Adam Friedman

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

In 40 ⅔ innings in 2022, Jovani Moran indicated he is ready to be an impact reliever for the Twins in 2023. He posted a 2.21 ERA and 1.78 FIP in 2022, driven by a high strikeout rate and ground ball rate. Beyond the topline numbers, Moran was great against both right-handed and left-handed hitters. He gave up a .554 OPS against lefties and a laughable .458 OPS against righties. His terrific changeup drives the reverse splits. 
While his strong 2022 performance leaves the Twins optimistic, Moran's severe lack of control throughout his career remains a question mark. He has had mammoth walk rates for most of his career, but the similarly eye-popping strikeout rates have allowed him to remain effective. 
The Twins seem to trust Moran as the second left-handed reliever on the roster behind Caleb Theilbar, and they chose not to add a lefty in free agency. To pay off that trust, Moran must maintain strikeout rates well above 30%, which he has maintained throughout his professional career. He will also need to find a way to keep walks as low as possible, but he has consistently had a walk rate above 10%, which falls comfortably in Fangraphs' "awful" categorization for that statistic. 
Digging deeper into Moran's 2022 with the Twins, he had an elite 32.9% K% and a dreadful 11% BB%. Those are extreme numbers on each end of the K/BB spectrum. He also had a 48.9% ground ball rate, which is above average and a good sign when the ball is put into play, as ground balls are less likely to do damage than line drives or home runs. The high ground ball rate has been consistent throughout his career, almost as consistent as the walks and strikeouts. 
Assuming he maintains the strikeout rate and ground ball rate, Moran is likely to be a very solid option out of the bullpen for the Twins and likely to be trusted in medium and high-leverage situations regularly. However, lowering his walk rate could alter the perception of Moran within the Twins organization and amongst their fans. Bringing it below 10% could help make him an elite reliever and a real weapon in an already talented and deep bullpen.  
In September and an appearance in October, after spending most of August in Triple-A, Moran showed signs of improving his command and control while maintaining his elite strikeout numbers. In 14 ⅓ innings, he still had an elite K/9 of 11.3 and a very good 1.88 BB/9, leading to a minuscule FIP of 1.78. 
The 1.88 BB/9 is entirely inconsistent with any full season he's had. He has averaged 4.6 for his career. However, if he can land in a middle ground between those points, Moran would force himself into the mix for high-leverage appearances and even put some pressure on Caleb Thielbar for the lefty matchups- despite his reverse splits. 
The Twins are relying on Moran being at least a reliable middle reliever. But he can be more than that if he carries his command and control from September into 2023. Then, Rocco Baldelli would have a strikeout monster who keeps the ball on the ground to utilize against both lefties and righties, with minimal downside.
What are your thoughts on Jovani Moran and his role with the 2023 Twins? Can he turn into the dominant reliever we would love to see, or would the Twins be wise to add some lefty reliever depth to go with Danny Coulombe, Locke St. John, Tyler Webb and other minor-league signings? Leave a COMMENT below. 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

The AL Central is expected to be very tight and, according to projections and betting lines, the Twins are projected to finish second or third. For the Twins to make up the ground on Cleveland and Chicago, they'll need to get production on the margins, whether on defense, in the bullpen, or off the bench. 
Kyle Farmer and Nick Gordon's platoon pairing as utility players could be an excellent way for the Twins to score crucial extra runs. Left-handed hitting Gordon will play most days when righties are pitching, and right-handed hitting Farmer will play most days when lefties are pitching, which will give the Twins lineup added length in either platoon situation. 
Kyle Farmer
When the Twins brought in Kyle Farmer from the Reds via trade, Twins fans hoped he would serve as a platoon bat in a utility role. Farmer can fill in all around the infield and corner outfield and, if necessary, at catcher. Farmer playing a utility role hinged on the Twins bringing in a big-name shortstop, and for a while, it appeared the Reds 2022 starting shortstop would be the Twins' Opening Day shortstop in 2023.
When Carlos Correa signed with the Twins for at least six years, Farmer was thrust back into that utility role for which he is well-suited. Being able to target lefty pitchers for him to match up with could be a massive advantage for the Twins. In 2022, he obliterated left-handed pitchers with a 157 wRC+, which indicates he was a 57% above-average hitter, fueled by a .568 SLG.
Farmer will move around the diamond for the Twins to hunt lefty matchups. Considering that two righties, a switch-hitter, and just one lefty make up the Twins' Opening Day infield, they may shuffle things around when lefties are on the bump. Farmer could slot in at left field, as the Twins have suggested, although he's only played four innings in the outfield in his major league career. Alternatively, they could move Jose Miranda to first base and slot Farmer, the superior defensive third baseman, at third. 
Wherever he slots in, the Twins hope that he will continue his dominance in those platoon matchups and provide much more versatility than their 2022 right-handed platoon bat, Kyle Garlick.
Nick Gordon
Nick Gordon put together his first full season at the major-league level in 2022. To the surprise of many, the 2014 first round pick was excellent. 
Gordon showed a surprising bit of power at the plate, especially against right-handed pitching. He put up a 111 wRC+ overall, and a 125 wRC+ against righties. He also showed that there might even be another level when he had a phenomenal 141 wRC+ against righties from July 1st to the end of the season. 
Due to his health, Gordon has a minimal track record of success at the upper minors or major-league level, so it's reasonable to question whether his production is sustainable. However, the batted ball data indicates that it was not just a flash in the pan. Gordon graded out in the 86th percentile for xSLG based on the quality of his contact. That could improve if he faces fewer left-handed pitchers, against whom he had a horrible 58 wRC+ against. 
Beyond roughing up righties, Gordon provided tremendous defensive flexibility. He played at least 17 games at left field, second base, shortstop and center field. He wasn't good at any position and was below average in the infield, but he was about average at both left field and center field. His ability to be somewhat competent at many positions will enable the Twins to get his bat into the lineup against righties as they get regulars off their feet. 
If you ask the average fan in any market outside of Cincinnati or Minnesota, they probably don't know Nick Gordon or Kyle Farmer. But these can be the type of bench players that make the difference between winning the division and coming up just short, especially when injuries pop up. Depending on the matchup, having one of Farmer or Gordon in the lineup just about every day will be a tremendous asset for the Twins in 2023.
 

As constructed, the Twins are an injury or two away from Trevor Megill or Emilio Pagán being thrust into high-leverage situations much more frequently than they should be. Twins fans saw last year that those pitchers are not well suited for such situations. 
Luckily for the Twins, in an offseason where free agents flew off the shelf, there are still a few relievers available who can provide the Twins with valuable additional depth. I've compiled a list of five of the most attractive options available, utilizing Jon Becker's extremely helpful free agent matrix. A couple are much more exciting than the rest, but any of the five could be a valuable addition to the Twins. 
The Best Options
Matt Moore
After a long and winding path that included a stop in Japan in 2020, Moore found himself amongst the elite relievers in 2022 as a 33-year-old. It was his first season as a full-time reliever, and he thrived in that role.
With increased fastball velocity and heavy usage of a faster curveball with more vertical break, Moore completely dominated right-handed hitters as a lefty. He had an elite 11.17 K/9 vs. righties, allowing just a .537 OPS. He was good against lefties, too, with fewer strikeouts but still giving up an OPS of just .634. His dominance against righties, paired with his solid performance against lefties, resulted in a ridiculous 1.95 ERA and 2.98 FIP, a statistic that removes defense from the ERA equation to focus on what the pitcher can control.
While his results indicated reverse splits, meaning he was better against right-handed hitters as a left-handed pitcher, he had a worse FIP (3.08) against righties than lefties (2.70). He will likely have more neutral splits moving forward, meaning he may be equally good against righties and lefties. 
The Twins have a few solid lefties in Caleb Thielbar, Jovani Moran, and Danny Coulombe, but bringing in Moore or a different lefty still could make sense for the Twins. Moran has reverse splits and will likely start the year at AAA, so Thielbar is the only lefty with normal splits vs. lefties. If Moore's splits remain reversed, he will face mostly righties anyways, and if they become more neutral, he would give Thielbar a partner against lefties. Moore is coming off a great season and is one of the best free agent options available to add to the bullpen. 
Andrew Chafin
Like Matt Moore, Andrew Chafin had a great 2022 as a veteran left-handed reliever. Chafin also had reverse splits in 2022 with Detroit. Unlike Moore, Chafin has made a tremendous career as a reliever, having not started since he made three starts in 2014 as a rookie. Chafin has a career-long sample size of traditional splits, where he's been better against lefties than righties. 
Chafin was not quite as dominant as Moore in 2022, still posting an outstanding 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP. Chafin's track record of being a reliable middle reliever or setup man makes him an excellent option for the Twins. He would considerably raise the floor of the bullpen unit and be much more trustworthy in high-leverage situations than the guys whose innings he'd be replacing. Adding a back-end-level reliever also helps the rest of the bullpen by pushing everybody below him down one slot in the pecking order.  
Chafin is also the ideal prototype of a reliever. He put up a 10.52 K/9 in 2022 while only giving up 2.98 BB/9. He also kept the ball on the ground far more than he had since 2017, which is a great way to keep the ball in the ballpark. That combination is exactly what any team is looking for when holding the lead. Chafin would be an excellent addition to the strong Twins' bullpen, pitching in the middle or late innings. 
Best of the Rest
Michael Fulmer
Converting from starter to reliever in 2021, Michael Fulmer posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.46 FIP and followed that with a solid 2022, putting up a 3.39 ERA and 3.57 FIP. 
Of course, his solid 2022 led the Twins to trade for Fulmer at the trade deadline. His performance was less dominant when he came over but was solid for the Twins, with a 3.70 ERA and 4.13 FIP. 
He is not without some flaws. Fulmer's slider is an elite pitch, which makes him dominant against righties, but he struggles mightily against lefties, giving up a hideous .960 OPS. With the three-batter minimum, this type of reliever is less valuable than it once was, but the Twins can still pick spots where his skillset is appropriate, especially in the middle innings.
It's possible the Twins could work with Fulmer to improve his fastball or changeup to perform better against left-handed hitters, but they likely would have already signed him if they had such a plan. Fulmer is a very solid pitcher who would add depth to the bullpen. Unlike Moore and Chafin, he would likely slot into the middle innings rather than the highest-leverage situations.
Brad Hand
In recent off-seasons, the Twins were in the relief market, and in those off-seasons, Chaska's own, Brad Hand, has come up amongst some Twins fans. The 32-year-old has starred in relief since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2016. From 2016-20, Hand had an ERA below 3.30- usually below three and a FIP below 3.20. 
The southpaw’s extended run of excellence ended in 2021, when he got crushed, with a 3.90 ERA and extremely concerning 4.58 FIP. He went from a great strikeout pitcher to well below average, which seems most responsible for his demise. Not all pitchers necessarily rely on strikeouts and whiffs, but Hand gave up a lot of hard contact when the whiffs and strikeouts went away.
In 2022, Hand's 2.80 ERA indicated that he still might have something left to give. Unfortunately, his 3.93 FIP indicates that he still isn't somebody to be trusted. The strikeouts dipped further, but he did at least do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. Still, his batted ball data mirrored his tough 2021 much more than the prior five great years. Anecdotally, when I asked my obnoxious Philly fan friend about him, he said, "Ugh, he's the worst." This sentiment, of course, perfectly lines up with the underlying data. 
Some pitchers beat the batted ball data and FIP and produce low ERAs as Hand did in 2022. Maybe he can do it again, and if he can, it would be worth bringing him home to Minnesota on a low-risk one-year deal. 
Will Smith
As many of the right-handed reliever free agents were scooped up already, Will Smith is one last lefty to take a look at. The 33-year-old former all-star struggled in 2021 and 2022, but there are some reasons to think he can still help a team out in his batted ball data. 
Smith's 3.97 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 2022 may not tell the entire story for his season. His 22 innings in Houston after being traded from Atlanta were very solid. He had a 3.27 ERA and a phenomenal 2.66 FIP after the trade compared to a 4.38 ERA and 5.22 FIP before the trade. 
Looking at the batted ball data from 2021 and 2022, Will Smith looks like a reliable reliever but not the star he once was. The Twins could use the guy the data indicates he is. In 2022, Smith had a 3.57 xERA; in 2021, he had a 3.37 xERA—an above-average strikeout rate, whiff rate, and barrel rate drove this success. Smith also dominated against lefties but struggled against righties, so with Jovani Moran's reverse splits, Smith would serve as the Twins' second lefty behind Thielbar, which could be important when Thielbar is unavailable.
Smith has always struggled with walks and no longer flaunts elite strikeout rates like he once did. But he's still a well above-average pitcher by the batted ball data, and when considering his numbers against the current bottom of the bullpen pecking order, bringing him in is a no-brainer.  
The Twins' bullpen could be as good as any in recent memory. That's the nature of having Jhoan Duran. There are other outstanding pitchers with Duran in the bullpen, but signing Moore or Chafin would solidify the bullpen as one of the best in baseball. Even adding one of the free agents from the "Best of the Rest" category would go a long way. If they solidify the unit, Twins fans should be able to breathe easily late in ball games, for once.
 

As constructed, the Twins are an injury or two away from Trevor Megill or Emilio Pagán being thrust into high-leverage situations much more frequently than they should be. Twins fans saw last year that those pitchers are not well suited for such situations. 
Luckily for the Twins, in an offseason where free agents flew off the shelf, there are still a few relievers available who can provide the Twins with valuable additional depth. I've compiled a list of five of the most attractive options available, utilizing Jon Becker's extremely helpful free agent matrix. A couple are much more exciting than the rest, but any of the five could be a valuable addition to the Twins. 
The Best Options
Matt Moore
After a long and winding path that included a stop in Japan in 2020, Moore found himself amongst the elite relievers in 2022 as a 33-year-old. It was his first season as a full-time reliever, and he thrived in that role.
With increased fastball velocity and heavy usage of a faster curveball with more vertical break, Moore completely dominated right-handed hitters as a lefty. He had an elite 11.17 K/9 vs. righties, allowing just a .537 OPS. He was good against lefties, too, with fewer strikeouts but still giving up an OPS of just .634. His dominance against righties, paired with his solid performance against lefties, resulted in a ridiculous 1.95 ERA and 2.98 FIP, a statistic that removes defense from the ERA equation to focus on what the pitcher can control.
While his results indicated reverse splits, meaning he was better against right-handed hitters as a left-handed pitcher, he had a worse FIP (3.08) against righties than lefties (2.70). He will likely have more neutral splits moving forward, meaning he may be equally good against righties and lefties. 
The Twins have a few solid lefties in Caleb Thielbar, Jovani Moran, and Danny Coulombe, but bringing in Moore or a different lefty still could make sense for the Twins. Moran has reverse splits and will likely start the year at AAA, so Thielbar is the only lefty with normal splits vs. lefties. If Moore's splits remain reversed, he will face mostly righties anyways, and if they become more neutral, he would give Thielbar a partner against lefties. Moore is coming off a great season and is one of the best free agent options available to add to the bullpen. 
Andrew Chafin
Like Matt Moore, Andrew Chafin had a great 2022 as a veteran left-handed reliever. Chafin also had reverse splits in 2022 with Detroit. Unlike Moore, Chafin has made a tremendous career as a reliever, having not started since he made three starts in 2014 as a rookie. Chafin has a career-long sample size of traditional splits, where he's been better against lefties than righties. 
Chafin was not quite as dominant as Moore in 2022, still posting an outstanding 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP. Chafin's track record of being a reliable middle reliever or setup man makes him an excellent option for the Twins. He would considerably raise the floor of the bullpen unit and be much more trustworthy in high-leverage situations than the guys whose innings he'd be replacing. Adding a back-end-level reliever also helps the rest of the bullpen by pushing everybody below him down one slot in the pecking order.  
Chafin is also the ideal prototype of a reliever. He put up a 10.52 K/9 in 2022 while only giving up 2.98 BB/9. He also kept the ball on the ground far more than he had since 2017, which is a great way to keep the ball in the ballpark. That combination is exactly what any team is looking for when holding the lead. Chafin would be an excellent addition to the strong Twins' bullpen, pitching in the middle or late innings. 
Best of the Rest
Michael Fulmer
Converting from starter to reliever in 2021, Michael Fulmer posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.46 FIP and followed that with a solid 2022, putting up a 3.39 ERA and 3.57 FIP. 
Of course, his solid 2022 led the Twins to trade for Fulmer at the trade deadline. His performance was less dominant when he came over but was solid for the Twins, with a 3.70 ERA and 4.13 FIP. 
He is not without some flaws. Fulmer's slider is an elite pitch, which makes him dominant against righties, but he struggles mightily against lefties, giving up a hideous .960 OPS. With the three-batter minimum, this type of reliever is less valuable than it once was, but the Twins can still pick spots where his skillset is appropriate, especially in the middle innings.
It's possible the Twins could work with Fulmer to improve his fastball or changeup to perform better against left-handed hitters, but they likely would have already signed him if they had such a plan. Fulmer is a very solid pitcher who would add depth to the bullpen. Unlike Moore and Chafin, he would likely slot into the middle innings rather than the highest-leverage situations.
Brad Hand
In recent off-seasons, the Twins were in the relief market, and in those off-seasons, Chaska's own, Brad Hand, has come up amongst some Twins fans. The 32-year-old has starred in relief since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2016. From 2016-20, Hand had an ERA below 3.30- usually below three and a FIP below 3.20. 
The southpaw’s extended run of excellence ended in 2021, when he got crushed, with a 3.90 ERA and extremely concerning 4.58 FIP. He went from a great strikeout pitcher to well below average, which seems most responsible for his demise. Not all pitchers necessarily rely on strikeouts and whiffs, but Hand gave up a lot of hard contact when the whiffs and strikeouts went away.
In 2022, Hand's 2.80 ERA indicated that he still might have something left to give. Unfortunately, his 3.93 FIP indicates that he still isn't somebody to be trusted. The strikeouts dipped further, but he did at least do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. Still, his batted ball data mirrored his tough 2021 much more than the prior five great years. Anecdotally, when I asked my obnoxious Philly fan friend about him, he said, "Ugh, he's the worst." This sentiment, of course, perfectly lines up with the underlying data. 
Some pitchers beat the batted ball data and FIP and produce low ERAs as Hand did in 2022. Maybe he can do it again, and if he can, it would be worth bringing him home to Minnesota on a low-risk one-year deal. 
Will Smith
As many of the right-handed reliever free agents were scooped up already, Will Smith is one last lefty to take a look at. The 33-year-old former all-star struggled in 2021 and 2022, but there are some reasons to think he can still help a team out in his batted ball data. 
Smith's 3.97 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 2022 may not tell the entire story for his season. His 22 innings in Houston after being traded from Atlanta were very solid. He had a 3.27 ERA and a phenomenal 2.66 FIP after the trade compared to a 4.38 ERA and 5.22 FIP before the trade. 
Looking at the batted ball data from 2021 and 2022, Will Smith looks like a reliable reliever but not the star he once was. The Twins could use the guy the data indicates he is. In 2022, Smith had a 3.57 xERA; in 2021, he had a 3.37 xERA—an above-average strikeout rate, whiff rate, and barrel rate drove this success. Smith also dominated against lefties but struggled against righties, so with Jovani Moran's reverse splits, Smith would serve as the Twins' second lefty behind Thielbar, which could be important when Thielbar is unavailable.
Smith has always struggled with walks and no longer flaunts elite strikeout rates like he once did. But he's still a well above-average pitcher by the batted ball data, and when considering his numbers against the current bottom of the bullpen pecking order, bringing him in is a no-brainer.  
The Twins' bullpen could be as good as any in recent memory. That's the nature of having Jhoan Duran. There are other outstanding pitchers with Duran in the bullpen, but signing Moore or Chafin would solidify the bullpen as one of the best in baseball. Even adding one of the free agents from the "Best of the Rest" category would go a long way. If they solidify the unit, Twins fans should be able to breathe easily late in ball games, for once.
 

As constructed, the Twins are an injury or two away from Trevor Megill or Emilio Pagán being thrust into high-leverage situations much more frequently than they should be. Twins fans saw last year that those pitchers are not well suited for such situations. 
Luckily for the Twins, in an offseason where free agents flew off the shelf, there are still a few relievers available who can provide the Twins with valuable additional depth. I've compiled a list of five of the most attractive options available, utilizing Jon Becker's extremely helpful free agent matrix. A couple are much more exciting than the rest, but any of the five could be a valuable addition to the Twins. 
The Best Options
Matt Moore
After a long and winding path that included a stop in Japan in 2020, Moore found himself amongst the elite relievers in 2022 as a 33-year-old. It was his first season as a full-time reliever, and he thrived in that role.
With increased fastball velocity and heavy usage of a faster curveball with more vertical break, Moore completely dominated right-handed hitters as a lefty. He had an elite 11.17 K/9 vs. righties, allowing just a .537 OPS. He was good against lefties, too, with fewer strikeouts but still giving up an OPS of just .634. His dominance against righties, paired with his solid performance against lefties, resulted in a ridiculous 1.95 ERA and 2.98 FIP, a statistic that removes defense from the ERA equation to focus on what the pitcher can control.
While his results indicated reverse splits, meaning he was better against right-handed hitters as a left-handed pitcher, he had a worse FIP (3.08) against righties than lefties (2.70). He will likely have more neutral splits moving forward, meaning he may be equally good against righties and lefties. 
The Twins have a few solid lefties in Caleb Thielbar, Jovani Moran, and Danny Coulombe, but bringing in Moore or a different lefty still could make sense for the Twins. Moran has reverse splits and will likely start the year at AAA, so Thielbar is the only lefty with normal splits vs. lefties. If Moore's splits remain reversed, he will face mostly righties anyways, and if they become more neutral, he would give Thielbar a partner against lefties. Moore is coming off a great season and is one of the best free agent options available to add to the bullpen. 
Andrew Chafin
Like Matt Moore, Andrew Chafin had a great 2022 as a veteran left-handed reliever. Chafin also had reverse splits in 2022 with Detroit. Unlike Moore, Chafin has made a tremendous career as a reliever, having not started since he made three starts in 2014 as a rookie. Chafin has a career-long sample size of traditional splits, where he's been better against lefties than righties. 
Chafin was not quite as dominant as Moore in 2022, still posting an outstanding 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP. Chafin's track record of being a reliable middle reliever or setup man makes him an excellent option for the Twins. He would considerably raise the floor of the bullpen unit and be much more trustworthy in high-leverage situations than the guys whose innings he'd be replacing. Adding a back-end-level reliever also helps the rest of the bullpen by pushing everybody below him down one slot in the pecking order.  
Chafin is also the ideal prototype of a reliever. He put up a 10.52 K/9 in 2022 while only giving up 2.98 BB/9. He also kept the ball on the ground far more than he had since 2017, which is a great way to keep the ball in the ballpark. That combination is exactly what any team is looking for when holding the lead. Chafin would be an excellent addition to the strong Twins' bullpen, pitching in the middle or late innings. 
Best of the Rest
Michael Fulmer
Converting from starter to reliever in 2021, Michael Fulmer posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.46 FIP and followed that with a solid 2022, putting up a 3.39 ERA and 3.57 FIP. 
Of course, his solid 2022 led the Twins to trade for Fulmer at the trade deadline. His performance was less dominant when he came over but was solid for the Twins, with a 3.70 ERA and 4.13 FIP. 
He is not without some flaws. Fulmer's slider is an elite pitch, which makes him dominant against righties, but he struggles mightily against lefties, giving up a hideous .960 OPS. With the three-batter minimum, this type of reliever is less valuable than it once was, but the Twins can still pick spots where his skillset is appropriate, especially in the middle innings.
It's possible the Twins could work with Fulmer to improve his fastball or changeup to perform better against left-handed hitters, but they likely would have already signed him if they had such a plan. Fulmer is a very solid pitcher who would add depth to the bullpen. Unlike Moore and Chafin, he would likely slot into the middle innings rather than the highest-leverage situations.
Brad Hand
In recent off-seasons, the Twins were in the relief market, and in those off-seasons, Chaska's own, Brad Hand, has come up amongst some Twins fans. The 32-year-old has starred in relief since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2016. From 2016-20, Hand had an ERA below 3.30- usually below three and a FIP below 3.20. 
The southpaw’s extended run of excellence ended in 2021, when he got crushed, with a 3.90 ERA and extremely concerning 4.58 FIP. He went from a great strikeout pitcher to well below average, which seems most responsible for his demise. Not all pitchers necessarily rely on strikeouts and whiffs, but Hand gave up a lot of hard contact when the whiffs and strikeouts went away.
In 2022, Hand's 2.80 ERA indicated that he still might have something left to give. Unfortunately, his 3.93 FIP indicates that he still isn't somebody to be trusted. The strikeouts dipped further, but he did at least do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. Still, his batted ball data mirrored his tough 2021 much more than the prior five great years. Anecdotally, when I asked my obnoxious Philly fan friend about him, he said, "Ugh, he's the worst." This sentiment, of course, perfectly lines up with the underlying data. 
Some pitchers beat the batted ball data and FIP and produce low ERAs as Hand did in 2022. Maybe he can do it again, and if he can, it would be worth bringing him home to Minnesota on a low-risk one-year deal. 
Will Smith
As many of the right-handed reliever free agents were scooped up already, Will Smith is one last lefty to take a look at. The 33-year-old former all-star struggled in 2021 and 2022, but there are some reasons to think he can still help a team out in his batted ball data. 
Smith's 3.97 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 2022 may not tell the entire story for his season. His 22 innings in Houston after being traded from Atlanta were very solid. He had a 3.27 ERA and a phenomenal 2.66 FIP after the trade compared to a 4.38 ERA and 5.22 FIP before the trade. 
Looking at the batted ball data from 2021 and 2022, Will Smith looks like a reliable reliever but not the star he once was. The Twins could use the guy the data indicates he is. In 2022, Smith had a 3.57 xERA; in 2021, he had a 3.37 xERA—an above-average strikeout rate, whiff rate, and barrel rate drove this success. Smith also dominated against lefties but struggled against righties, so with Jovani Moran's reverse splits, Smith would serve as the Twins' second lefty behind Thielbar, which could be important when Thielbar is unavailable.
Smith has always struggled with walks and no longer flaunts elite strikeout rates like he once did. But he's still a well above-average pitcher by the batted ball data, and when considering his numbers against the current bottom of the bullpen pecking order, bringing him in is a no-brainer.  
The Twins' bullpen could be as good as any in recent memory. That's the nature of having Jhoan Duran. There are other outstanding pitchers with Duran in the bullpen, but signing Moore or Chafin would solidify the bullpen as one of the best in baseball. Even adding one of the free agents from the "Best of the Rest" category would go a long way. If they solidify the unit, Twins fans should be able to breathe easily late in ball games, for once.
 

As constructed, the Twins are an injury or two away from Trevor Megill or Emilio Pagán being thrust into high-leverage situations much more frequently than they should be. Twins fans saw last year that those pitchers are not well suited for such situations. 
Luckily for the Twins, in an offseason where free agents flew off the shelf, there are still a few relievers available who can provide the Twins with valuable additional depth. I've compiled a list of five of the most attractive options available, utilizing Jon Becker's extremely helpful free agent matrix. A couple are much more exciting than the rest, but any of the five could be a valuable addition to the Twins. 
The Best Options
Matt Moore
After a long and winding path that included a stop in Japan in 2020, Moore found himself amongst the elite relievers in 2022 as a 33-year-old. It was his first season as a full-time reliever, and he thrived in that role.
With increased fastball velocity and heavy usage of a faster curveball with more vertical break, Moore completely dominated right-handed hitters as a lefty. He had an elite 11.17 K/9 vs. righties, allowing just a .537 OPS. He was good against lefties, too, with fewer strikeouts but still giving up an OPS of just .634. His dominance against righties, paired with his solid performance against lefties, resulted in a ridiculous 1.95 ERA and 2.98 FIP, a statistic that removes defense from the ERA equation to focus on what the pitcher can control.
While his results indicated reverse splits, meaning he was better against right-handed hitters as a left-handed pitcher, he had a worse FIP (3.08) against righties than lefties (2.70). He will likely have more neutral splits moving forward, meaning he may be equally good against righties and lefties. 
The Twins have a few solid lefties in Caleb Thielbar, Jovani Moran, and Danny Coulombe, but bringing in Moore or a different lefty still could make sense for the Twins. Moran has reverse splits and will likely start the year at AAA, so Thielbar is the only lefty with normal splits vs. lefties. If Moore's splits remain reversed, he will face mostly righties anyways, and if they become more neutral, he would give Thielbar a partner against lefties. Moore is coming off a great season and is one of the best free agent options available to add to the bullpen. 
Andrew Chafin
Like Matt Moore, Andrew Chafin had a great 2022 as a veteran left-handed reliever. Chafin also had reverse splits in 2022 with Detroit. Unlike Moore, Chafin has made a tremendous career as a reliever, having not started since he made three starts in 2014 as a rookie. Chafin has a career-long sample size of traditional splits, where he's been better against lefties than righties. 
Chafin was not quite as dominant as Moore in 2022, still posting an outstanding 2.83 ERA and 3.06 FIP. Chafin's track record of being a reliable middle reliever or setup man makes him an excellent option for the Twins. He would considerably raise the floor of the bullpen unit and be much more trustworthy in high-leverage situations than the guys whose innings he'd be replacing. Adding a back-end-level reliever also helps the rest of the bullpen by pushing everybody below him down one slot in the pecking order.  
Chafin is also the ideal prototype of a reliever. He put up a 10.52 K/9 in 2022 while only giving up 2.98 BB/9. He also kept the ball on the ground far more than he had since 2017, which is a great way to keep the ball in the ballpark. That combination is exactly what any team is looking for when holding the lead. Chafin would be an excellent addition to the strong Twins' bullpen, pitching in the middle or late innings. 
Best of the Rest
Michael Fulmer
Converting from starter to reliever in 2021, Michael Fulmer posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.46 FIP and followed that with a solid 2022, putting up a 3.39 ERA and 3.57 FIP. 
Of course, his solid 2022 led the Twins to trade for Fulmer at the trade deadline. His performance was less dominant when he came over but was solid for the Twins, with a 3.70 ERA and 4.13 FIP. 
He is not without some flaws. Fulmer's slider is an elite pitch, which makes him dominant against righties, but he struggles mightily against lefties, giving up a hideous .960 OPS. With the three-batter minimum, this type of reliever is less valuable than it once was, but the Twins can still pick spots where his skillset is appropriate, especially in the middle innings.
It's possible the Twins could work with Fulmer to improve his fastball or changeup to perform better against left-handed hitters, but they likely would have already signed him if they had such a plan. Fulmer is a very solid pitcher who would add depth to the bullpen. Unlike Moore and Chafin, he would likely slot into the middle innings rather than the highest-leverage situations.
Brad Hand
In recent off-seasons, the Twins were in the relief market, and in those off-seasons, Chaska's own, Brad Hand, has come up amongst some Twins fans. The 32-year-old has starred in relief since moving to the bullpen full-time in 2016. From 2016-20, Hand had an ERA below 3.30- usually below three and a FIP below 3.20. 
The southpaw’s extended run of excellence ended in 2021, when he got crushed, with a 3.90 ERA and extremely concerning 4.58 FIP. He went from a great strikeout pitcher to well below average, which seems most responsible for his demise. Not all pitchers necessarily rely on strikeouts and whiffs, but Hand gave up a lot of hard contact when the whiffs and strikeouts went away.
In 2022, Hand's 2.80 ERA indicated that he still might have something left to give. Unfortunately, his 3.93 FIP indicates that he still isn't somebody to be trusted. The strikeouts dipped further, but he did at least do a great job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. Still, his batted ball data mirrored his tough 2021 much more than the prior five great years. Anecdotally, when I asked my obnoxious Philly fan friend about him, he said, "Ugh, he's the worst." This sentiment, of course, perfectly lines up with the underlying data. 
Some pitchers beat the batted ball data and FIP and produce low ERAs as Hand did in 2022. Maybe he can do it again, and if he can, it would be worth bringing him home to Minnesota on a low-risk one-year deal. 
Will Smith
As many of the right-handed reliever free agents were scooped up already, Will Smith is one last lefty to take a look at. The 33-year-old former all-star struggled in 2021 and 2022, but there are some reasons to think he can still help a team out in his batted ball data. 
Smith's 3.97 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 2022 may not tell the entire story for his season. His 22 innings in Houston after being traded from Atlanta were very solid. He had a 3.27 ERA and a phenomenal 2.66 FIP after the trade compared to a 4.38 ERA and 5.22 FIP before the trade. 
Looking at the batted ball data from 2021 and 2022, Will Smith looks like a reliable reliever but not the star he once was. The Twins could use the guy the data indicates he is. In 2022, Smith had a 3.57 xERA; in 2021, he had a 3.37 xERA—an above-average strikeout rate, whiff rate, and barrel rate drove this success. Smith also dominated against lefties but struggled against righties, so with Jovani Moran's reverse splits, Smith would serve as the Twins' second lefty behind Thielbar, which could be important when Thielbar is unavailable.
Smith has always struggled with walks and no longer flaunts elite strikeout rates like he once did. But he's still a well above-average pitcher by the batted ball data, and when considering his numbers against the current bottom of the bullpen pecking order, bringing him in is a no-brainer.  
The Twins' bullpen could be as good as any in recent memory. That's the nature of having Jhoan Duran. There are other outstanding pitchers with Duran in the bullpen, but signing Moore or Chafin would solidify the bullpen as one of the best in baseball. Even adding one of the free agents from the "Best of the Rest" category would go a long way. If they solidify the unit, Twins fans should be able to breathe easily late in ball games, for once.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.
 

Alex Kirilloff will be the first in line to replace Luis Arraez at first and against righties. Hoping Kirilloff's wrist doesn't flare up is the Twins' top priority when replacing Arraez. If Kirilloff misses time, however, the Twins will have an abundance of options to replace him, and one of the most exciting options is Edouard Julien. 
Similarities between Arraez and Julien
Julien and Luis Arraez both came up as second baseman. Neither is renowned for their defense at the position, and it is not a premium position. That limits their value and forces them to hit to be valuable players. 
Luckily for Arraez and Julien, they've shown they can hit, especially against right-handed pitchers. In 2022, Arraez posted a very good .824 OPS against right-handed pitchers, and Julien at AA posted a 1.031 OPS against right-handed pitchers. 
Arraez’s strong .386 OBP primarily drives his success against righties. That on-base ability against righties is something the Twins will desperately need to replace. Last year, Julien posted a remarkable .465 OBP at AA against righties. If he can bring some of that on-base ability to the Twins, that would lessen the blow of losing Arraez. 
While Arraez and Julien share defensive limitations and overall production against right-handed pitchers, each has particular areas of their game where they excel over the other. So, it definitely won't be a one-for-one swap. Of course, you'll be hard-pressed to find anybody like Luis Arraez.  
Where Arraez is Better
Luis Arraez famously rarely strikes out. In his major league career, Arraez has more walks than strikeouts. His strikeout rate for his career is a tiny 8.3%. On the other hand, Julien strikes out at a poor rate, with a 24.6% strikeout rate in 2022 at AA. Surely, that would only increase at the major league level.
Arraez has also established himself as a premier hitter for average. While batting average isn't a great measure of overall offensive production, it’s certainly a component. For batting average, Luis Arraez is your man. Of course, he's the batting champion, which tells you all you need to know about his ability to hit for average. 
Diving deeper in comparing him to Julien, his age-22 season in 2019 at AA seems most relevant as Julien just completed his age-23 season at AA. In limited games at AA in 2019 at age 22, Arraez hit a fantastic .348, which helped him on his ascent to the majors that season. Julien hit a much more mortal .300, which is still nothing to sneeze at. 
Another key differentiator between Arraez and Julien is that Arraez proved he could hit over his 3+ years in the majors. Julien seems on the path to hitting at the major league level too, but he hasn't even reached AAA, so he has a lot to prove. But Julien has shown he can do things that Arraez's limited skill set cannot match. 
Where Julien is Better
Julien's strikeout rate is ugly, but like many strikeout-prone hitters, Julien walks a ton. He had an elite 19.3% walk rate in 2022, which is a significant driver in his terrific on-base success. Arraez's walk rate for his career is a much more average of 8.7%. 
Another common characteristic of strikeout-prone players is power, and Julien has plenty. Of course, most of that comes against righties. He slugged .566 against righties with 15 of his 17 home runs in those matchups. 
This dimension of power and a more patient plate approach is where Julien differentiates himself from Arraez, at the cost of batting average. The Twins need more slugging in 2022 to maximize their offense, so Julien will boost their lineup. They especially need that from the left side. Last season, Nick Gordon had the highest slugging percentage of any Twins left-handed hitter.
Whether the Twins won or lost the Luis Arraez for Pablo López trade will mostly depend on López pitching well and staying healthy. But it will also hinge on young left-handed hitters replacing Arraez in the lineup against right-handed pitching. 
The Twins have their fair share of young left-handed hitters capable of stepping up. While Julien is still young and hasn't yet reached AAA, Twins fans shouldn't be surprised if they see him terrorizing right-handers in the majors come summertime.