Manuel Margot, OF
- Mutual Option
- Contract: $12M
Acquired from the Dodgers as Byron Buxton insurance, Manuel Margot never lived up to what the Twins needed him to be. He hit lefties pretty well, which was the main reason Minnesota brought him in over someone like Michael A. Taylor, but the list of positives with Margot is short.
He started the year by bunting in a two outs bases loaded situation in Milwaukee and ended the season 0-for-29 as a pinch hitter. He tapped out in the middle of the Twins' collapse due to injury, and returned to hit .143/.189/.229 as the season slipped away.
Like DeScalfani, the Twins were able to get most of his contract paid for and were only on the hook for $4 million of his deal. There's a higher chance of the sun not rising tomorrow than there is Minnesota picking up his $12 million option, as he figures to be a one-and-done bust with the Twins.
Carlos Santana, 1B
- Unrestricted Free Agent
- Contract: $5.25M
While ownership slashing payroll by $30 million and treating the team like it were a car dealership rather than a baseball team, not all of the offseason moves fell flat. Carlos Santana was the firs ttrue free agent addition last year, signing with the Twins after the team salary dumped Jorge Polanco and got some money back from Seattle.
Part of that was used to sign Santana, with the idea he'd be the team's annual aging name brand veteran addition. It took a while for him to settle in, but Santana finished the year .238/.328/.420 but was left a far greater impact defensively.
Carlos Santana you magnificent bastard pic.twitter.com/eHzck6MYNZ
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 28, 2024
His bat came through from time to time, but there's a chance that Santana wins a Gold Glove for the work he did at first base for Minnesota. That was unexpected value, as he was brought in to be a slugger and grease the wheels at the plate, but it was his glove that he'll be remembered for after he leaves.
That seems to be how this goes, as the Twins are unlikely to run things back with Santana. One thing that might work in his favor is there isn't really a solid plan at first base, especially with Alex Kirilloff entering his third straight offseason of uncertainty. Payroll is the ultimate compass, though, and if the Twins simply reshuffle things rather than reload, Santana could be on the outside of the roster bubble.