Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Twins Four Biggest Needs for 2023

Minnesota Twins Offseason Need No. 4: Offensive Depth

In the 2022 season, the Twins were crushed by injuries, both offensively and on the mound, but while the pitching is already better equipped to handle this problem, the offense is still sorely lacking in the MLB level-depth department.

Shortstop doesn’t have a starter OR a backup (more on that later). The outfield has three great but fragile options. There’s only one catcher on the roster (also more on that later). The infield is very thin on the right side and in Triple-A. This is a problem that needs fixing.

Last year, Mark Contreras, Gilberto Celestino, Jake Cave, Jermaine Palacios, and more were forced into major roles, despite that fact they shouldn’t be on an MLB roster to begin with. This is a big issue to change next year.

Nick Gordon will be back this year, and he should once again serve as a spot starter and utility man. He’s transformed into a very useful player, but definitely not one that the Twins can use every day. Gio Urshela is good, but he also would be best served in a depth role (with Miranda at third). Max Kepler is a great defensive substitution, bot can’t start. Something’s got to give.

The team still needs another outfield bat, because it’s clear that Gilberto Celestino is best used as a Triple-A outfielder who gets called up when players go on the IL. Kyle Garlick is fun, but he’s not useable enough on a daily basis. Gordon can be that fourth outfielder, but then the team needs another infielder.

Buxton, Larnach, Kirilloff, Arraez, Polanco, Jeffers, Miranda, Gordon, and Urshela should all be locks for next year’s roster. Kepler and Urshela should stick around as well (at least until Royce Lewis returns), with Wallner starting in AAA. Add in a shortstop and a second catcher, and you’re at 13 guys.

With Wallner and Celestino ready for stretches and Royce returning soon, the team is deeper than last year. Injuries will happen though, so the team should consider adding a utility talent to help bolster the depth if they want to really contend.

Minnesota Twins Offseason Need No. 3: Catcher

We’ve talked about this one before, so we’ll try and keep this one short and sweet. The Twins clearly need more catching. As much potential as Ryan Jeffers has, he hasn’t shown that he’s the guy. Until he’s proven it, Jeffers needs a platoon partner.

When Jeffers went down last year, the team relied on a combination of Gary Sanchez, Sandy Leon, and Caleb Hamilton, and that won’t work again. Sanchez simply wasn’t good enough, and with Leon and Hamilton already out the door, next year’s combination will look differently.

With Jeffers sitting atop the organizational depth chart and Alex Isola (our No. 38 prospect) likely to start the year in AAA, the team has their No. 1 and No. 3 catchers. They just need someone to fill that No. 2 slot.

In the last article, I suggested Omar Narvaez, who would fit well considering there aren’t many true No. 1 catchers on the market. Jeffers is a righty, while Narvaez is a lefty, so the platoon would work well and he’s a good fit defensively. Ideally, the trio stays healthy, but it’s a big upgrade over Gary Sanchez.

Minnesota Twins Need No. 2: Shortstop

The Twins’ other major offensive need other than catcher is shortstop. As Carlos Correa rightly said, the Twins know his number, and the team just has to meet it if they want to keep him in Minnesota. It seems unlikely that they are going to, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still try.

If the team isn’t going to offer Correa, the team likely won’t be willing to pony up for Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, or Trea Turner. That means the team still needs a shortstop, because for right now, they truly don’t have anyone.

Royce Lewis is out until June/July. Jermaine Palacios is gone. Austin Martin isn’t ready for the majors and definitely doesn’t look like a big league shortstop. Brooks Lee is at least a year away and looks like a third baseman. You’re definitely not moving Jorge Polanco back across the diamond or starting Nick Gordon for 60-70 games.

The team needs to sign someone. If it’s not a big name player, that means they feel comfortable rolling with Royce. That’s a good choice, but who they grab for the first half of the season is going to be key, especially with so few options on the market.

Jose Iglesias and Ehire Adrianza are there, but you’re not competing with either of them manning short for a long period of time. Elvis Andrus is a great shortstop who was stellar in his short run to end last year with the White Sox. He’s not reliable as a long term option, but he’d do a fine job of holding over.

Plain and simple, Carlos Correa needs to be back next year on a long term deal, with Brooks Lee as the answer at third, and Royce Lewis at second. If they can’t get him though, Andrus is a fine stopgap until Lewis returns.

Minnesota Twins Need No. 1: Bullpen Help

The Twins’ biggest need is crystal clear and has been for a little bit, but after last year, it became even more so. The team has to fix the bullpen, and as of right now, the team only has Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala, and Griffin Jax as real options for next season.

Jorge Lopez will be back, but there’s a 50/50 chance that he returns to his All-Star level. Jovani Moran is phenomenal and a lefty, but his walk rate is through the roof. Trevor Megill, Cole Sands, Emilio Pagan, Cody Stashak, and Danny Coulombe are all options, but instead, the team needs to upgrade the slots.

Rocco likes to use Duran as a moveable reliever instead of a closer, but if the team is going to do that, they need to find a legitimate ninth inning arm to install in the closer role. They could also use some more reliable help so that the team doesn’t have to rely so heavily on that group of top arms.

A reunion with Taylor Rogers would offer a cheap lefty with some potential, but the team should go all out in their spending both at shortstop and here, bringing in at least two big-money relievers to try and shore up the area.

The teams that win championships in baseball all have stellar bullpens, groups that are deep with at least two legitimate weapons. With Duran, the Twins have one, and while Alcala could be one, they’d be best served by adding more talent here.