Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 10 Free Agent Shortstops Available

Minnesota Twins Top Free Agent Shortstops: No. 10-7

• No. 10: Jonathan Villar (S)
• No. 9: Aledmys Diaz (R)
• No. 8: Andrelton Simmons (R)
• No. 7: Didi Gregorius (L)

This is the group of shortstops that Twins fans should feel nothing short of major disappointment if the team signs. If the team wants Royce Lewis to be the man at short, that’s understandable, but adding any of these options would be nothing short of waving a white flag until he returns.

Jonathan Villar and Aledmys Diaz aren’t good offensively, but both would be able to help out with multiple positions as depth once Lewis took over the position again. The team needs production though, so neither offer much outside of being a stopgap.

A reunion with Andrelton Simmons would give the team a solid defender, but bringing him back is the last thing that Twins fans would want to see. His disappointing first tenure here means enough that the team probably won’t bring him back.

Didi Gregorius is in a different situation. The longtime Twins killer and Yankee hero has had a rough past two seasons, but he has a much better track record than the other three players on this list. He’s a mostly decent defender, but signing him would require some belief that he bounces back, and that just seems unlikely.

Minnesota Twins Top Free Agent Shortstops: 6-5

• No. 6: Jose Iglesias (R)
• No. 5: Elvis Andrus (R)

The first group of shortstops really don’t move the needle for the Twins at all, but this second group has some real ability to play the position solidly and hold over for Royce Lewis. If things break right, they could even keep the job and allow Lewis to play his ideal role of utility man.

Jose Iglesias is the perfect example of a stopgap shortstop. His numbers from 2022 are right in line with where he’s been over the past three years, a time period where he’s slashed .292/.325/.408 and historically been an okay defender.

He can’t hit for power and rarely walks, but Iglesias also doesn’t strike out very often. He’d come cheap and would be very easily moved into a backup role while not sinking the team’s season. If the team spends big elsewhere, he’s a fine option.

Elvis Andrus is in the same boat. The two-time All-Star is still reliable with his glove, but it’s his bat that has been his calling card, and that was true late last season. Andrus slashed .271/.309/.464 with 9 homers in 43 games after joining the White Sox.

There’s no expectation that Andrus will post a similar stat line if he were to join the team, but for 60-70 games, he’d be a more than decent replacement. He only lands over Iglesias because Iglesias offers so little in terms of power.

Minnesota Twins Top Free Agent Shortstops: 4-1

• No. 4: Dansby Swanson
• No. 3: Xander Bogaerts
• No. 2: Trea Turner
• No. 1: Carlos Correa (R)

The last four shortstops on this list are mostly superstars (with Swanson only being a star), four guys who each have the ability to help key a World Series run with the right pieces around them. These are the players that, if added, would allow Royce Lewis to become a Ben Zobrist-like utility player and make the Twins a much deeper team.

Dansby Swanson, a former No. 1 overall pick had an excellent 2022, earning his first Gold Glove and a trip to the All-Star game while slashing .277/.329/.447. He might not post the same offensive numbers as the others on this list, but he’s very well-rounded, has missed just two games over the past three years, and has a World Series ring.

If he can’t be convinced to leave Atlanta, there are other options. Xander Bogaerts is a four-time All-Star and a five-time Silver Slugger winner with plenty of playoff experience. Several sites have suggested that the Twins might be able to land the former Boston Red Sox player, but he will command a massive deal after posting an OPS+ north of 125 for the fifth consecutive season.

Of this group, the least-likely to sign with the Minnesota Twins is Trea Turner. The extremely versatile Turner would be a near-perfect fit in Minnesota and would be able to help backup Byron Buxton once Royce Lewis returns while also providing his typical elite offense and speed.

Unfortunately, a return to Los Angeles seems most likely for Turner, which leaves Carlos Correa. Correa was a star for the Twins last year, posting a 140 OPS+ last season with very strong defense. Players and coaches gushed about his leadership and it makes perfect sense as to why the team wants him back.

Unfortunately, with his ability and Scott Boras as his agent, the Minnesota Twins would need a big return discount or a small miracle to keep Correa, as the team just doesn’t have the funds to compete with the San Francisco Giants. Even if they can’t re-sign Correa, the team has the ability land on of these big four, and Minnesotans should be disappointed if they don’t.