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  • Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Minnesota Twins free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Brock Beauchamp
    Robert Murray of FanSided has reported the Twins are aggressively shopping catcher Christian Vazquez in hopes of clearing up salary space for positions of greater need.
    The Twins will be reducing payroll in 2024, which puts the front office in a bind as they try to build in their 2023 AL Central champion squad and the franchise's first postseason wins since 2004.
    Vazquez signed a three year, $30 million contract before the 2023 season. Last season, the 33-year-old had a terrible season at the plate, posting an OPS a full 100 points lower than his career mark. The Twins might have difficulty moving $20 million of contract for a player who hit closer to Drew Butera's career mark than league average.
     
    tony&rodney
    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/mariners-trade-eugenio-suarez-dbacks.html
    Seattle is serious about cutting their strike outs apparently. They previously traded for Luis Urias (3B), but will be looking to add both an infielder and and a corner bat. 
    One can wonder if there are some ideas going back and forth between the Mariners and Twins. This feels like a year ago in some respects but it may be a case where Falvey fears losing depth or the wrong guy. Seattle is setting the bar high for their arms and willing to trade.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Now that we're past non-tender day, the list of available free agents is as robust as it will be this offseason.
    It appears the Twins are going to be working with little money this offseason so the top names are likely off-limits. But yesterday, the Brewers were unable to trade or come to a longer-term agreement with starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff. This is a perfect Falvey moment. Woodruff will likely not pitch in 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery. He'll need a place to rehab and return in 2025.
    Woodruff is an ace pitcher nearly on par with Corbin Burnes. If he can recover from shoulder surgery, a one-year make-good deal aligns perfectly with the Twins' interests.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote in his notes today that Derek Falvey, President of Baseball Operations for the Twins, mentioned that the team would likely pursue a first baseman this winter.
    This is a surprise and also not a surprise. Alex Kirilloff had offseason shoulder surgery, though it was less severe than anticipated and he will likely be back in time for Spring Training. The Twins also have Jose Miranda, a right-handed hitter to platoon with Kirilloff, now left without a position with the return of Royce Lewis last season.
    Derek Falvey:
    Edouard Julien could also be without a position entering next spring but given he's also left-handed, it's hard to see the Twins trying to wedge him into a platoon with Kirilloff.
    Rhys Hoskins is the preeminent free agent at the position this winter but given the Twins' newfound payroll constraints, could easily be priced of the team's comfort range.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Okay, the GM meetings are full speed ahead and the offseason has begun.
    Several teams are considering trades of their frontline starters including names like Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Cease, and Corbin Burnes.
    This will be a controversial take but I'd prefer to see the Twins steer clear of Burnes. He's a very good pitcher who, when he can suppress home runs, is elite. He hasn't consistently done that since 2021, his Cy Young season. Someone is likely going to pay that "2021 Burnes" entry price and I hope it's not the Minnesota Twins.
    The Brewers themselves could move a significant portion of their roster. They have several very good players lined up to enter free agency in the next two winters: Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames after 2024 with Devin Williams the following year. Never before have I heard Freddy Peralta mentioned specifically as a trade candidate. He's a very good pitcher with an absurdly team-friendly contract and option years that can carry him through the 2026 season. He has always played second fiddle to the Burnes & Woodruff duo but is only a half-step behind them in performance.
     
    DJL44
    With Michael A Taylor a free agent and Byron Buxton perpetually injured, the Twins have expressed interest in center fielder Kevin Kiemaier, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
    Once an elite defender, perhaps the best in baseball for a time, Kiermaier is entering his age 34 season in 2024 but still posted very good defensive metrics in center for the Blue Jays in 2023. Kiermaier may not be an everyday player anymore, needing rest to stay healthy but the Twins don't seem to mind that.
    Mike Sixel
    They have permission to talk...
    Thad Levine joined the Twins as General Manager, second in command to President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey, in 2016. During his tenure in Minnesota, Levine has helped the Twins win three division championships in seven seasons, alongside one Wild Card appearance in 2017.
    Levine was born (Virginia) and raised (went to Haverford College in Pennsylvania) so a move to Boston would bring him closer to his roots. It has long been speculated that Levine wants a shot at the big chair for a MLB team and after the departure of Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox may come calling.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Well, this doesn't make me cry. The Yankees, currently in last place in the American League East, are now listening to offers on players that will become free agents at season's end.
    Most of the names don't interest the Twins; they're expensive, injured, starting pitchers, or all of the above.
    But Harrison Bader might be a name of interest to the Twins after several right-handed bats went off the market yesterday. Bader is oft-injured the past two seasons but can play center field and was an above-average bat as recently as the 2021 season (114 OPS+).
    What do you think? Out of the remaining names on the market, is Bader one that interests you?
    Brock Beauchamp
    Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors rounded up the latest Twins trade deadline rumors
    . Give that a click for more details but here are the major talking points:
    The Twins are willing to listen to offers on pending free agents Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda but the price is steep, as it will do serious damage to their postseason hopes Dallas Keuchel is dealing in AAA St Paul and can opt out on August 1st, trade interest in him has been minimal The Twins are receiving interest on their stockpile of left-handed corner outfielders A deal with the Mets may make sense, as the Mets are selling hard and have a few right-handed options that should interest the Twins What are your thoughts? Sell, buy, or both?
    Seth Stohs
    I thought this was an interesting one. It has to be relatively close. It sounds like the Mets just have to get Scherzer to waive his no-trade clause. 
    A few minutes before the news broke that the Rangers and Mets were close, Rangers beat writer Evan Grant tweeted the following: 
     Someone else tweeted that if Scherzer's getting dealt, then the White Sox aren't doing a service to themselves if they don't make Dylan Cease available. And, maybe it should mean that the Twins consider dealing a starter?
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