MLB.com published an article on Sunday titled "The top projected players to change teams this offseason (so far)." The article ranked the top 18 players who changed teams this offseason based on expected 2026 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs' Steamer projections. Among those 18 players are three former Twins, and new Minnesota first baseman Josh Bell was named an honorable mention.
Ex-Twins Sonny Gray, Jorge Polanco, Tyler Mahle among "top projected players to change teams this offseason"
Gray, whom the St. Louis Cardinals traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospects Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke and cash, ranks No. 1 on the list with a projected WAR of 3.9. Gray, 36, posted a 4.28 ERA in 180 2/3 innings last season, but his 3.39 FIP, 26.7% strikeout rate and 5.0% walk rate suggest he will return to the version of himself that finished second in American League Cy Young voting with the Twins in 2023.
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets to be their first baseman, ranks 10th on the list with a projected WAR of 1.8. After the Twins traded Polanco to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitchers Justin Topa, Anthony DeSclafani and Darren Bowen and highly-regarded outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez in the 2023-24 offseason, Polanco struggled in 2024 and re-signed with Seattle on a one-year, $7.75 million contract. In 138 games last season, the former Twins second baseman posted 2.6 fWAR and slashed .265/.326/.495 (132 wRC+) with 26 homers and 78 RBI.
In Game 2 of the 2025 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, Polanco hit two homers off back-to-back AL CY Young Award-winner Tarik Skubal to give the Mariners a 3-2 win. Then, in Game 5 of the series, Polanco hit a walk-off single in the 15th inning to send the Mariners to the ALCS to compete against the Toronto Blue Jays.
As for Mahle, the righty starter signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the San Francisco Giants after two seasons with the Texas Rangers. He ranks 15th on the list with a projected WAR of 1.5. The Twins acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 Trade Deadline, and he only appeared in nine games with Minnesota from 2022-23 due to injuries. He also struggled to stay healthy upon signing a two-year deal with Texas, appearing in only three games in 2024 and 16 in 2025. He was dominant when healthy last year, posting a 2.18 ERA across 86 2/3 innings.
Additionally, Bell, whom Minnesota signed to a one-year, $7 million contract, is named as an honorable mention with a projected WAR of 1.1.