Ranking the Offseason Additions Based on 2020 Production

[Cooper Carlson]

Well… the season is abruptly over once again. We all know this feeling. Now let’s take a look back at the moves that were made last offseason. Which ones were the most impactful and which ones fell flat?Just to recap, here are the notable offseason acquisitions that played this year.

• Alex Avila
• Josh Donaldson
• Kenta Maeda
• Rich Hill
• Homer Bailey
• Tyler Clippard
• Matt Wisler
• Caleb Thielbar

8. Homer Bailey: Two games started, 8.0 innings all season.

 

I’ll be quick here. The Twins signed Bailey on a super cheap one year deal and it didn’t work. Oh well, they didn’t particularly need him. Good luck wherever you end up next, Homer.

 

7. Alex Avila: 23 G, 62 PA, .184/.355/.286 (.641), 1 HR, 2 RBIs

 

Avila was acquired to be a backup catcher and that’s pretty much what he was. He did spend a good chunk of the season on the injured list, like everyone else, but it gave Ryan Jeffers a chance to prove himself. Avila was fine and likely won’t be back next season.

 

6. Caleb Thielbar: 20.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 9.90 K/9, 4.05 BB/9

 

Thielbar came out of nowhere and did much more than was expected of him. After being out of the major leagues for the last four years, the Twins took a chance and it paid off. He would be ranked higher if he had a bigger role, but most of his innings were just garbage time. Still a very productive season.

 

5. Rich Hill: 8 GS, 3.03 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 7.22 K/9, 3.96 BB/9

 

Hill was fine, but age absolutely caught up to him in 2020. That isn’t at all a surprise, because he is 40 years old with career injuries, but he certainly fell off a bit this season. This was his first season with a K/9 under 10.00 since 2010 and it was well below that. If he doesn’t retire he is someone I would consider for a bullpen role, but nothing more.

 

4. Josh Donaldson: 28 G, 102 PA, .222/.373/.469 (.842), 6 HR, 11 RBIs

 

Donaldson was certainly productive, but he played less than half the games in a 60 game season and then missed both playoff games. He was signed to be the guy in this lineup but instead he just wasn’t there enough. It’s certainly not his fault that his calf keeps him out, but it certainly isn’t helping. Hopefully he can rest up and be completely ready for another run next season.

 

3. Tyler Clippard: 26.0 IP, 2.77 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 1.38 BB/9

 

This front office has been great at finding relievers available for cheap and it working out perfectly. Clippard was already solid before coming to Minnesota but this was one of the best seasons of his career. I expect the Twins will bring him back next year and maybe even let him pitch in the playoffs next time!

 

2. Matt Wisler: 25.1 IP, 1.07 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 12.43 K/9, 4.97 BB/9

 

If I would have made this list before the season I would never have even considered Wisler for a top five spot. Instead he comes in at number two after arguably being the Twins best reliever with Tyler Duffey. The front office saw something in this guy and they brought him in. It went as well as they could have hoped.

 

1. Kenta Maeda: 11 GS, 2.70 ERA, 3.00 FIP, 10.80 K/9, 1.35 BB/9

 

This was a pretty obvious choice for number one. If it weren’t for Shane Bieber in Cleveland, Maeda would have a legit shot to win the AL Cy Young Award. He was acquired before the season for Brusdar Graterol and he has made that trade look completely worth it. Without him leading the rotation, this season could have gone much differently. He is under contract for a few years here so it is safe to say the Twins likely won this trade.

 

That concludes these rankings. Would you change them in any way? Did I rank Donaldson too high or too low? Leave a comment below!

 

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[blindeke]

Not bad!

[mikelink45]

I think you got Donaldson about right - let's hope he plays more and gives us better when he does play. 

 

In the playoffs they did not use Clippard - which seems to imply that they were not confident in him. Actually the same can be said about Wisler.  Both surprised me. 

 

They did use Thielbar so maybe he should be higher on the list. 

 

 

[4twinsJA]

Great list, hard to argue about order. Thanks Cooper.

[JadenPoint]

I feel like both the Twins and Dodgers "won" the Maeda for Graterol trade. I watched him get the save last night, and his FB at 101mph with movement is just something to behold

[Cody Pirkl]

Ildemaro Vargas #1

[bobs]

The Avila injury might have been the best thing to happen in 2020 for the club's future.  Jeffers was quite simply a revelation.  At the very least he should be the 1b to Garver's 1a, if not the other way around.

[stringer bell]

 

The Avila injury might have been the best thing to happen in 2020 for the club's future.  Jeffers was quite simply a revelation.  At the very least he should be the 1b to Garver's 1a, if not the other way around.

That is the "good" thing about catchers. Both catchers who make the roster in the spring (if the season starts on time) will get enough of an opportunity to get playing time. With only two catchers, both guys will get the chance to demonstrate they are the better option. I'm not ready to give up on Garver because of his disappointing season, but I think he will have to demonstrate that 2020 was the fluke, not 2019. It figures that he and Jeffers will be the catchers.

[Linus]

Donaldson was a major disappointment. Wisler and Thielbar were nice stories but shouldn’t be considered foundation pieces going forward.

[mnfireman]

I think I would move Hill and Thielbar up, and drop Donaldson behind them.

 

It is kind of hard to separate expectations from performance, but Donaldson did not perform enough when he was on the field. 

 

Nothing was expected out of Hill other than to be the 4/5 starter, which he filled rather nicely, many other teams would have taken his starts and been very happy. 

[puckstopper1]

 

It is kind of hard to separate expectations from performance, but Donaldson did not perform enough when he was on the field. 

 

I totally agree Fire, and disagree somewhat with Cooper's comment that Donaldson "was certainly productive".

 

Yes, he hit 6 home runs, but other than his homer against the White Sox (where he was subsequently ejected from the game - which HURT THE TEAM) I can't think of a single "big hit" or significant defensive play that the Rainmaker provided in 2020.

 

Hopefully 2021 will be a different story.

 

 

[MplsFan]

Ildemaro Vargas #1

 

Lol! Yes