Minnesota Twins: Ranking the Top 10 Free Agent Shortstops Available

The Minnesota Twins are facing a tough challenge ahead of the 2023 season. After the 2022 season went awry, fans are angry, and the roster has some pretty major holes. In order to fix things, the team needs to spend, and after seeing nine players entering the free agent pool, there’s lots of money to work with.

In addition to some potential trade moves (the Twins have a lot of decent talent in the high minors), the Twins could use help everywhere other than second base, whether that be another catcher to pair with Ryan Jeffers, a shortstop, a true first baseman, a legit third baseman to non-tender Gio Urshela, any of the outfield spots (Buck needs a backup), or more pitching.

We rank the Top 10 shortstops for the Minnesota Twins to go after in Free Agency.

With all of those needs in mind and free agency about to begin, it’s time to break down the different players that they can spend money on. We’ll go position by position, talk strengths and weaknesses, whether the Twins would be interested, and if there’s a real chance.

For each list, we’ll be breaking down the positions into three groups: decent players who would be disappointments, good players who would fill the need, and top notch players that fans would be thrilled to get.

We’ve already covered catchers and first basemen, and the team’s depth at second base (and only Jean Segura and Adam Frazier as viable options at the position), we skipped ahead to the team’s most desperate need: shortstop.

The 2022 Twins desperately needed a shortstop too, and they responded by taking advantage of a strange lockout market by signing Carlos Correa, arguably the best in the game at his position. Now, after Correa (as expected) opted out of his deal, Royce Lewis not due back until June/July, and Jermaine Palacios waived, the team once again desperately needs a shortstop.

The team will assuredly sign a shortstop, whether it be one of the four top options or a stopgap option until Royce Lewis returns, so similar to catcher, the question becomes: who will become the team’s Opening Day shortstop? Let’s talk about the potential answers.

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.