3 moves Twins need to make after Shohei Ohtani signs with Dodgers
Now that the biggest domino of the offseason has fallen, it's time for the Twins to get to work.
Perhaps the biggest domino of the offseason has fallen, with Shohei Ohtani signing a historic deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His $700 million contract has a wider impact than just what it means for the Dodgers, as a market that seemed to be waiting for him to make a decision is expected to start moving.
That means the Minnesota Twins might get active in ways fans have been waiting all winter for.
So far the only moves the Twins have made have been to let free agents walk away. Kenta Meada, Sonny Gray, and Emilio Pagán all signed deals elsewhere this offseason with other players like Donovan Solano and Michael A. Taylor looking like prime candidates to find work next.
While there are a handful of moves the Twins need to make, a few stand out above the rest as things that need to be addressed now that Ohtani has signed and the hot stove is about to heat up.
3 moves Twins need to make after Shohei Ohtani signs with Dodgers
Acquire a replacement for Sonny Gray
There are a ton of areas the Twins should probably address this offseason but none is more important than starting pitching. For the first time in what feels like forever, the rotation was a strength that carried the team to its first playoff victory since 2004, with two pitchers getting Cy Young votes.
Sonny Gray was the runner-up to Gerrit Cole, and finally delivered on the promise the Twins saw when they traded for him back in 2022. If he makes another run at a Cy Young it will be in St. Louis, though, as he parlayed his incredible season into a $75 million deal with the Cardinals. Gray leaves a sizable hole in the Twins rotation, with Pablo Lopez the only true ace the team has and major questions behind him. Joe Ryan struggled last year year and looks like a No. 3 starter more than a sidekick to Lopez, and guys like Bailey Ober and Louie Varland still need to prove themselves over the course of a full season.
It's unlikely that the Twins will find a replacement for Gray internally, which is why there's been so much made over the trade value of Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler. With a a reduced payroll, the Twins will probably need to find a trade partner to land a front-line starter -- which seems to be the goal.
Who that ends up being is the mystery. Could the Twins find a way to land Tyler Glasnow from the Rays or trade for Logan Gilbert up in Seattle? Perhaps the Twins don't let the payroll challenge hold them back and sign someone like Marcus Stroman, or a make-good free agent like Lucas Giolito or Jack Flahrety.
What the Twins can't afford to do is let the budget box them out of replenishing the rotation. Twins fans got a taste of the good life and turning back now would be borderline malpractice.
Add depth at first base
Last year the Twins pulled off a trade for Pablo Lopez but had to give up their best hitter in the process. While things worked out in the end, it created a vortex at first base as Minnesota not only lost offensive fire power but suddenly lacked depth it badly needed.
It's a new offseason with the same old problem at first base.
Alex Kirilloff is coming off an injury and there's a chance he won't be ready for Opening Day. Even if Kirilloff does end up being healthy enough to start the season, the Twins need to add depth behind him to avoid potential lineup nightmares if something happens down the road.
The ideal situation is Kirilloff being Minnesota's everyday first baseman next year, but even in that scenario the Twins will need someone to stand in on his days off. Last season Donovan Solano ended up being a Micael A. Taylor-esqe godsend in that regard, filling in for Kirilloff pretty decently.
Solano is a free agent, so bringing him back might be the easiest path forward since everyone knows what they're getting. Trey Mancini and Eric Hosmer are intriguing candidates as well, with Brandon Belt presenting an interesting veteran option along the lines of Solano.
One name that checks a ton of boxes is Joey Votto. The Twins have shown an affinity for bringing in aged veterans to see if they have anything left in the tank -- think Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo. Votto fits that bill and might also come cheap enough that the Twins can add depth at a price that doesn't make too big of an impact the payroll.
Nail down a plan in centerfield
Minnesota has a $15 million centerfielder who can't play the field or stay healthy enough to play a full season. Among all the other questions the team has around the roster, there's an argument to be made that this is the biggest hinge on which the offense swings.
Pitching should clearly be prioritized, but the lack of Buxton in the lineup was noticeable all season. Either he was out and the team needed to navigate around or he was playing and slumping worse than we've ever seen. Buxton went hitless in at least 20 plate appearances on two separate occasions last year -- things were bad.
He wasn't healthy, which explains a lot, but it doesn't make the decision on what to do next any easier.
Buxton being healthy enough to reclaim his role as the everyday centerfielder is the ideal scenario. He has surgery this offseason to hopefully take care of the issues that were ailing him and a return to form would give Minnesota one of the best players in the league. That's why the addition of Carlos Correa was so appealing, as it meant at any given time the Twins would have two Top 50 players in their lineup and out in the field.
Health has always been an issue for Buck, though, it means another offseason where the Twins need to account for potentially not having him available. Austin Martin is set to be the next prospect in the youth movement to make the leap and he can help fill in, as can utility guys like Nick Gordon and Willi Castro.
Money is an issue, but if the Twins use Polanco, Kepler, and/or Kyle Farmer to acquire a pitcher then perhaps some of the payroll can be dedicated to landing an impact free agent to supplement Buxton. Both Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader have been talked about as potential fits, as has Adam Duvall. There's also the possibility of bringing back Taylor, although he might get priced out of the Twins range.
Starting pitching is the most important area the Twins need to focus on, but centerfield is a very close second as it's something that needs to be addressed before it's allowed to become a problem.
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