Minnesota Twins: Could the Twins reunite with Andrelton Simmons?

The Minnesota Twins have a looming problem for the 2022 season. They have multiple problems, yes, but only one of them doesn’t have a clear answer: shortstop. The team’s top prospects aren’t ready. Jorge Polanco can’t be the team’s main guy at short. Andrelton Simmons is a free agent.

The team isn’t going to spend a lot of big money, so Carlos Correa probably isn’t going to end up in a Minnesota uniform any time soon. Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and Javier Baez are all signed. Trevor Story doesn’t seem to have a lot of interest in playing here, and the Twins don’t appear to be looking to offer a long term deal.

This leaves one year-rentals the Twins could add. Jonathan Villar is probably the best option available, but Jose Iglesias is out there as well. Starlin Castro is an option. But there’s one more name that the Twins could look at: last year’s starting shortstop, Andrelton Simmons.

Could the Minnesota Twins look to bring back Andrelton Simmons?

Before we get too up in arms, no one was more critical of Andrelton Simmons than I was last year. He was downright awful, and he sometimes appeared to be a distraction in the locker room. For a contender, he really isn’t the best option. That just might be why he’s a good fit in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Twins could compete in 2022. If the team adds pitching, a very good starting shortstop, and maybe another big bat. The path is clear, but there’s no evidence to show that they plan on choosing that route. It seems like they are leaning more towards taking a retooling year to get their top prospects into the big leagues. Enter Andrelton Simmons.

Simmons went through his worst season as a pro in 2022 and despite his awful hitting numbers, he was still a 1.3 bWAR player because of his glove. It’s likely that he has some positive regression back towards his career levels. The familiarity is what makes this reunion a possibility.

I’m not saying I want to see this. I want the team to add Trevor Story to a one or two year deal worth $18 million a year. But there’s a very real possibility that we see Simmons in a Minnesota uniform once more.