Minnesota Twins: Offseason Trades, Free Agents, and more to contend in 2019
As the Minnesota Twins look to how to contend in 2019 here is a set of ideas for what trades to make and free agents to sign this offseason.
The Minnesota Twins have a wild offseason ahead of them. With very little money committed to the roster next season there is plenty of space to add where needed. If I were in charge of the Twins this is what my offseason would look like.
Free Agents
The following players are set to hit free agency this offseason:
Matt Belisle-The Twins will have more possible upgrades in free agency and Belisle might just retire.
Chris Gimenez– Already have 3 catchers on 40 man roster. Same as Belisle he might retire.
Logan Forsythe– At the beginning of his Twins tenure he looked like a solid candidate to bring back as a bridge to Nick Gordon but Forsythe really fell off towards the end of the season. Better players available.
Joe Mauer– Has a place on the team if he wants it but will most likely retire.
Ervin Santana (after buyout)- Won’t be brought back at current option price but might be a cheap option.
Logan Morrison (after buyout)- Might be a good idea to move on after a rough season.
These moves put the 40 man roster at 37.
Re-Add to 40-man roster
The following players have to be re-added to the 40 man roster after being on the 60 man DL.
This puts the 40-man roster at 40
Players removed from 40 man (DFA)
Oliver Drake-There will be better options to be acquired.
Johnny Field- Has been DFA ‘d once and was claimed more as a filler than part of future.
Matt Magill– See Drake, better options to be acquired.
Robbie Grossman should receive a non-tender. Good player but is not needed anymore with Jake Cave and others now on the team.
These moves put the 40 man roster at 36.
Players added to protect from Rule V draft
Nick Gordon- A top prospect that could be very easily stashed on a major league roster. He is probably still a year away from being a full time contributor but since he is added would be first man up with injuries.
Lamonte Wade- Another player a year away but would be a quick call up due to injury. He also could be stashed like Gordon.
Jake Reed– Solid RP that probably should’ve been called up for September. He snuck through last year but I doubt it happens again.
Luis Arreaz- Solid infield prospect that could be a big league contributor in a couple years. He is the most debatable case to be added. Not the higher rated prospect Gordon and Wade are.
This puts the roster at 40 on 40-man roster
Other eligible guys:
Contract Extensions
Jose Berrios– get him extended before his value balloons too much more. As the Twins GM I would try and work out an offer to buy out his arbitration years and possibly a year or two of free agency. That would be a very worthwhile move. 6 Years $60 Million. Backload the deal so he gets a fair bump this year but not $10 Million per year right away. Deal goes $5 Million in 2019 $7 Million in 2020 $10 Million in 2021 $10 Million in 2022 and $14 Million in 2023 and 2024.
Byron Buxton– not an extension but need to consider bumping his salary to make up for the non call up in September when he was probably deserving. If you hope to keep him around after he reaches free agency might want to patch things up now. Something like a bump from his current $1.2 Million in 2019 to $3 Million.
Make Some Trades
Trade Adalberto Mejia, Tyler Jay, Akil Badoo, and Luis Arreaz to the Blue Jays for Marcus Stroman
This trade is much more a quantity over quality for the Jays. It would be a rough dent into the prospect cache but Marcus Stroman would be a major upgrade to a mediocre rotation. Last season was rough for Stroman but he also had a lot of injury issues.
Mejia has been passed up by multiple starters recently mainly because of his own injury issues. Jay might get picked in the Rule V draft so looking trade him before then could be beneficial. Badoo is a solid up and coming prospect but is blocked by a lot of other outfielders in the Twins system. Arreaz is another up and comer for the twins but is also blocked right now. A lot of players to trade but in order to keep the top guys like Lewis, Kiriloff, Romero, and Graterol you have to part with a higher number of lower rated guys.
Trade Jake Reed, Lewin Diaz, and Alan Busenitz to the Yankees for Sonny Gray
Reed was left unprotected from Rule V draft last season so I’d say Twins front office sees him as expendable. Diaz is still a ways off so is more of a lottery ticket type. Reed has been passed over twice now when he could’ve been added to 40 man so I think front office sees him as expendable. Alan Busenitz had a rough end to the season and might be out of roster spot. Sonny Gray is a good rebound candidate as he may not be able to handle the “Yankees Stadium” factor.
Trade Zack Granite and Tyler Duffey to the Astros for AJ Reed
AJ Reed is mainly a case of blocked on a top major league roster. If he can get some at bats he could be a solid major league producer that would platoon nicely with Tyler Austin. Zack Granite is blocked on twins roster with Jake Cave and others around. Tyler Duffey has run out of chances with Twins and might just need a change of scenery.
Trade Kyle Gibson to the Cardinals for Andrew Knizner
Parting with Kyle Gibson hurts but while also adding need to keep in mind the future as well. Castro is a free agent after next season and Andrew Kinizner is a solid future at catcher as well as Garver.
This puts the 40-man at 37.
Free Agents
AJ Ramos– solid RP for the back end of the bullpen. Twins need at least 2 new bullpen pitchers to fill the holes left from last seasons trades. 2 Years $7 Million
Cody Allen– has familiarity with Falvey and had only one rough season mainly due to injuries. Would be a fantastic buy lower candidate. Would be instant closer. 2 Year $16 Million.
Daniel Descalso– A good bridge to either Nick Gordon or Royce Lewis. His career best season was just last year so he might be a late bloomer if anything. 2 year $10 Million
This puts the 40-man at 40.
Starting Lineup
C Jason Castro $8 Million
1B Tyler Austin $559,000
2B Daniel Descalso $5 Million
3B Miguel Sano $3.1 Million
SS Jorge Polanco $575,000
DH AJ Reed $545,000
LF Eddie Rosario $5 Million
CF Byron Buxton $1.2 Million
RF Max Kepler $3.2 Million
Bench
C Mitch Garver $547,000
OF Jake Cave $545,000
IF Ehire Adrianza $1.8 Million
UTL Willians Austudillo $545,000
SP
Jose Berrios $5 Million
Marcus Stroman $7.2 Million
Michael Pineda $8 Million
Jake Odorizzi $9.4 Million
Sonny Gray $9.1 Million
RP
Trevor May $1.1 Million
Trevor Hildenberger $555,000
Taylor Rogers $1.6 Million
Addison Reed $8 Million
AJ Ramos $3.5 Million
Cody Allen $8 Million
Gabriel Moya or Rule 5 draft pick
Payroll sits at $92 Million
Next. Twins Trade Profile: 1B/DH Justin Smoak. dark
This kind of offseason would help the Twins make the next step into becoming a major threat to the Indians. With all that Cleveland is set to lose this offseason and these type of additions for the Twins I would think they would become the favorites for the AL Central crown.