Best remaining free agent starting pitchers Twins could target this offseason

It's been just over two months since the Minnesota Twins ended a 19-year postseason losing streak and already frustration is mounting over how the team has approached the offseason.

Minnesota has sat on the sideline so far, opting to slash its payroll while other teams go out and improve their roster. It's not just big swings like the Yankees and Dodgers making moves to acquire Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani, it's been moves within the AL Central -- ones that feel like moves the Twins could have made -- that have rubbed fans the wrong way.

Nothing has caused more anxiety than what's been happening in the starting pitching market.

The Twins came into the offseason needing to replenish a staff that for the first time in ages made pitching a strength for the team. Sonny Gray was a Cy Young runner-up, Pablo Lopez delievered on developing into an ace, and there were signs of life at the back of the rotation with Kenta Maeda, Baily Ober and Louie Varland.

Two of those guys have already signed elsewhere, with Maeda landing in Detroit and Gray parlaying his stellar season into a $75 million deal in St. Louis. Emilio Pagán also left to sign with the Reds, but the Twins have done nothing but watch as potential replacements sign with other teams.

It doesn't feel like the Twins have missed on any obvious slam dunk candidates -- which might be why the front office has been hesitant to jump into the market -- but some Twins-esqe options have signed Twins-style deals.

There are still options out there, though.

Best available free agent starting pitchers

Note: This ranking will be updated as players sign and are taken off the board for the Twins.

• Blake Snell (31, 7.7)
• Jordan Montgomery (31, 7.0)
• Clayton Kershaw (36, 6.2)
• Brandon Woodruff (31, 5.0)
• Marcus Stroman (33, 4.8)
• Martín Pérez (33, 4.4)
• Zack Greinke (40, 3.0)
• Lucas Giolito (29, 2.8)
• Michael Lorenzen (32, 2.7)
• Mike Clevinger (33, 2.6)
• Rich Hill (44, 2.5)
• Corey Kluber (38, 2.2)
• Carlos Carrasco (37, 2.1)
• Sean Manaea (32, 2.1)
• Frankie Montas (31, 2.0)
• Alex Wood (33, 1.9)
• Johnny Cueto (38, 1.7)
• Noah Syndergaard (31, 1.7)
• Dakota Hudson (29, 1.4)
• Zach Davies (31, 1.2)
• Jake Odorizzi (34, 1.2)
• Vince Velasquez (32, 1.1)
• Matthew Boyd (33, 1.0)
• James Paxton (34, 1.0)
• Luke Weaver (30, 0.9)
• Brad Keller (28, 0.6)
• Hyun Jin Ryu (37, 0.5)
• Chase Anderson (36, 0.3)
• Eric Lauer (29, 0.3)
• Julio Teheran (33, 0.3)
• Chris Flexen (29, 0.2)
• José Ureña (32, 0.2)
• Madison Bumgarner (33, 0.0)
• Spencer Turnbull (31, 0.0)
• Chad Kuhl (31, -0.1)
• Dallas Keuchel (36, -0.2)
• Tommy Milone (37, -0.4)
• Drew Rucinski (35, -0.6)
• Shōta Imanaga (30, N/A)
• Naoyuki Uwasawa (30, N/A)

Straight away, Blake Snell would be one heck of a way to bounce back from the Twins sitting on their hands so far in free agency. Replacing the AL Cy Young runner-up with hte NL Cy Young winner is a massive swing, but Snell might be the last guy on the market who is truly priced out of the Twins range.

Marcus Stroman has been kicked around as an option in the past, with one prediction beliving he could get a $30 million deal from the Twins as the market settles. Jordan Montgomery also sticks out as being inthat tier of pitcher Stroman is in, and there could be an arguement to be made for Clayton Kershaw as well.

Brandon Woodruff feels like a classic Twins target, but signing him would require a wait-and-see strategy. He's unlikely to pitch in 2024 after undergoing surgery but that might mean he drops closer to a number that Minnesota is comfortable paying.

It's frustrating to see the Twins sit out deals like the one for Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo, but it's not shocking given how the team usually waits for the market to settle rather than jumping right in. Even with missig deals, guys like Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Johnny Cueto are still potenital options.

Minnesota is far more likely to find a front-line starter through a trade, especially with a reduced payroll, but they have plenty of free agent options left to help fill out the rotation.

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