffey and Trevor May become legitimate weapons along with the great Taylor Rogers. Starting pitching will be the main focus this offseason, and rightly so. Trade deadline acquisition Sergio Romo is the only impending free agent from the bullpen. One of the other names circling at the deadline was left-hander Jake Diekman. A 32-year-old journeyman, Diekman started his career with the Phillies but found his most success in Arlington. Diekman posted a 3.18 ERA in four seasons with the Rangers, striking out 10.1 per nine and allowing just nine home runs in 124 1/3 innings. The Rangers moved on from Diekman before the deadline in 2018, trading him to Arizona for minor league pitcher Wei-Chieh Huang. Diekman finished the year horribly with the D-Backs, allowing 12 runs in 14 1/3 innings. Diekman entered free agency as a buy-low option and the Royals inked him to a 1-year, $2.75 million contract with a mutual option for 2020. Diekman responded to the show-me contract by going 0-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 41 2/3 innings with Kansas City. Some of that is due to the dumpster fire that is the Royals defense as his FIP was a stronger 3.36. The Royals elected to move him to Oakland before the 2019 deadline for two minor league prospects. Diekman allowed 10 runs in 20 1/3 innings with the A's, walking 16 and striking out 21. Oakland elected not to pick up his option, per Melissa Lockard of the Athletic: Now Diekman enters free agency once again as a buy-low option. Diekman made changes in 2019 that should entice the Twins to fill their left-handed reliever void. For one, he ditched his sinker and relied heavily on an elite slider, throwing it 46.1% of the time in 2019: As can be seen on the graph, Diekman relied on the slider and four-seam fastball. His average fastball velocity is 95.8 MPH, a number that should be salivating for Minnesota. The two-pitch combo helped generate 12.2 strikeouts per nine, Diekman's most since 2014. His slider generated a 45% whiff rate with an expected .176/.257/.246 (.503) line from opposing hitters. The Twins are accustomed to pitchers with devastating sliders and they seem to target them: Walks are clearly Diekman's biggest problem, as he has allowed a whopping 5.0 BB/9 in his career. Minnesota's pitching coach Wes Johnson cut 121 walks from the Twins in 2018, catapulting them from the 7th worst to 6th best in allowing free passes. Considering his recent struggles and age, Diekman figures to get a one or maybe two year deal at best. The Twins have the luxury of taking this risk, and a $4-5 million investment in Diekman makes all the sense in the world. If anyone can tap into the seemingly lost potential, it is the Twins. Go get him Falvine! Please comment what you think. Thanks for reading! Go Twins!

Hoarding prospects has been an effective strategy for the Twins as they enjoyed breakouts from Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, Miguel Sanó, and Byron Buxton among others. The White Sox have employed a similar tactic, trading away numerous big leaguers for top-end prospects. Those prospects are here, and a few of them showed real promise last year. Three things remain true about Chicago.1.) They have a porous pitching staff. The rotation looked like a strong part of the rebuild for Chicago as Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech were both ranked in the top 25 on MLB Pipeline. Kopech has not pitched in over a year after Tommy John surgery and Cease struggled in the majors, starting 14 games and allowing an .839 OPS and 1.8 HR/9. Cease finished the year strong with a 3.00 ERA in September, but his last three starts came against the Angels, Mariners, and Tigers. After a step forward in 2018, Reynaldo López took two steps back. Teammate Lucas Giolito allowed 118 runs in 2018 and López allowed 110 runs this year, both led MLB. López allowed 35 homers in 184 innings. Giolito bounced back with a 3.41 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 176 2/3 innings. Giolito’s hard hit percentage only decreased 2.3%, but his strikeout rate doubled and his walk rate improved from 11.1% to 8.1%. Giolito was an All-Star but regressed following the break: Their latest additions, Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, should help eat some innings. Keuchel hid behind a 4.72 FIP playing in front of Josh Donaldson and Ozzie Albies last year. His ground ball tendencies make little sense for a Chicago defense that ranked 25th in baseball in 2019. Gonzalez is more of a depth piece than anything of impact. 2.) The devil is in the details Slugger Eloy Jiménez started the year with a poor .674 OPS and 25 strikeouts in his first 85 plate appearances. He improved to hit .292 with a .542 slugging percentage after the break. The caveat is that Jiménez was an awful outfielder with -11 DRS and a -6.6 UZR/150. Let’s compare him to fellow rookie Luis Arraez: Batting champion Tim Anderson hit .335 with a .399 BABIP. The Sox led in BABIP at .329, 31 points above average. Anderson posted a putrid 109-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the worst in baseball. His hard hit percentage is a low 32.3%, ranking 332nd in MLB, according to baseball savant. Anderson ranks fourth in swing percentage at 58.5%. All of these numbers scream regression. Anderson was also an atrocious shortstop with -9 DRS and a -11.7 UZR/150. Anderson finished second in BABIP to teammate Yoàn Moncada, who followed up his strikeout plagued 2018 with improvement a year later. Moncada hit .315/.367/.548 with 25 home runs. Moncada, Anderson and Jiménez all ranked in the bottom 10 in strikeout-to-walk ratio. The White Sox ranked last in walks and sixth in strikeouts. Moncada, like his counterparts, was a below average defender with -7 DRS at third base. The White Sox only beat out the Marlins and Pirates in GB/FB ratio. Only the Marlins hit more ground balls than the Sox in 2019. 3.) They are not the 2018 Twins The Twins won 23 more games in one year, but this is different for Chicago. Minnesota has the capital, talent and front office to run this division for the foreseeable future. The Twins beat the White Sox in 13 of their 19 games this year, outscoring them by 60 runs. While the Twins were not good in 2018, they still ranked ninth in the AL in OPS, sixth in runs scored, and ninth in team ERA. The White Sox finished 13th in runs scored and home runs and 12th in OPS, despite having the batting champion in Anderson and RBI leader in Abreu. The offseason has shifted the attention back to the White Sox, and they have done a nice job improving. I believe the Sox can maybe push for a Wild Card spot, but they are far behind the defending division champions. Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Not registered? Click here to create an account. To stay up to date, follow Twins Daily on Twitter and Facebook. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Handbook Preview: Glen Perkins Reviewing Relievers — Twins Can Begin Cashing in on Prospects — Hot Corner Consideration: Potential Third Base Alternatives to Miguel Sano Click here to view the article