Minnesota Twins: GM Thad Levine confirms some offseason priorities
By Nate Palmer
The Minnesota Twins are looking to bolster their roster going into 2018. GM Thad Levine confirmed in an interview just how big they may go.
The Minnesota Twins have continued to be surrounced by rumors of their pursuit of the biggest of names in free agent pitching this offseason. For a team who has only been able to acquire middle-tier pitchers via free agency in the past such as Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes, and Ervin Santana this is very exciting for the fan base.
Sunday morning Twins GM Thad Levine appeared on Sirius XM Radio with Jim Duquette and Jim Bowden. In case you have had a hard time believing the Twins pursuit of these pitchers Levine confirmed there are active, on going conversations:
Levine - “we’re having active convos with each of the agents for Darvish, Arrieta, Lynn and Cobb, among others including backend of the ‘pen pitchers” @MLBNetworkRadio
— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) November 26, 2017
In a separate comment, Levine mentions Yu Darvish and confirms that the starter is a priority for the Twins.
Levine - “I’ve been in contact with Darvish along the way and we’re having active convos with His agent. He’s also a priority for us “ @MLBNetworkRadio
— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) November 26, 2017
It sounds like the Twins front office in Derek Falvey and Levine see the competitive window opening for their team and are ready to supplement the young talent with a few more veteran arms. That quote from Levine on Darvish makes it sound like his personal relationship with pitcher will only aid in the Twins efforts to bring him to Minnesota.
Of course, the elephant in the room for all of baseball is the posting of Shohei Ohtani. After the news was released that Ohtani’s camp sent a memo through the commissioner’s office to all 30 major league teams you can bet Levine was asked to comment on the Twins pursuit of Ohtani.
Thad Levine, GM of the Twins-on Ohtani- “he’s a unique f/a but we don’t know a lot about him personally yet” “it’s exciting for Us because we have a chance to sign a player like him ...he’s a top priority for us “ @MLBNetworkRadio
— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) November 26, 2017
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There it is folks, even as the New York Yankees have acquired international free agency money and emerged as the perceived favorite landing spot for Ohtani, the Twins still view the pursuit of Ohtani as a priority. As Levine recognizes, no one knows a lot about Ohtani yet, but the Twins continue to look like they could rival the Yankees in signing Ohtani.
Levine has experience assimilating a Japanese star pitcher in the majors. Ohtani could become one of the young faces of the Twins while using both his pitching talents and hitting talents. As there is a need for both a frontline starter and power DH bat.
Next: Twins offseason trade profile: Angels
As we wrote here at Puckett’s Pond just a week ago, the Twins seem positioned to potentially land both Darvish and Ohtani. Levine only added more fuel to that hot stove.