Report: Twins are a finalist to sign Kiké Hernández

It’s impossible to consider this offseason a success for the Minnesota Twins, but the good news is that it hasn’t been a total failure and isn’t yet completely over. 

Around this time last year the Twins made the move to sign Donovan Solano, which ended up being the best $2 million the team spent. It could be that the team follows in those footsteps and once again makes a Spring Training addition that could pay off well when all is said and done.  

According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are one of four teams on Hernandez’s list of finalists. 

“Free-agent super-utility man Kiké Hernández is choosing between four teams, according to sources briefed on his discussions. The finalists, in no particular order, are the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants,” Rosenthal reported. 

How would Kiké Hernández fit with the Twins?

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that the Twins were potentially interested in Hernandez, who feels like the Twins-iest player to have never actually played for the team. 

Specifically, Hernández has the ability to play outfield and second base, which helps add depth in key areas but could also create some redundancies depending on who ends up making the Opening Day roster.

Minnesota already has Kyle Farmer and Willi Castro to play utility roles, although Hernández can add important depth behind Max Kepler and Matt Wallner on the corners of the outfield. Austin Martin and Brooks Lee are expected to be a part of the plan moving forward which takes away some of the impact Hernández might have, but it shouldn't be the reason he doesn't land in Minnesota. Then again, the veteran leadership he brings could be worth the price of what he brings to a young roster trying to reach the World Series. 

Of the teams that Hernández has a finalist, the Twins seem to be his best option to be part of a contending roster. The Padres and Angels are in a weird place even with talented pieces, while the Giants have a ton of upside but are still a team that didn’t make the postseason last year. 

The Twins are always looking for utility players to plug and play, and Hernandez is about as textbook as it gets. He's also a righ-handed hitter who satisifies the team's seemingly endless search to try and find that piece of the lineup.

If there’s a bidding war, though, the Twins might be best off spending that money elsewhere in free agency.

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