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What is the point of this exercise? The hot stove has cooled considerably and I’m bored…plus, this might be fun! So, let’s grab any player of our choice from another AL Central roster, with the only stipulation being that we only get (and pay) the player for the remainder of their current contract (and the fact that this isn’t real). ‘Tis the Season!
Option 1: The Star - Francisco Lindor
2019 stats: 143 Games, 4.4 fWAR, .284/.335/.518
Contract status: 2 years, arbitration
Lindor is one of, if not the best, shortstop in all of baseball. Not only is he great offensively, but defensively he would be a significant upgrade over Jorge Polanco and allow Minnesota to move Miguel Sano to first and shift Polanco or Luis Arraez to third. The only downside would be that Lindor would only be hanging around for the next two seasons (or may not be around at all if he’s traded to the Dodgers).
Option 2: Someone to cover third - Jose Ramirez
2019 stats: 129 Games, 3.3 fWAR, .255/.327/.479
Contract status: 5 years, $26M (2017-21), 2022-23 club options
Like his teammate, Ramirez gives Minnesota an upgrade defensively at third and a powerful bat as well. Sano once again shifts to first, but the rest of the infield remains intact. Unlike Lindor, Ramirez signed a cheap extension and would potentially be with the Twins through 2023. 2019 was a bit of a down year but he was good for 8 fWAR and a 146 wRC+ in 2018 and has a good track record.
I’d be remiss not to mention Yoán Moncada of the White Sox. Like Ramirez he can play second or third and put up big numbers in 2019 – 5.7 fWAR and a 141 wRC+. He’ll be arbitration eligible for the next three years.
Option 3: The impact starter
Heard anything about Minnesota needing to add an impact starter this offseason? Well, here are three options that would make about any Twins fan giddy.
Mike Clevinger
2019 stats: 126 IP, 4.5 fWAR, 2.49 FIP
Contract status: 3 years, arbitration
Although he’s had some injury setbacks, Clevinger has emerged as one of the better pitchers in all of baseball. He was nasty in 2019 and would give Minnesota the top of the rotation starter that we all want.
Shane Bieber
2019 stats: 214.1 IP, 5.6 fWAR, 3.32 FIP
Contract status: 4 years, arbitration
Like Clevinger, Bieber would immediately slot into the top of the Twins rotation. He took a giant step forward in 2019 and it is certainly debatable as to whether he or his rotation mate would be most desirable.
Lucas Giolotto
2019 stats: 176.2 IP, 5.1 fWAR, 3.43 FIP
Contract status: 3 years, arbitration
We finally leave Cleveland. Giolotto finally became the pitcher that Chicago dreamed of when he was obtained in the Adam Eaton trade with Washington. Giolotto doesn’t have quite the track record of Clevinger, but he was a really good pitcher in 2019.
Option 4: The catcher - Yasmani Grandal
2019 stats: 153 Games, 5.2 fWAR, .246/.380/.468
Contract status: 4 years, $73 million
I was hoping the Twins would sign Grandal, but that didn’t happen. Worse yet, he signed with the White Sox. The good news is that it makes him available for our rather frivolous exercise. Grandal would render Alex Avilla superfluous, but would make an exciting backstop duo with Mitch Garver, and the duo could cover first base as well.
Option 5: The slugger - Jorge Soler
2019 stats: 162 Games, 3.6 fWAR, .265/.354/.569
Contract status: 9 years, $30M (2012-20)
The record-setting bomba squad would add the league-leader in home runs. Soler came out of nowhere to hit 48 dingers in 2019 and he gives me an excuse to add a Royal to this list. Soler would allow Minnesota to trade Rosario but he would only be with the team for one season.
Option 6: The Prospects
With all bad teams in the division came a lot of top draft picks. The advantage to choosing a prospect would be a high ceiling and six years of team control.
Luis Robert (CWS) - OF
2019 stats: .328/.376/.624 (A+, AA, AAA)
Robert is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and the 22-year-old had a monster year in 2019, making it all the way to AAA. He should be MLB ready this year so the Twins would have to make room for him in the outfield.
Casey Mize (Det) – RHP
2019 stats: 109.1 IP, 2.55 ERA, 0.94 WHIP (A+, AA)
Detroit took Mize with the number one overall pick in 2018, and like Robert, is one of the top prospects in baseball. Unlike Robert, he is a pitcher. He pitched great in 2019, finishing in AA, and should be ready soon.
There are plenty of other top prospects to be considered, including, but not limited to, Matt Manning (RHP, Det) and Nick Madrigal (2B, CHW).
There you have it. Who’s your pick? Initially, I thought I would go Clevinger who I think is the best pitcher and definitely has the best hair. However, Ramirez is also very tempting as a borderline superstar with a ridiculously team friendly contract that would leave a lot of financial flexibility (I can hear you laughing) but unfortunately isn’t an “impact” starter. I guess I’ll leave it to Santa.
Enjoy your imaginary gift (no returns) and have a safe and happy holiday!
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