Nash Walker

It seems almost a no-brainer for the Twins to move Jorge Polanco and his $10.5-million salary this offseason. Even as a staunch believer of both of the youngsters who would replace him, though, I'm less sure. Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Twins are in an envious position. All but a handful of MLB teams would swap their current state of affairs for a locked-in core of Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Carlos Correa, Ryan Jeffers, Byron Buxton, Pablo López, and Jhoan Durán, not to discount an additional two top-20 prospects in Walker Jenkins (Ranked 16th at MLB Pipeline) and Brooks Lee (18th). There is loads of talent in the organization, evidenced by a stellar second half in which the Twins went 42-29 (a 96-win pace) while scoring the second-most runs (398) and allowing the fourth-fewest (306) in the American League. If there was ever a year in which the 26-man collection could endure payroll restrictions, 2024 is it. But that's a slippery slope. Lewis, who should be a trendy 2024 MVP pick, is earning the minimum at third base. Same for Julien, Matt Wallner, Durán, and three presumptive rotation members, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Louie Varland. Chris Paddack comes in at $2.5 million, a very affordable price for a backend starter. López is collecting a mere $8.25 million on the front end of a brilliant four-year, $73.5-million extension agreed to in late April. That's chump change for an ace. Jorge Polanco’s $10.5 million appears bloated by comparison, especially given the self-imposed budgetary constraints. The institutional anchor, after nearly 15 years and 1,466 games in the organization, is not a player you push to flip. Polanco’s 118 wRC+ ranked sixth among 26 A.L. second baseman with at least 250 plate appearances last season. He posted career highs in Barrel rate and Hard-Hit rate, while producing an OPS significantly better than MLB’s mean. While he graded poorly by Outs Above Average (OAA) at -5, Polanco finished as a plus in Defensive Runs Saved (1). Lee, who is a legitimate top-end prospect, doesn't look quite ready. As of this writing, he’s 22 years old and hit .237 with a .731 OPS in his first taste of Triple A. In an extremely offense-friendly environment, Lee’s wRC+ of 78 was 22 percent below the league average. I’m not saying he won’t be good (or even great!) in the majors; he just probably won’t be for a bit. Like Julien last May, you cross that bridge when you come to it for a team with the potential to play deep into October. Finding that same proverbial room for Julien is unnecessary. Unlike José Miranda, who held his own against same-sided pitchers in 2022 and essentially pushed out Gio Urshela in a similar situation at third, he’s best suited for a fairly strict platoon role. An early season pairing of Buxton and Julien at DH could be exceedingly favorable for the Twins, assuming Buxton eases back into center field during that time. A $12-million club option for 2025 lets the Twins re-evaluate Polanco next offseason and make the call then. There is ample capital with which to deal for starting pitching, without taking away from a deep, brawny position player group. The fixation in moving Polanco in most spaces is opportunity cost: the loss of potential gains from other alternatives. Perhaps overcoming his greatest flaw, Julien seemed competent defensively down the stretch. The numbers check out. He went from -4 OAA from March through June to 4 OAA from July through September. The rookie finished with a neutral number of runs prevented, per Statcast. It’s sensible to simply chalk Julien in at second base, wait for Lee, and send Polanco on his merry way, with big-league help or prospects coming in return. This type of roster architecture has borne fruit on numerous occasions in Twins history. See: rookie Joe Mauer replacing A.J. Pierzynski, who was traded for Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano. Or, for a more recent example: acquiring López for Arraez, who watched from afar as Julien emerged in his spot. I'm almost always in favor of this "trust the kids" strategy. Not in this case. First, you're not going to net a López for Polanco, who remains good and underrated but also limited by age and injuries. It's true that since 2021, Polanco ranks fifth among 39 qualified second basemen in wRC+ (121), homers (63), and fourth in RBI (202). It's equally true that, after leading the Twins by a mile with 1,574 plate appearances from 2019 to 2021, Polanco has logged a total of 788 since. Recurring lower body trouble has limited him to 181 starts over the last two seasons. It's enough to wonder if the 30-year-old is nearing the end of his prime. I'm willing to bet he has a lot more to give in 2024. Polanco is the prototype of a well-known, well-liked veteran who supplements a roster brimming with young talent. He's no longer one of the team's best players, but that doesn't mean he's instantly dispensable. He's a good enough player until he shows you he's not. I want to keep as many good players as possible, with a modest potential return in mind. What's your stance on Polanco? How much would the Twins have to get in return in order for you to be ok with the departure of such a long-tenured fixture? View full article

The Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins connected on a blockbuster trade last winter that sent frontline starter Pablo López to the front of the Twins' rotation. Which Marlins starter should the Twins go after next via trade? View full video

The Minnesota Twins have some key decisions to make at second base. Jorge Polanco's tenure could be coming to an end, while Ed Julien emerges as one of the more potent young bats in the American League. Meanwhile, top prospect Brooks Lee is waiting in the wings for an opportunity. This question could define the Twins' direction this offseason. View full video

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The story of the second half for the Minnesota Twins was the emergence of some great young hitters. Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner thrived en route to a division title. Those three, plus top prospects on the way, offer reason for great excitement for the future of the club. View full video

Pablo López joined the Twins as an already established very sturdy Major League starter. His transformation into an ace can be attributed almost solely to the addition of an elite, devastating sweeper. View full video

The Minnesota Twins have some difficult decisions to make this winter, including whether to trade some of their veterans to open spots and payroll space. Here's my offseason blueprint with splashes and changes up and down the roster and farm system. View full video

Edouard Julien emerged as one of the most well-rounded young hitters in baseball in 2023. Is he ready to take over at second base, pushing Jorge Polanco out via trade? Let's analyze one of the most crucial questions for the Minnesota Twins this offseason. View full video

The winner of the 2021 National League Cy Young Award and a three time All-Star, Corbin Burnes is entering his final year of arbitration with the Milwaukee Brewers. Twins fans have yearned for a Burnes trade in the past, but now is undoubtedly the best and most likely time to push hard for the talented right-hander. View full video

Corbin Burnes is earning understandable buzz as a trade target this offseason. While Burnes is fantastic, his Brewers counterpart Freddy Peralta may be the better get. Peralta, 27, is under contract through 2026 and is one of the best starting pitchers plenty of fans have never heard of. View full video

There was plenty of buzz at the deadline on 2022 National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt, who is entering his final year under contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Birds hung on to their star, aging first baseman at the August deadline, but could they re-visit talks this offseason? Where would the Twins stand in those sweepstakes? View full video