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The calendar has flipped to 2024, and the Twins have done *checks notes* very little to add to their roster for the upcoming season. Part of that is due to a slow-moving free agent market, as well as a lack of clarity on the funds available as they peruse the players who might be available to them.
Yet, the needs of the team remain clear. They would like to find a playoff-caliber starting pitcher to replace Sonny Gray; an offensive boost from the right side of the plate; and a more established reliever (but one who wouldn’t require more than a one-year deal).
Some of the players on this list might require a smaller financial commitment than they anticipated when they became free agents. The Twins’ front office is no stranger to waiting out the storm so that they can find these kinds of deals.
Here are five remaining free agents who fit the Twins’ current needs:
Rhys Hoskins
Though he missed the entirety of the 2023 season while recovering from a torn ACL, Hoskins remains one of the most popular targets among Twins fans, thanks to his stellar offensive track record with the Philadelphia Phillies. Across his six-season career, the 30-year-old slugger has a .242/.353/.492 slash line, with 148 home runs.
Throughout his career, Hoskins has had solid success against right-handed pitchers (.819 OPS, 118 wRC+) and he has absolutely demolished lefties (.921 OPS, 146 wRC+). While he doesn’t offer much in terms of defensive value (-11 career OAA at first base), he more than makes up for it with his prodigious bat.
At the outset of the offseason, MLB Trade Rumors predicted the former Phillie would land a two-year deal worth $36 million. On the surface, that feels steeper than the Twins would like to go, given their self-imposed financial limitations, but if Hoskins’s market fails to materialize as we approach spring training, he could be a good fit on a friendlier contract. He would be a fantastic pairing with Alex Kirilloff at first base, and could get some time at designated hitter if Byron Buxton makes his way back to center field.
Adam Duvall
He may not bring as much to the batter’s box as Hoskins does, but Duvall might be a cleaner fit for the Twins, based on his ability to play center field on a semi-regular basis. While his bat doesn’t carry the same thunder, it does have a track record of providing pop from time to time.
Think about what Michael A. Taylor provided for the Twins last season. He had another fantastic year in center field (8 OAA), while swatting 21 home runs. Duvall has a reputation for that kind of performance, where the strong defense is his calling card, and the home runs are icing on the cake. He won a Gold Glove in 2021, and has averaged 32 home runs per 162 games throughout his career. Last season, Duvall hit 21 home runs in just 92 games. If paired with some combination of Buxton and Willi Castro, he might work as a fourth outfielder type who can step into regular playing time if needed.
Duvall shouldn’t require a burdensome contract, as he is already 35-years-old and did miss some time with injuries in 2023. If the Twins have their hands tied financially, he could be a low-cost fit to put in the outfield mix on a one-year deal.
Jorge Soler
The former top prospect out of Cuba once again finds himself seeking a multi-year deal on the open market, and based on his strong 2023 campaign, he should be able to find one. But with many teams reining in their spending this offseason, he might not get the three-year, $45-million deal that many thought he would secure. If that ends up being the case, Soler would make a lot of sense for the Twins, especially if they shed some of their veteran contracts.
Last season, the right-handed corner outfielder hit .250/.341/.512, belting 36 home runs and driving in 75 runs. If signed by the Twins, Soler could occupy a corner outfield spot on a semi-regular basis, though his defense is middling at best. Some time at designated hitter would almost certainly be in the cards, but that is (again) dependent on Buxton’s ability to take the field. Like Hoskins, Soler held his own against right-handed pitching (.786 OPS, 109 wRC+) and obliterated southpaws (1.080 OPS, 181 wRC+). At the right price, that production would be incredibly enticing for a Twins outfield picture that is currently heavy on left-handed options.
John Brebbia
The most realistic option on this list is probably the least exciting, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t serve an important purpose. Brebbia is likely bound for a short contract worth a few million dollars, which is a sweet spot for the Twins’ front office. And while the club already nabbed Josh Staumont on a similar deal last month, Brebbia offers a higher floor and lower ceiling.
Over the last two seasons, the 33-year-old has compiled a 3.47 ERA across 106 ⅓ innings pitched, with an 8.6 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. He increased his strikeout rate by over 10 percentage points last season, but was on the shelf for about eight weeks with a lat strain.
The Twins showed interest in Brebbia before he signed his last deal with the San Francisco Giants, likely due to his penchant for throwing his slider more than half the time. If Pete Maki and the Twins’ coaching staff can help him refine that offering, they could have a diamond in the rough to add to the middle of their bullpen corps.
Not for nothing, Brebbia would also provide immaculate vibes to an already fun bullpen group.
Marcus Stroman
As previously noted, the Twins would likely prefer to find Gray’s replacement on the trade market. But if Stroman’s price drops to a more-reasonable level, he could make sense, as a playoff-caliber starter who wouldn’t require a massive financial commitment. He opted out of the $21 million that he was owed for the 2024 season, in the hopes of getting a multi-year commitment.
MLB Trade Rumors predicted a two-year, $44-million deal for the 31-year-old. It’s hard to picture the Twins wanting to pay Stroman more than $20 million per year, but if they can get him somewhere closer to the $15-17 million range, it would be a similar situation to what they had with Gray: a solid number-two or -three starter in their early thirties, with some question marks surrounding their health.
A healthy Stroman would slide nicely between Pablo López and Joe Ryan in the Twins’ rotation. Since the start of the 2021 season, the former Duke star owns a 3.45 ERA across 83 starts and 454 innings pitched. He’s had a sub-4.00 ERA in all but two seasons of his career, due in large part to an extensive repertoire that remains effective even into his thirties. Just last year, Stroman had four different pitches that had a 30% whiff rate or higher.
Again, like some other names on this list, the Twins would most likely only be interested in Stroman if his market fizzles.
What do you think? Do any of the names on this list stand out as targets? Who else would you put on this list? Let us know in the comments, and as always, keep it sweet.
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