Nash Walker

Bryant’s prospect cost was scored as a 3. I explained that 1 means it isn’t favorable to the Twins and 10 is favorable to the Twins. 3 would mean he will cost a considerable amount in trade capital.

If the Twins are intent on moving Miguel Sanó to first base to improve the defense, here are five of the best options to fill in at third base. The scoring system is on a 1-10 scale (1 being not favorable to the Twins, 10 being very favorable to the Twins) and are scored for availability, commitment cost (cash), prospect cost, and both offensive and defensive impact.5. Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants Longoria has three years and $53 million left on the six-year, $100 million deal he signed with Tampa Bay in 2016. The three-time All-Star has hit .249/.303/.424 (96 OPS+) since being traded to the Giants. Since 2017, Longoria has started the fifth most games at third base (379), but has saved the third most runs (25). He continues to be a strong defender entering his age-34 season. Availability: 4 Commitment cost: 2 Prospect cost: 4 Offensive impact: 2 Defensive impact: 7 Twins Score: 19 4. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies It seems to be a matter of when, not if, Arenado will be moved. He signed an eight-year, $260 million extension with Colorado last winter but the deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2021 season. Arenado also has the right to refuse a deal to Minnesota under his full no-trade clause. The impact of Arenado would be massive. He is a seven-time Gold Glove winner, saving 117 runs with a career UZR of 47.9. He also hit .315/.379/.583 with 41 home runs and 31 doubles in 2019. Availability: 3 Commitment cost: 2 Prospect cost: 2 Offensive impact: 8 Defensive impact: 10 Twins Score: 25 3. Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners Seager’s name has been tossed around this offseason as he enters year six of his seven-year, $100 million contract. Seager is slated to make $19.5 million in 2020 and $18.5 million in 2021 with a club option for $15 million in 2022. If traded, that club option becomes a player option. Seager hit .239/.321/.468 (112 OPS+) with 23 homers in 106 games last year. Seager has hit 20 or more home runs in each of the last eight seasons. He had -1 DRS and a 6.9 UZR in 2019 and has been an average defensive third baseman for nearly his entire career. Availability: 8 Commitment cost: 4 Prospect cost: 4 Offensive impact: 5 Defensive impact: 5 Twins Score: 26 2. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs The Cubs have been in “fervent pursuit” of trades this winter, but are seemingly waiting for the results of the Bryant grievance. The ruling will decide whether Bryant will have one or two more seasons until free agency. This is a huge factor in his trade value. Bryant is projected to make $18.5 million in his third year of arbitration after hitting .282/.382/.521 with 31 home runs and 35 doubles in 147 games last year. The Twins’ interest may hinge on if they think Bryant can improve their infield defense. He posted -7 DRS and a -1.4 UZR in 2019. Still, his bat is a superpower. Availability: 6 Commitment cost: 7 Prospect cost: 3 Offensive impact: 8 Defensive impact: 4 Twins Score: 28 1. Josh Donaldson, Free Agent Donaldson is playing a dangerous waiting game and the Twins are looking into other options. Donaldson hit .259/.379/.521 with 37 home runs for the Braves last year. He saved 15 runs defensively and ranks third since 2016 in DRS at third base. He reportedly sees some appeal in playing for Rocco Baldelli and against the American League Central: Donaldson requires only money (and a draft pick), is at least a little interested in playing in Minnesota, and would transform the infield defense while turning the lineup into the scariest in baseball. Availability: 7 Commitment cost: 5 Prospect cost: 10 Impact on offense: 8 Impact on defense: 8 Twins Score: 38 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

They asked for Buxton plus a top-3 prospect, per reports.

The Twins will probably need an ace to make a World Series run in 2020. José Berríos may have another level, and Jake Odorizzi was excellent in 2019, but this team clearly craves a frontline dueler. Here are four players and deals that could make that happen:1. Minnesota Twins receive: LHP Matthew Boyd Detroit Tigers receive: OF Trevor Larnach, LHP Lewis Thorpe, RHP Matt Canterino Why the Twins would accept: Boyd posted a 3.87 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 107 innings before the break. He struggled in the second half, but there is belief that he is on the cusp of a complete breakout. Boyd has three years of team control and his strikeout numbers are great. Why the Tigers would accept: The Tigers know that with little talent and Miguel Cabrera’s contract on the books, they won’t be competitive until after Boyd enters free agency. Moving him within the division is not ideal, but I don’t see Detroit landing a better deal than this one. 2. Minnesota Twins receive: LHP Chris Sale and cash Boston Red Sox receive: RHP Brusdar Graterol, C Ryan Jeffers, OF Gilberto Celestino Why the Twins would accept: Sale was a consistent ace for seven years, finishing in the top-5 for the Cy-Young Award in all but one season, where he finished sixth. He has a career 3.03 ERA with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The demand for return is less because of the remaining contract (5-years, $145 million). Why the Red Sox would accept: Newly hired GM Chaim Bloom has inherited a club filled with massive contracts and an expiring contract with superstar Mookie Betts. Moving Price could be the preference, but it remains questionable whether a team will take on the majority of the three years and $96 million left on his contract. 3. Minnesota Twins receive: RHP Chris Archer Pittsburgh Pirates receive: OF Brent Rooker and 2B/SS Nick Gordon Why the Twins would accept: Archer still pumps 94 MPH with his four-seam fastball and his slider remains elite, developing a 42% whiff rate and expected batting line of .230/.295/.359 in 2019. Archer will make $9 million in 2020 with an $11 million club option in 2021. Why the Pirates would accept: The Pirates are trying to start a new decade with fresh faces. Former Twins bench coach Derek Shelton is their manager and Ben Cherington took over as GM. Maybe they won’t sell low, but maybe they will. This is not the same front office that traded away Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow for Archer at the 2018 deadline. 4. Minnesota Twins receive: RHP Noah Syndergaard New York Mets receive: OF Byron Buxton and OF Alex Kirilloff Why the Twins would accept: Falvine can give the Twins their true ace, a monster who throws 98 MPH. The one they call “Thor” hasn't been as sharp in recent years but is still excellent and has two more seasons of team control. A rotation of Syndergaard, José Berríos, Jake Odorizzi, and Michael Pineda can certainly give the Yankees a run for their money. Why the Mets would accept: With the signings of Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, the Mets have six starters and five rotation spots. It has been rumored that Steven Matz may be the one to go, but a much better return can be found with Syndergaard. The Mets already asked for a similar deal at the deadline. There is real dialogue here. Which trades do you like/dislike for the Twins? Please leave a comment! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Can Lewis Thorpe Translate Whiffs into Results? http://twinsdaily.co...o-results-r8791 — Recent Twins discussion in our forums http://twinsdaily.com/index — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

I believe these signings are similar but different. Bailey seems to be a pure innings-eater with a a decent floor and maybe a *hair* of upside. Bailey had an ERA+ of 100 (exactly league average) last year for Oakland. For comparison, Martín Pérez had an ERA+ of 90 last year. Bailey is an upgrade from Pérez, and if Hill can return to throw 75-100 innings, he will be as strong as a #4 as you will find. We have seen it on Twitter, but in 58 2/3 innings for the Dodgers last year, Hill had a 2.45 ERA and 72 strikeouts. He is great when healthy. This rotation can win in October in my opinion: 1. A consistent José Berríos 2. 2019 Jake Odorizzi 3. Second half 2019 Michael Pineda 4. Healthy Rich Hill 5. Oakland Athletics version of Homer Bailey A trade for another starter would cap it off, but I am not dreading this rotation, I just wish there was a bit more firepower near the top. Depth is nice with Dobber, Thorpe, and Smeltz on the backend. Very Thad and Derek like signings, discounted with low risk, high upside on Homer and Hill.

The calendar is ready to flip and it is nearly impossible to look at 2019 as anything other than a booming success for the Twins. , but who will be their biggest star in 2020? *All WAR numbers are calculated by Baseball Reference*Jorge Polanco led the Twins with a 5.7 WAR in 2019, playing in 153 games and hitting .295/.356/.485 with 22 home runs and 40 doubles. Polanco represented the American League as the starting shortstop in the All-Star Game and looks like a perennial candidate to hold the honor. The five-year, $25.75 million extension that Polanco signed during spring training confirms his presence in Minnesota through 2025. If you’re looking to buy a Twins jersey that represents a key cog and core center point, Polanco may provide the stitches to sport: If he can stay healthy, Byron Buxton should find himself in the league MVP conversation for his next three seasons as a Twin. Highly touted as a top prospect, it took Buxton almost six years to break out, but he is here. Despite playing in just 87 games, Buxton posted a 3.1 WAR and hit .262/.314/.513 with 10 home runs and 30 doubles. His Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games in center field was a pristine 15.7, ranking behind only Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader and teammate Max Kepler. Buxton’s absence from the lineup in the ALDS was a huge blow. Kepler was crowned the 2019 Twins Daily MVP after posting a 4.0 WAR in 134 games. Kepler hit .252/.336/.519 with 36 home runs and 30 doubles. His barrel percentage jumped to nearly 9% and he hit the ball harder than ever. Kepler’s defense proved extremely valuable when Buxton went down as he posted a 2.8 UZR in 459 innings in center field. He also hit .293/.356/.524 off lefties after looking like a potential platoon player early in his career. Impact starting pitching has been the buzz phrase this offseason, and rightly so. Everyone knows José Berríos is a king, but can he become an ace? He is getting there. In his four years as a pro, Berríos has posted ERAs of 8.02, 3.89, 3.84 and 3.68. Now coming off back-to-back All-Star Game appearances, Berríos is primed to take the next step. Consistency and endurance are seemingly the only pieces holding him back from stardom. He has a 5.30 ERA in 217 1/3 innings from August through October. Today is the one year anniversary of the Nelson Cruz signing, a move that has paid dividends in unforeseen ways. His immense impact on the field is marginal compared to his outstanding leadership in the clubhouse. Cruz is entering his age-39 season and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. In his last three seasons, Cruz hit .284/.369/.562 with 117 home runs in 419 games. He ranked second on the Twins with a 4.3 WAR in 2019. Father time is undefeated, but Cruz, with his elite preparation and daily naps, will undoubtedly play a huge role next year. Whether it is Josh Donaldson or Miguel Sanó, third base will be a position of production for the Twins in 2020 and beyond. Sanó showed us what he is capable of in 2019, hitting .254/.362/.578 with 21 home runs in his last 65 games of the season. He posted a 3.1 WAR in 105 games, which extrapolates to just under five in a full season. Prolonged slumps remain an issue with Sanó, but his .346 on-base percentage was his highest since his rookie season. He drew a career high 55 walks and posted an OPS+ of 138. Now entering his age-27 season, Sanó’s prime is perhaps upon us: Mitch Garver posted a 4.0 WAR in just 93 games in 2019. With great plate discipline and a violent, compact swing, Garver won the Silver Slugger Award after hitting .273/.365/.630 with 31 homers. He fully broke out and Twins fans should be very excited about the "Garv Sauce" moving forward: OTHER CANDIDATES: Jake Odorizzi: 3.6 WAR in 30 starts in 2019, All-Star with 3.51 ERA and 10.1 K/9. Eddie Rosario: 1.6 WAR in 137 games, hit 32 homers with 109 RBI. Luis Arraez: 1.8 WAR in 92 games, hit .334/.399/.439 with 25 extra-base hits. Marwin Gonzalez: 1.6 WAR in 114 games, hit .264/.322/.414 with 15 homers. Who do you think will be the Twins MVP in 2020? Comment below! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The Twins’ bullpen went from shaky to downright phenomenal as the season went on in 2019. There are three prominent reasons why the bullpen will find more success in 2020 ...1.) They are right-handed heavy As currently constructed, the Twins bullpen will include righties Trevor May, Tyler Duffey, Sergio Romo, Tyler Clippard, Zack Littell, Matt Wisler and potentially Cody Stashak, Fernando Romero or Ryne Harper. The only proven lefty at this point is Taylor Rogers, with Devin Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe looming as long-relief candidates. While the Twins could use one more reliable left-handed specialist, their bullpen is built for the AL Central. The division is filled with right-handed sluggers such as Franmil Reyes, Eloy Jiménez, José Abreu, Jorge Soler, and Hunter Dozier. Most of the prominent switch-hitters, Carlos Santana, and Francisco Lindor, have a higher career OPS against left-handed pitching. Yoán Moncada is the one switch-hitter that has generally been better against right-handed pitching. Outside of the Central, the AL contenders are also largely right-handed at the plate. The Yankees’ lack of variety has been noted, and the Astros best position players, Alex Bregman, José Altuve, George Springer, and Carlos Correa, are all right-handed. Duffey and May were actually better against lefties in 2019, but the difference in OPS was marginal and they will likely return to the league norm in 2020. 2.) They have wipeout sliders With the acquisition of Wisler and the re-signing of Romo, the Twins confirmed they will have a slider-filled bullpen. Wisler threw his slider more than 70% of the time in 2019 and generated a 41% whiff rate and expected slash line of .193/.248/.298. Romo had similar numbers, throwing his slider 60% of the time with a 33% whiff rate and .186/.229/.300 expected slash line. It isn’t just Wisler and Romo. Rogers threw his slider at a 35% clip and relied on it much more than he did in 2018. His slider was nasty, pulling a 36% whiff rate and a .171/.215/.284 expected slash line. Duffey also had a revelation with the pitch, throwing it 30% more often in 2019. Different pitcher, same result. Duffey generated a 42% whiff rate and opponents hit .169/.227/.289 against his slider. This doesn’t seem like a coincidence. The nasty slider ties in directly with the right-handed heavy construction of the bullpen. Righties hit .205/.248/.394 off Romo in 2019, while lefties have hit .203/.270/.268 off Rogers in his career. Their sliders are a primary reason for this. Here is a look at how Rogers uses his slider-fastball pitch mix to shut down left-handed hitters: 3. They throw strikes The worst thing a reliever can do is issue walks. The Twins’ bullpen jumped from eighth to first in walks per nine innings from 2018 to 2019. In strikeout-to-walk ratio, the Twins ranked second in the American League. Throwing strikes helped the bullpen rank first in MLB in FIP and fourth in SIERA. The Twins had four relievers that averaged more than one strikeout per inning. Rogers, Duffey, May and Romo all averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings. The young pitchers in the system seem to have been primed to limit walks and push for strikeouts. Stashak entered the bullpen in late July and pitched 25 innings down the stretch. Stashak produced a 3.24 ERA and 3.01 FIP with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 25-to-1. Randy Dobnak, Devin Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe combined for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 92-to-27 in 105 innings in 2019. There is depth in this bullpen that simply can’t be found on every club. Duffey, May, Clippard, Rogers and Romo all showed in 2019 that they are reliable in high-leverage situations. The Twins also have a plethora of lower-leverage arms like Stashak, Littell, and Wisler. The group mostly struggled in the postseason, but Rocco Baldelli and company know they can depend on this group to remain extremely effective in 2020. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The MLB Winter Meetings have come and gone with Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon inking incredibly lucrative contracts in San Diego. Now is the time for the Twins to bring their big addition to Minnesota.The Twins absolutely need another starting pitcher, and they have been very active in seeking help for the rotation. The problem, however, is that the cost and demand are at unforeseen levels. Strasburg and Cole combined for 16 years and $569 million, and even Tanner Roark, Kyle Gibson and Michael Wacha saw their stocks balloon. The Twins may not be willing to commit four or five years for $100 million or more to Madison Bumgarner or Hyun-Jin Ryu, and that is understandable. Even with Gibson and Martín Pérez struggling down the stretch, the Twins rotation ranked seventh in baseball in fWAR in 2019,. José Berríos, Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda fused together for a 3.72 ERA and 513 strikeouts in 505 1/3 innings in 2019. General manager Thad Levine told Dan Hayes of The Athletic that they feel they have “stabilized” by bringing their three best pitchers back from a year ago. As much as Bumgarner and Ryu would excite fans, multiple California teams are involved with both, and the odds that they leave the west for Minnesota seem worse with every new report. The Twins have to improve this winter. They have the talent, youth, financial flexibility and opportunity in the weak AL Central to hang division title banners on a yearly basis. So, since the “top” pitchers are unattainable or ridiculously priced, they should focus on bringing in another impact bat, while supplementing with someone like Dallas Keuchel. What if I told you the Twins could add one of the best hitters and premier defenders in baseball? Joshua Adam Donaldson played in 155 games last year for the Braves and hit .259/.379/.521 with 37 home runs, 33 doubles, 94 RBI, and 15 runs saved defensively at third base. This was not a breakthrough year for the former MVP, as his career slash line is .273/.369/.509 with 219 home runs. He is a certified stud at the plate and is still a premier defender entering his age-34 season. Many people will point to career trajectory and his demand of a four-year contract as deal breakers. I will happily remind you that Nelson Cruz just hit .311/.392/.639 with 41 home runs in his age-38 season. Donaldson could be different and has a history of injuries, but that is well worth the risk. A four-year, $100 million deal for Donaldson is the likely contract, and the Twins should make it happen. But can the Twins actually convince Donaldson to come to Minneapolis? I believe they can. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Donaldson has a relatively small market. The Nationals and Braves have been most heavily linked to him, but neither team has the financial flexibility of the Twins. The ink is still drying on Strasburg’s huge deal with the Nationals, and they seemingly made no effort to resign Anthony Rendon this winter. I would be surprised if the Nationals committed $100 million to a different third baseman. The Braves want to keep Donaldson, and he has expressed a preference to return to Atlanta, but they are not confident in being able to pay him.This leaves the Dodgers as another linked team, but something tells me they won’t move Justin Turner over to first base for someone not named Rendon. This is a bidding war that the Twins can win. There will be push back from the fan base if the Twins add a big time bat over an arm, but the goal here is to get better. Donaldson is a six-win player and the Twins can pound teams into submission while developing their pitchers from within. The left side of the infield was weak last year and Donaldson brings outstanding defense. Brusdar Graterol, Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran are on the horizon, and avoiding ludicrous contracts with aging pitchers is nothing to scoff at. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Somewhat expected news dropped on Saturday night when LaVelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune basically removed Hyun-Jin Ryu from the Twins' potential list of targets in his latest Winter Meetings primer article. Similar to Zack Wheeler, Ryu has a preference to stay on the coast. For Wheeler, the east was most desirable. But for Ryu, he would like to remain in or near Los Angeles, where he has spent his entire career. With this presumably in mind, Madison Bumgarner has the best resume of the remaining free agent pitchers. Tom Froemming wrote today about why you shouldn't be fooled by Bumgarner's legacy. There is no doubt that the Twins need to improve their rotation to repeat success, but if Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, and Ryu are off the board, and Bumgarner isn't as advertised, who is next? His name may carry ill-advised weight because of the Cy Young Award back in 2015, but former Atlanta Braves hurler Dallas Keuchel could still provide depth to the staff for at least the next two years. Keuchel is entering his age-32 season and has posted sub-4.00 ERA seasons in back-to-back years. His strikeout numbers don't pop, and his fastball averaged just 87.8 MPH in 2019, so how is he getting outs? Keuchel posted the highest ground ball rate among pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched last year. He did benefit from his defense as his FIP was almost a full run higher than his ERA. The Twins had one of the worst infield defenses in baseball in 2019, but can improve defensively and help maintain Keuchel's ERA with the common denominator: Josh Donaldson. Donaldson saved 15 runs and posted a 2.4 UZR at third base last year for the Braves. Keuchel started two games in the NLDS and struggled, but that was mostly because he allowed three home runs in eight innings. Donaldson's 6.1 bWAR in 2019 was higher than Wheeler, Bumgarner and Ryu, and was just shy of Strasburg and Cole. He will also likely demand only a three-year contract because of his age (he turns 34 on Sunday). Acquiring Keuchel and Donaldson on three-year deals, along with team friendly contracts on Odorizzi, Pineda, and Alex Avila, is hardly a failed offseason. I would consider that haul a slam dunk with Donaldson as the headliner. What do you think? Enjoy your Sunday!

As the Twins survey the open market, there are three gut-wrenching players who may have them losing their appetite. The Twins should consider signing them to avoid further damage.The Joker: Didi Gregorius Typing that name made me feel anxious. Recency bias from the deafening grand slam in game two of the 2019 ALDS may have forced my hand. The reality, however, is that Gregorius has destroyed the Twins for much longer than last summer. In 32 regular season games against Minnesota, the one the Bronx calls “Sir Didi” has hit .345/.387/.655 in 125 plate appearances. Gregorius has at least 100 plate appearances against 12 other clubs, but his OPS is below .840 against nine of them. Target Field is his primary mashing spot, as he has a .418/.451/.761 line in 19 games in Minneapolis. To make matters much worse, Gregorius has carried this excellence into October. Gregorius has a 1.346 OPS against the Twins in four postseason games, including two huge, game-changing home runs. Must we watch the most recent example? The Green Goblin: Josh Donaldson There have been rumors swirling surrounding the Twins and Donaldson, and the speculation picked up when C.J. Cron was non-tendered on Monday, presumably opening an opportunity for Miguel Sanó to move across the diamond. Some Twins fans have pointed out Donaldson’s history at Target Field, and rightly so. In places where he has played at least 20 games, Donaldson has favored Minnesota the most. He owns an insane .373/.464/.819 line with 10 home runs in 97 plate appearances at Target Field. In his other 21 games against the Twins, Donaldson hit .417 with a 1.397 OPS. Although Target Field ranks 24th in home run factor, right-handed hitters have the advantage of a shorter wall in left field. Nelson Cruz has 100 at-bats or more at 15 MLB stadiums, and his 8.4% career home run rate at Target Field is the highest of any other ballpark. Donaldson has homered in 12% of his at-bats at Target Field: Thanos: Edwin Encarnación Encarnación is another righty with power that absolutely adores Target Field. In 45 games at the park, he has hit .302/.415/.633 with 17 homers and 46 RBI. Twins fans have long loathed the perched arm “parrot” rounding the bases after slugging a bomb over the left field wall. In 409 plate appearances, Encarnación has 27 home runs and a .287/.386/.568 line against Minnesota. The latest pounding came in the ALDS where he went 4-for-13 with two doubles. Encarnación went just 1-for-18 in the ALCS against Houston with 11 strikeouts. The Twins have an opening at first base, and although he is entering his age-37 season, Encarnación was a passable first baseman in 489 innings last year. He had -1 DRS and a -0.9 UZR, according to FanGraphs. Here is a recap of Encarnación helping the Indians beat the Twins in 2017: Should the Twins sign any of their villains to become allies? Comment below! The Locked On Twins podcast is back and will be posted every weekday on my Twitter @nashwalker9 and on the forums here at Twins Daily. The Locked On Podcast covers all things Twins (news, game recaps, analysis, etc.) join me for the ride! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The Twins missed on Zack Wheeler when he signed a 5-year, $118 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine made an offer that Wheeler may have considered had he not been tied so heavily to New Jersey and the National League East. The good news is that Wheeler is not the only realistic impact pitcher that the Twins can acquire. They took a considerable step forward by resigning Michael Pineda to a 2-year, $20 million contract late Thursday night. The rotation now consists of their three best starters from 2019 in Pineda, Jake Odorizzi and José Berríos, but there is more work to be done. Madison Bumgarner and Hyun-Jin Ryu are out there, and the Twins are reportedly in on both, maybe even more so for Ryu: https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1203085438719643648?s=20 Pros of Hyun-Jin Ryu: Ryu is an elite run preventer. He had the lowest ERA in the National League and a 163/24 K/BB ratio in 182 ⅔ innings for the Dodgers in 2019. The price for Ryu is a huge plus. He should demand a contract in the 3-year, $75 million range. With Falvey and Levine prioritizing clean books, Ryu fits the bill as a shorter-term commitment. Cons of Hyun-Jin Ryu: Well, age. Ryu has had considerable health issues throughout his career. Ryu pitched a total of 213 ⅔ innings from 2016-2018 after back-to-back 150+ inning seasons to start his major league tenure. Ryu has spent his entire career in Los Angeles and may not be looking to move to Minnesota if it is not for a substantial amount of money. The Dodgers may also have mutual interest in retaining the Cy-Young runner-up. Pros of Madison Bumgarner: Bumgarner was one of the best starting pitchers of the last decade, winning three World Series titles and pitching in four All-Star games with four top-10 finishes for the Cy Young Award. He is incredibly consistent, never posting an ERA above 3.90 in 11 seasons. Bumgarner is a workhorse, throwing over 200 innings seven times in his career. He is entering his age-30 season and still seems to have plenty left in the tank. Cons of Madison Bumgarner: The price of Bumgarner skyrocketed when Wheeler signed his massive deal. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that MadBum will likely demand $100 million or more himself. Bumgarner has nearly 2,000 innings on his arm and pitched in only 38 games between 2017 and 2018. He has also benefited from San Francisco’s pitcher-friendly confines, posting a 2.72 ERA at home compared to 3.53 on the road. Where should they lean? I do like Ryu, and I think he is effective again in 2020, but I think Bumgarner is the way to go. MadBum is a winner, and I think I would feel very confident with him on the hill in a playoff game. Who do you want the Twins to sign? Comment below!

The definition of passion is “strong and barely controllable emotion.” That would be an understatement for how I feel about the Minnesota Twins. How did this happen for me after so many years of tuning out?The date was Oct. 6, 2009. The Tigers and Twins battled in game 163 for the American League Central at the Metrodome. I am lucky enough to have a dad who brings me to the biggest games. I watched as Alexi Casilla bounced a grounder through the right side of the infield to score Carlos Gomez in the 12th inning, and Joe Mauer raced the pennant around the diamond. I was nine years old. I grew up in Plymouth and played hockey, football and baseball. I was often asked which sport was my favorite and it usually depended on the season. My attention on Minnesota sports was similar. In the summer, my dad and I would go to a handful of Twins games. In the winter, we would find our way to Vikings games, or usually just sit inside and watch NFL Redzone next to the fireplace. I’ve always been enamored with sports. I love the competition. I crave that feeling of winning. Hockey was the main focus for many for my friends, but I’ve had a special passion for baseball. I fell in love with the battle between a batter and a pitcher. I idolized Jacob DeGrom, Stephen Strasburg and Nelson Cruz through my teens, but my relationship with the Twins was more complicated. We’ve always supported the team and gone to games, but over the last 10 years, my Dad and I would mostly scoff at the Twins. We were frustrated. We wanted to be competitive. We loved the organization, but our passion was lost in the midst of many horrendous seasons. I wasn’t aware of the young talent in the ranks. I knew Jose Berríos had electric stuff, and I remember seeing Max Kepler grow and adapt to the majors. I didn’t expect the 2019 breakthrough, but who really did? I was surprised when the Twins signed the greatest slugger of the last decade in Cruz, knowing they usually didn’t make noise in the offseason. In early March, I was at the airport and decided to buy the 2019 MLB Season Preview from USA Today. As I read the Twins preview in my airplane seat, I felt a slim glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while. As the season went on, I became more and more engaged. I became a patreon of Gleeman and the Geek and started dancing to the opening theme song, I followed the likes of Ted Schwerzler, Seth Stohs and Tom Froemming on Twitter, and I planned my summer waitering job around Twins games. I was in love again. I am studying at the University of Missouri and acquiring a degree in sports broadcast journalism. I often miss home. The 2019 squad was outstandingly enjoyable, and they also connected me to my state. I felt comfortable and warm watching my hometown team. It may sound cliche, but I truly become more invested in baseball and the Twins every single day. Baseball-Reference has become my most visited website, I frequently check Darren Wolfson's Twitter replies for scoops, and I constantly think about the Twins and their affiliates. My passion for the club grew into writing at Twins Daily, and I’m lucky enough to have an audience on this incredibly interactive and impressive platform every Friday. My ultimate dream is to become the TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Twins. I’m confident and driven to achieve this goal, and attending a premier journalism school was step one. I am focused on following in the great Dick Bremer’s stead. Thank you for reading my story. I am very grateful to be a contributor for Twins Daily, and I can not wait for the future of the Minnesota Twins. How did you become a Twins fan? Comment below! Click here to view the article

I agree that Polanco’s power with the new ball can be questioned. I have trouble with the “value to the team” aspect of this. Polanco was extremely valuable in 2019. He played almost every day when most of the team was banged up at one point or another. He led the team in WAR and Jeff Passan ranked him in his Top-10 for MVP. He’s clearly one of the best players on the team.

The time is coming for more Twins prospects to join the club. In 2020, the team figures to dip into their deep pool of outfielders. Who seems most likely to see big league action first?Alex Kirilloff Kirilloff was selected by the Twins with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft as an 18-year-old. He was scouted as a great hitter and average defender with the ability to play first base. He played in 55 rookie games for Elizabethton after the draft and hit .306/.341/.454. Kirilloff missed the 2017 season after Tommy John surgery and was a question mark going into 2018. Kirilloff started the year in Cedar Rapids and was excellent, hitting .333/.391/.607 with 13 home runs in 65 games. The great first half propelled him to Fort Myers, where he hit .362 with a .943 OPS in the second half of 2018. This incredible bounceback drove MLB Pipeline to rank him as baseball’s 10th best prospect heading into 2019. The Twins started the 21-year-old at Double-A Pensacola, challenging him against older and more talented pitching. Kirilloff missed April with a wrist injury and returned rusty, hitting just .240 with a .682 OPS in May. Kirilloff battled back to hit .300/.338/.434 from June through August. He also caught fire in the playoffs, showing serious power potential with four home runs in four postseason games: Brent Rooker Rooker slugged .810 with 23 home runs in 67 games in his junior season at Mississippi State and was named the National Player of the Year. Rooker was picked by the Twins shortly after, going 35th overall in the 2017 draft. Rooker finished that season in the minors, posting a hefty .930 OPS and 18 home runs in 62 games between Elizabethton and Fort Myers. Rooker began his age-23 season at Double-A Chattanooga. 2018 was a considerable step back as he hit just .254/.333/.465 in 130 games. The power played as Rooker smacked 22 more home runs, but he struck out in 26% of plate appearances with a 9.8% walk rate. His path to the majors became murkier when Kirilloff broke out during the same year. Rooker started 2019 at Triple-A Rochester and played very well before a groin contusion knocked him out in July. Rooker hit .281/.398/.535 in 65 games with the Red Wings. Rooker participated in the Premier 12 championship this month and hit .300/.333/.800 with three home runs, including this miraculous blast in an elimination game: Luke Raley Raley, Logan Forsythe and Devin Smeltzer were traded from the Dodgers to the Twins for Brian Dozier at the deadline in 2018. Raley was a 23-year-old hitting .275/.345/.477 with 17 home runs in 93 games at Double-A Tulsa. Smeltzer has already provided value to the Twins, making numerous starts last summer, but Raley remains in the minors. Raley was off to a blistering start in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester, batting .302/.362/.516 with seven home runs in 33 games. In May, he injured his left ankle and was forced to undergo surgery to repair the dislocated tendon. He returned for a short rehab assignment in the GCL in September but ran out of time to return to Rochester. Raley played with top prospect Royce Lewis in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters. He hit just .244/.312/.439 in 23 games, but had a few very strong showings, including a 4-for-4 effort on October 19th. Raley hit two home runs with 3 RBIs in an 8-1 victory. He has clear power from the left side and was recently added to the Twins 40-man roster. Here is a clip of him at 2019 Spring Training: Trevor Larnach In 2018, Larnach hit a game-winning two-run home run in the College World Series, making him an instant legend at Oregon State. Larnach hit .348/.463/.652 with 22 home runs and led the Beavers to a National Championship. The Twins responded by drafting him with the 20th overall pick and sending him quickly to the minors. He hit .303/.390/.500 in 42 games between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids. Larnach started 2019 in Fort Myers and played 84 games for the Miracle, hitting .316 with an .842 OPS and 26 doubles. He was called up to Double-A Pensacola to play in 43 games for the Blue Wahoos. He kept it up, hitting .295/.387/.455 with seven home runs. Larnach won the Florida State Player of the Year award for his brilliance at the dish. Additionally, MLB Pipeline named him as the Twins’ Hitting Prospect of the Year. Entering his age-22 season, Larnach is picking up steam as a global name, and is currently ranked as the No.77 prospect in baseball. He should start 2020 in Pensacola, but could quickly move up to Rochester or even Minneapolis. Here are Larnach’s 15 hits in the 2018 College World Series, including that game-winner against Arkansas: Summary All four of these guys could have very bright futures in the majors, with Kirilloff and Larnach carrying more upside. Rooker and Raley have played at Triple-A, and they seem more major league ready. With the Twins in championship mode, they have serious considerations to make regarding these outstanding players. This chart shows that Rooker posted the highest OPS and would likely have been called up instead of LaMonte Wade Jr. in 2019, if not for the injury. Download attachment: OFers.png Click here to view the article

Good topic and article Cody! I really think Wheeler would be enticed by Falvey and Levine, and I think they should be considered a favorite to sign him. In my unbiased opinion, he will come to Minnesota. The White Sox and Rick Hahn recently told fans not to get "too excited" about their offseason and that winning is not a huge priority until at least 2021. The Angels will be focused on Cole and Wheeler seems out of the price range for San Diego with their various commitments and a desire to extend Tatis. I see the Twins as the best fit. I can't wait to find out! I am also nervous!

So good and fun to read Cooper. I would say my lineup would look like this: 1. Betts LF 2. Polanco SS 3. Rendon 3B 4. Kepler RF 5. Cruz DH 6. Grandal/Garver C 7. Sano 1B 8. Arraez 2B 9. Buxton CF MLB 2K13 MyCareer.

You are right! My mistake. Perhaps Astudillo or Cave would start at AAA to make room for Perez. Payroll would increase to about $130M.