Happy Thanksgiving Minnesota Twins fans! While we wait for winter meetings to kickstart free agency, the holiday season is a great time to watch basketball, hockey, football, and reminisce on the 2022 MLB season.
Even though last season was quite disappointing, and there’s plenty of reason to be upset with the way the season ended, there’s still plenty to be thankful for this year. This team had some very bright spots.
We take a moment to celebrate 5 reasons for Minnesota Twins fans to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Reason No. 1: Luis Arraez
We’ll start off with the clearest bright spot there was in 2022: Luis Arraez. Arraez’s phenomenal season saw him win the 2022 American League Batting Title and his first Silver Slugger award while being one of the most well-liked players on the team. There’s no reason not to like him as both a player and a person.
Reason No. 2: A surprisingly solid Brand Overhaul
The Minnesota Twins released a brand new set of uniforms last week, and for the most part, the reviews have been positive. Twins fans who were missing the pinstripes of years past and ready to move on from the much-maligned Kasota Gold were rewarded with a complete overhaul that’s mostly a fresh and impressive look.
Reason No. 3: Continued Youth Movement
The Minnesota Twins have been at a transitional point over the last two years, moving away from the core of Jose Berrios, Miguel Sano, Mitch Garver, Max Kepler, and Jorge Polanco to an even younger group that is focused on Luis Arraez, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, Jose Miranda, Alex Kirilloff, and Joe Ryan.
This is a welcome switch, as it was clear we had reached the ceiling of that core with the impressive regular seasons and disappointing postseasons, so hopefully this new core (with some extra money spent) can raise the team’s ceiling even higher.
Reason No. 4: Money to Spend and Optimism
Going off of that last point, there actually seems to be some optimism that the team will really open up their wallets and spend big this offseason. They’ve already attempted to spend big on Carlos Correa and have shown interest in free agents like Mitch Haniger and Mike Clevinger, and both would qualify as bigger signings.
Based off of their early actions, perceived interest, and everything they’ve said so far, there actually appears to be a real chance that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine really spend this offseason. If that happens, there will be even more to be thankful for.
Reason No. 5: More Depth in 2023
Last season, one of the team’s biggest issues was their inability to stay healthy, and with virtually no depth, the problem went from bad to worse. This year, things are already significantly better and there hasn’t been one free agent signing made.
The team already has five good starters, and with Josh Winder, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Louie Varland all making it to the majors last season, there’s more young talent in case of injury. In the bullpen, guys like Ronny Henriquez and Cole Sands shouldn’t be counted on as major players, but both are good depth if the team gets banged up.
On offense, they’re adding pieces as well. Kyle Garlick and Kyle Farmer are already set to be depth pieces, and despite Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, and Byron Buxton all healthy again, the team is still looking to add more outfield, shortstop, and catcher help to reinforce their positions.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Matt Wallner, Edouard Julien, Austin Martin, and Royce Lewis should all be boosting the lineup as they get more experience and provide depth at various different positions. This team will be a lot stronger next year based off of what they already have, which is definitely, something to be thankful for.
It’s going to be a very tumultuous offseason here in Minnesota, but there’s still quite a bit for the Minnesota Twins and their fans to be thankful for this year. From Puckett’s Pond to you, we hope that everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!