Minnesota Twins Rumors - MinnesotaSportsFan

MN Twins Suddenly Out on Adding Shortstop… and Any Other MLB Free Agents

Ezra Greenman — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:56:45 +0000

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

It’s Valentine’s Day, which is a very important holiday on the yearly calendar because it earmarks the start of MLB spring training. Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Myers on Thursday, meaning the 2025 season is right around the corner.

The Twins’ first spring training game is only eight days away, next Saturday vs the Atlanta Braves at Lee Health Sports Complex in Florida. After that, the countdown begins to Opening Day on March 27, in St. Louis vs the Cardinals on the road.

After being quiet for most of the offseason, activity has increased for the Twins exponentially over the past couple weeks. It started when they signed a fourth outfielder, Harrison Bader, then followed it up with a familiar lefty reliever, Danny Coulombe before inking former All-Star first baseman, Ty France earlier this week.

Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

But even after the France signing, insiders were still hearing behind the scenes that the Minnesota Twins were still in the market to add at shortstop, behind Carlos Correa. Over the past 24 hours, however, it appears those plans have changed.

Minnesota Twins done with free agency, so no more help at shortstop…

According to local insiders Darren Wolfson (SKOR North) and Dan Hayes (The Athletic), the Twins are no longer interested in signing more free agents. Both reporters noted Minnesota’s previous interest in Louis Urias. Hayes also mentions Paul DeJong as a SS option Falvey & Co had been interested in.

A week ago the Twins were looking for a backup shortstop. That’s no longer the case; a team source confirmed the Twins are likely done in the free-agent market after signing first baseman Ty France to a non-guaranteed MLB deal for $1 million on Tuesday. The one-year deal is still pending a physical. Before signing France, the Twins inquired about Luis Urías and Paul DeJong, who would have come at a higher price tag with guaranteed MLB deals.
Dan Hayes – The Athletic

“Had a conversation with Derek Falvey, I mentioned this the other day—Louis Urías, the free-agent shortstop, former Brewer, and former Mariner. If the Twins were to add him, it would be as a non-roster invite. Any move to add a shortstop would be downplayed. If they do bring in someone like Urías, it would be an NRI deal, not a full-fledged major league deal.”
Darren Wolfson – SKOR North

Falvey did tell Wolfson that the team may still bring in a shortstop on a minor league deal. That’s something to keep an eye out for. But obviously, the Minnesota Twins won’t be adding any more guaranteed MLB money to the roster, unless something changes their current thinking.

This means, Carlos Correa needs to find a way to stay healthy because when he is, he’s one of the best players in the league. Last season, he played just 86 games, the fewest he’s had in a full season since 2019. But when he was on the field, he delivered, hitting .310/.388/.517 with 14 home runs.

Willi Castro and Brooks Lee are two other options the Twins could turn to at shortstop if something goes wrong. They’re decent choices, but many fans will be disappointed if they follow through and do not add more depth at shortstop or other weaknesses on the roster.

More must-reads:

Suddenly Spend Happy Twins Want to Make More Moves

Eric Strack — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:20:59 +0000

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

All offseason we have been told that the Minnesota Twins were financially broke (relatively speaking). For months, we’ve been fed the same old narrative. As long as the Pohlads were in charge, the Twins — who were over their $130 million player budget before the offseason even started — would have little money to spend on talent.

During the past two offseasons, Twins decision makers made it very clear that balancing the yearly budget had become the organization’s No. 1 priority, even over winning. That was until earlier this week, when the front office signed OF Harrison Bader and RP Danny Coulombe, adding about $10 million of additional salary for 2025.

Shortly after those signings were announced — with player payroll now $11 million over budget ($141 million) — reports surfaced that Twins president Derek Falvey had to go directly to representing owner Joe Pohlad with a request to increase the team’s 2025 player budget, so they could sign Bader and Coulombe.

Minnesota Twins still have more moves planned?

Not only did Falvey get the green light on budget increases that have already taken place. But according to what the new team president told Dan Hayes (The Athletic) this weekend, the MN Twins still have more moves they want to make before spring training starts next week.

Even though the Twins’ $141.6 million payroll is much more than it was believed they had to spend, potentially there could be more wiggle room if the fit is right. Falvey suggested Pohlad has been open-minded to adding payroll even though his family put the team up for sale in October…
Dan Hayes – The Athletic

We do not know why this sudden influx of available cash is coming from for the Minnesota Twins. One more signing and they will be nearing the total payroll pre 2024, before it was announced last offseason that they were cutting the budget by $20-$30 million.

Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Why is this happening? Why are the Twins suddenly willing to throw $10-$20 million around all of a sudden? That’s a great question, and there’s no way to know for sure. But it’s impossible to ignore the previously reported timeline for this sale.

“We knew that early on in the offseason, maybe some of those (opportunities) weren’t going to present as well in terms of the fit financially and on the roster. We knew we might have to just be patient. … I’ve had active conversations with Joe the last couple of weeks and he greenlighted the ability to add a little bit.”
Derek Falvey – via The Athletic

Remember, we were told last month that, while this deal is unlikely to be finalized by Opening Day, it’s expected that a handshake deal is in place by then. So… could this recent influx of cash be at the request of this new owner, whose identity is yet to be revealed to the public? It certainly seems plausible.

What are the Twins shopping for?

Per Hayes (and multiple other reports), the Minnesota Twins are still on the hunt for improvements at two different positions. They want to add a veteran presence at first base, with a focus on defense, and a better backup option for Carlos Correa at shortstop.

The Twins ideally prefer a steadier glove at shortstop than utilityman Willi Castro, whom they like to move around the diamond, in the case of a long-term absence for Correa. Earlier this week, multiple league sources confirmed the Twins inquired about backup shortstop options Luis Urías and Paul DeJong after previously reaching out to infielder Jon Berti before he signed with the Chicago Cubs.
Dan Hayes – The Athletic

No matter what happens over the next five weeks, as we wait for the MN Twins 2025 regular season to start, there are sure to be plenty of fireworks coming out of the Twins PR department. Between late offseason roster additions and new ownership announcements… maybe some fun will come back to Target Field this summer.

More must-reads:

Details Emerge Surrounding Twins + Padres Trade Talks for Dylan Cease

Ted Schwerzler — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 23:05:06 +0000

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Last week details emerged regarding the Minnesota Twins being in contact with the San Diego Padres. The NL West team had interest in veteran backstop Christian Vazquez. Minnesota, and anyone with common sense, likes what Dylan Cease brings to the table.

That would never be a one-for-one swap obviously, and the sides have had active discussions about other parts. Spring Training is less than two weeks away now though, and nothing has materialized yet.

Dylan Cease would make perfect sense for the MN Twins

When The Athletic’s Dan Hayes first reported interest in Cease from Minnesota, it was a bombshell. In his latest article, his suggestion that “Cease is precisely what the Twins need,” couldn’t be more true. The Twins aren’t the only team to inquire about the Cy Young-caliber pitcher, but he would solve a significant amount of fan angst.

Hayes astutely outlines a way in which Minnesota could acquire Cease, while protecting their prospects and fulfilling San Diego’s desire for big league talent.

“The Padres’ ask likely begins with either Ryan or Ober. The Twins would instead prefer to insert Zebby Matthews or Simeon Woods Richardson while also having to include left fielder Trevor Larnach, utilityman Willi Castro (whose $6.4 million salary would help offset how much money the Twins absorb with Cease) and others to help compensate for the draft pick compensation the Padres would receive if they kept Cease for the season, made him the qualifying offer, and he then leaves via free agency.”
Dan Hayes on a Dylan Cease trade return (The Athletic)

There is no way Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez will be made available. It’s also tough to envision that Luke Keaschall could be moved given the likelihood of him being a possible answer at first base in the big leagues this year.

If the Padres are willing to pay most of Christian Vazquez’s $10 million salary this season, that could be a way for the Twins to inch closer for a net-even return. Willi Castro’s salary is the only other sizable amount of those mentioned.

With Cease on board, the Twins could part with either big league starter Zebby Matthews and/or Simeon Woods Richardson. They still have Triple-A prospect depth in the form of Andrew Morris, Cory Lewis, and Marco Raya.

Dylan Cease NO HITTER!!! 🍾 pic.twitter.com/fsbZXA2Fec
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 25, 2024

Cease brings the high-end talent along with incredible durability. He has started at least 32 games in each of the past four seasons; three times leading the league. He has two top-four Cy Young finishes, familiarity with the division, and has racked up at least 214 strikeouts in each of the past four years.

Despite just a single year left on his deal, Cease also represents an ideal extension candidate. Although Minnesota doesn’t have money now due to their sale, they may soon with new owners. Talk about a way to make a splash.

Could MN pivot to a different deal with San Diego?

It’s understandable that Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll may balk at the asking price from A.J. Preller. The Twins don’t really need to add more back-end depth, but it doesn’t have to be Cease or bust.

San Diego has floated Michael King’s name as a potential trade candidate, and he just agreed to an arbitration deal.

Michael King and the Padres have settled to avoid arbitration, per source. King will be guaranteed $7.75 million ($3M signing bonus, $1M salary, $3.75M buyout on a $15M mutual option for 2026). The buyout can become $4M based on number of games started. @sdutKevinAcee was on it.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 31, 2025

King has one more year of team control than Dylan Cease, and could be in the same $13 million ballpark next season. Right now though, he’s a cheaper payday and his track record can be a bit more scrutinized.

The former Yankees pitcher has a dazzling 2.91 ERA since 2021, but he only became a full-time starter last year. That resulted in a 2.95 ERA across 173 2/3 innings along with 201 strikeouts. He’s a year older than Cease, playing at 30 in 2025, and has thrown 100 innings just twice in his career.

This overlay of Michael King’s two seamer and sweeper 🤯

(h/t @PitchingNinja)pic.twitter.com/ZuB4w1l5kw
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) June 12, 2024

Right now the Minnesota Twins offseason has been an inexcusable mess. It was never estimated that they would be very active on the free agent front due to financial constraints. Having spent less than $10 million since signing Carlos Correa, and not bringing in a single major league free agent, this winter is a joke.

The trade market could fix a lot of problems in a season where the Twins need to compete, and must earn back fan trust. There is now an avenue to watch the games, but people must be incentivized to do so.

More must-reads:

Twins Analyst Questions Rocco Baldelli’s Managerial Strategy

Ted Schwerzler — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 22:42:02 +0000

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Last season the Minnesota Twins absolutely failed down the stretch. Despite a regular season that saw them contend for most of the year, Rocco Baldelli watched his group fall apart while it mattered. He also struggled to pull the right strings.

The rigidity of Minnesota’s desire to find matchups was prevalent all season. Manuel Margot was among the worst acquisitions in recent history, but that didn’t stop the manager from consistenly calling his number. Cory Provus took note of that and wonders if the plan won’t be different this time around.

Cory Provus wonders if MN Twins will operate differently this year

Last year there was a clear understanding as to how Rocco Baldelli would have the Minnesota Twins line up. Pitcher handedness dictated the lineup and that led to him making wholesale changes mid-game. Analyst Cory Provus obviously wasn’t a fan.

“What I am more interested in, is what will change if anything, is what will change philosophically. Where I kept watching the last two, three weeks of the regular season with the Tigers and the Guardians, and seeing left-handed hitters face left-handed pitchers early in the game. I wonder if Rocco shifts a little bit on that and doesn’t pull Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, and Eddie [Edouard] Julien in the 4th inning. He says, you know what, I may lose this round but this matchup is going to look better in the 7th, 8th, or 9th inning…They were easy to manage against.”
Cory Provus (Gleeman and the Geek)

What Provus is talking about couldn’t have been more obvious for Minnesota last season. Rocco Baldelli had a level of rigidity to his lineups based on the handedness of the opposing starting pitcher. The unfortunate fallout meant that late game situations often had less talented players as the only option.

The Twins acquired Manuel Margot with the though that he could be a backup outfield option with utility in centerfield. He also batted from the right side of the plate. Unfortunately he posted negative defensive numbers and was even worse offensively.

Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Margot’s 76 OPS+ was a career low. He went 0-for-30 as a pinch hitter and Baldelli found himself looking genuinely insane for continuing to run him out in those situations.

This season the Twins don’t have a straightforward answer as a right-handed outfield option. That could mean they allow their lefties to play a bit more despite platoon disadvantages. Regardless, there is no reason for Baldelli to be so extremely rigid with his decision making and the man calling the games agrees.

More must-reads:

Rocco Baldelli Anticipates Twins Make Multiple Moves Still This Offseason

Eric Strack — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:23:40 +0000

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

There is 2.5 weeks before players start to report for Fort Myers and, so far, the Minnesota Twins have done next to nothing this offseason, to improve their team from a team personnel standpoint. That’s because, after one of the worst 2nd half collapses in franchise history, the Twins are yet again dealing with self-imposed financial restrictions that have made the roster extremely inflexible.

The Pohlads’ ever tightening pockets haven’t stopped team president Derek Falvey and his front office from trying to create action. Last week, a report surfaced that the Twins have had extensive talks with the San Diego Padres, mostly surrounding a swap that would send (C) Christian Vazquez west and bring back (SP) Dylan Cease.

Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

At Twinsfest this weekend, manager Rocco Baldelli and some of the Minnesota Twins most notable players, including Carlos Correa, seemed mostly resigned to the fact that a shake-up trade could be difficult to make happen, due to financial reasons mentioned above.

Rocco Baldelli still expects Minnesota Twins to make moves

But behind the scenes, there is enough percolating to make Falvey and Baldelli remain optimistic that the Twins won’t just make one “significant move” before the start of the season, but multiple. At least, that’s what he told local insider Darren ‘Doogie’ Wolfson while the two were together for an interview on Channel 5 (ABC-KSTP) that airs Sunday.

“Rocco did tell me, though, he anticipates, plural — ‘moves’ — before, let’s just say, Opening Day. Not singular, not ‘move’, but ‘moves’. [He] didn’t promise me it’s a 1st baseman, didn’t promise me it’s a righty bat that can play some center field. But he does anticipate multiple moves to take place over the next handful of weeks.”

Wolfson has mentioned this in recent Scoops episodes of Mackey & Judd on SKOR North that Rocco Baldelli really would like a defensive 1st baseman he can plug into the lineup, along with a righty stick that can spell Byron Buxton in center field.

Will the Minnesota Twins’ front office be able to rope in those things for him? We do not know, but those are the types of player that the manager is looking for and Derek Falvey & Co have been poking around about.

Who are the Twins interested in?

Doogie mentions Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle as a player he is watching, and also notes that the Twins are not interested in bringing outfielder Michael A. Taylor back. Contrarily, Harrison Bader would wet their whistle… for a lower cost.

Now I will tell you, Rocco very much values first base defense. I still wonder what Baltimore does with Ryan Mountcastle, I really do. But I think Rocco is searching more than anything right now for a right handed bat that can play center field. We are talking 300ish at bats that Rocco is trying to account for in center field.

Well you look at the free agency market, the Twins do not have interest in a reunion with Michael A. Taylor. They would have some interest in Harrison Bader, if the price came down, but he made $10 million last year. The Twins are not signing Harrison Bader for that sort of money. Like a Jake Myers in Houston [could be] a trade candidate, maybe? That is something that they are targeting.
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Who knows what the Minnesota Twins will be able to pull off, but clearly those inside the organization are expecting at least a couple more moves to be made before Opening Day. Will it be pitching help, outfield help or a defensive first baseman? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

More must-reads:

Minnesota Twins Worried About Overwhelming Royce Lewis Again

Eric Strack — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 16:20:01 +0000

Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

This weekend is the annual “Twinsfest” celebration at Target Field, which always signals the start of a new season. As we inch closer and closer to another Minnesota Twins spring training, news and rumors surrounding our favorite baseball team are becoming more and more frequent.

But, assuming our ‘cash-strapped’ Twins keep the core of last summer’s band together (Correa, Buxton, P. Lopez), most spring training question marks over the next handful of weeks will surround key youngsters who Baldelli & Co. need to see blossom this season.

Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The most important young player within that group is probably Royce Lewis, who’s looking to rebound after a very difficult end to 2024. How will the Minnesota Twins handle their young star, after he crumbled down the stretch both mentally and physically fall?

Minnesota Twins worried about overwhelming Royce Lewis

According to what SKOR North’s Declan “Dex” Goff — who’s been working the Twins’ home beat for a few years now — revealed on the Mackey & Judd show lat this week, Minnesota coaches and executives are being very careful not to “overwhelm” Royce Lewis again in 2025.

Per Dex, manager Rocco Baldelli and president Derek Falvey are focused on “empowering” the 25-year-old former No. 1 overall pick. The Twins insider repeats “overwhelm” and “empower” over and over again, likely meaning that Twins officials possibly Royce himself are in Declan’s ear pushing those two words specifically.

Mackey: “For both Doogie and Dex here, on Royce Lewis. The vibes were weird in the second half of the season…He’s this incredible talent who’s dealt with injuries and some frustration. Now that he’s had a few months in the offseason…where do we think we are with Royce Lewis [with] spring training coming up in a few weeks.”

Dex: “I think they for sure want to empower him. It was a tumultuous end to the season. Royce was on the record of displeasures, whether it came to moving to 2B…I remember talking to him after the deadline [and] he wasn’t too pleased either with the lack of acquisitions. It feels like the Twins, and I think this starts with Rocco…they want to empower Royce and they don’t want to overwhelm Royce Lewis.”
Mackey & Judd Show – SKOR North

Trying to fix Royce Lewis should be a top priority for the Minnesota Twins this season. Last year served as a reality check for the young slugger who, at the begging of the year told reporters that he ‘doesn’t do the slump thing’. Then, he slumped for the entire second half of the 2024 season, finishing with a dissatisfying .233 BA and .295 OBP, in only 82 games played.

Nobody needed the end of last season more than Lewis, who was even bickering with Carlos Correa through media last September. Given the report above, I expect we will see a much different Royce when the Minnesota Twins report for Spring Training.

Not so fast on Royce Lewis moving to 2nd base…

But that doesn’t mean we will see him playing a different position. Royce Lewis is not the defender that Brooks Lee is and it could be argued Jose Miranda is better defensively too. That has led to chatter surrounding a possible move to 2nd base, which he did not want to do at the end of last season.

While we will probably still see Lewis get innings at 2nd base, per Dex and local insider Darren Wolfson (KSTP) sounds like most of his time in the lineup will still be written in at 3rd base. Not because that’s what is necessarily best for the team, but because the Minnesota Twins are worried that the stress of a position change could be too much for him to handle.

Dex: “This whole second base plan that they could mix him in, I actually feel it might be Royce Lewis as more of your opening day third baseman, and maybe he spells at second occasionally. But I think they want to make sure they’re empowering him first, before worrying about anything else when it comes to moving him to a new position, [etc]…they really want to empower him so they don’t overwhelm him and have a situation like last year happen again”

Wolfson: “I would agree. I was with Rocco for about an hour on Wednesday. We sat down on camera for a bit, for a TV piece that will air Sunday night here in the Twin Cities on Channel 5 (ABC-KSTP). He made it clear to me Royce is taking more reps at third base this winter, compared to second base. Yes, he is taking some second base reps, [and] yes he’ll take some second base reps during spring training…but Rocco was very clear that he’s getting more reps right now at third base.”
Mackey & Judd Show – SKOR North

The Twins front office is reportedly trying to make moves, even though they have no money to spend. As of now, there is no motivation to trade any of their best players, but they do continue to get calls on stars like Carlos Correa and Pablo Lopez. The expectation is that this is largely the Minnesota Twins team we’ll enter April with.

Minnesota Twins relying on youngsters in 2025

In the starting rotation, that means a few of Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods-Richardson and David Festa take the next step in their MLB development. Young relievers like Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran need to once again prove themselves as locks at the back of any bullpen.

Meanwhile, position players like Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner, Jose Miranda, Eddie Julien, Trevor Larnach and — probably most importantly — Royce Lewis need to show they can remain healthy and productive through most of a 162 game season.

Royce just wants to know what the plan is [for him on defense], right? When he was thrown into second base middle of the season, or end of the season — that game in Tampa. That came as a bit of a shock to Royce. Royce likes to prepare a ton so he will get second base reps in Fort Myers.

Royce Lewis, when he has been healthy, has never failed. He just hasn’t, but he finally did. It was an emotional roller coaster for Royce, [who’s had] many conversations with the team sports psychologist, right, like the mental side of the game really beat up Royce. So I think there’s still some rehabbing that needs to take place with his mental makeup, just so he isn’t quite the rollercoaster that he was last year.
Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show – SKOR North

Of course, the most likely outcome is somewhere in the middle. We see a chunk of these youngsters take that next step, while others trip. But for the 2025 Twins, they must see more of these 20-something talents take positive steps in their development, than not. Otherwise, it could be a very long summer at Target Field…

More must-reads:

Minnesota Twins Trying to Trade Veteran Catcher for Major Rotation Upgrade

Ted Schwerzler — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 03:45:00 +0000

Chadd Cady-Imagn Images

It’s almost as though the Minnesota Twins have forgotten they can make roster moves during the MLB offseason. With an impending sale, ownership has mandated that Derek Falvey spend no money (not that they needed a reason). Sure, some minor league free agents have been acquired, but that has been the extent of the Twins’ action, so far.

The assumption heading into the winter was that Minnesota would move a veteran contract in order to shuffle the roster. Players like Christian Vazquez, Willi Castro, and Chris Paddack have all been named in offseason trade rumor reports. But on Wednesday night, details surrounding ongoing talks with the San Diego Padres came to light.

Twins catcher Christian Vazquez is a San Diego Padres trade target

Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Minnesota linked up with the San Diego Padres a few years ago, when they acquired Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan, just before opening day. New Minnesota Twins Derek Falvey and his right-hand man Jeremy Zoll have reportedly been in talks with Padres GM A.J. Preller regarding a deal that would send Christian Vazquez to the West Coast.

“The Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have spoken about a potential trade that would send veteran catcher Christian Vázquez to San Diego, league sources told The Athletic. No deal was considered imminent Wednesday, but there appeared to be motivation on both sides to continue talking.”
The Athletic

It makes all the sense in the world for Minnesota to move on from Vazquez. Ryan Jeffers is the superior all-around option behind the dish, and Vazquez carries a $10 million salary in 2025.

A year ago, Jeffers experienced multiple ebbs and flows to his season, producing a 103 OPS+ with a .226/.300/.432 slash line. Although Vazquez is better defensively, his 60 OPS+ and .221/.248/.327 rendered him mostly unplayable in 2024.

Christian Vazquez framing a ball that bounced in the dirt, commitment to the craft pic.twitter.com/Ivhl3LeTz1
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) September 26, 2024

San Diego needs a starting catcher and the free agent market is barren. According to a report from Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin (The Athletic), the two-time World Series winner is exactly what the Padres are looking for. What’s holding up the deal? San Diego wants Minnesota to eat more of Vazquez’s 2025 salary.

But the more interesting side of this report may be what the Minnesota Twins are looking to get back, in a deal for Vazquez. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease was dealt to the Padres just last season, but as a pending unrestricted free agent who is set to make just $13.75 million in 2025, San Diego is considering dumping his salary, to cut down on luxury tax costs. The Twins, as they rightfully should be, are very much interested.

A key sticking point in talks between the teams is believed to be how much of Vázquez’s contract San Diego would absorb in a possible exchange. The Padres, who still have multiple needs after missing out on a potential ace in Roki Sasaki, are currently projected to be over the luxury tax threshold.

The Padres would like to keep Cease, but some rival officials believe president of baseball operations A.J. Preller ultimately will have little choice but to move the pending free agent and his $13.75 million salary.
The Athletic

Minnesota eyeing Dylan Cease in return

Credit: Chadd Cady-Imagn Images

Rocco Baldelli & Co are innately familiar with the 29-year-old starter, considering he spent five years with their division rival Chicago White Sox. In his first year with the Padres, Cease posted a 3.47 ERA with a 3.10 FIP.

Cease, who would slot immediately into the front half of what would be a stacked Minnesota Twins 2025 starting rotation, threw a career-high 189 1/3 innings while striking out 224 batters. It was his fourth-straight season surpassing the 200-strikeout threshold.

San Diego isn’t a small market team, but they operate in many of the same ways as the Twins. The Padres carried a $170 million payroll last year and would love to drop that number. If Minnesota is willing to eat some of Vazquez’s salary and take on Cease’s number, a common ground could be reached.

“The right-hander would provide a good Twins rotation with an outstanding, if short-term, upgrade. But the sides might not find common ground on a package. The Twins would prefer to provide a value-laden package to replenish the Padres’ depth as opposed to the higher-upside talent Preller likes to hunt.“
The Athletic

Congratulations to Dylan Cease on throwing the 2nd no-hitter in Padres history pic.twitter.com/xmCNcl05HP
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) July 25, 2024

The Twins rotation isn’t in a bad spot, but Cease would unquestionably pair with Pablo Lopez as a second top-tier option. An ability to push Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober down in depth is huge and could create a more sustainable group for Rocco Baldelli this season.

Fallout for the Minnesota Twins

A move to acquire Cease undoubtedly means adding salary. Right now Minnesota is tapped out on that front and the Pohlad family isn’t bringing in more cash. The Padres are likely not interested in the services of either Paddack or Castro, instead opting for prospect talent.

Chris Paddack's 3Ks in the 2nd.

5Ks thru 2. pic.twitter.com/i8QiIecX3y
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 9, 2024

Should the trade include Vazquez and a minor league, it makes sense that veteran arm Chris Paddack would be on the chopping block. He has drawn trade interest and is set to make $7.5 million in 2025. His 2024 4.99 ERA isn’t good, but another organization could be convinced that he represents a depth piece.

The Twins have been loading up at the catcher position through trades this offseason. The big league tandem would be Jeffers and Jair Camargo. Diego Cartaya has appeal as a former top prospect though, and Mickey Gasper has utility there as well.

If recent offseason moves have tough us anything, it’s to never consider Falvey and the Twins done with making moves. An acquisition of Cease would be huge, and even more so if they can offload Vazquez in the process.

More must-reads:

Yankees Checking in on Multiple Former Minnesota Twins Infielders

Ted Schwerzler — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:53:34 +0000

Stephen Brashear-Imagn ImagesStephen Brashear-Imagn Images

There are few franchises, across any sport, that Minnesotans hate more than the New York Yankees. It’s not just that the Bronx Bombers have had the Twins’ number in the postseason. They represent a giant dragon that doesn’t go away.

Free agency is part of the process in big league baseball. Players are always going to come and go. Minnesotans love those that become one of us though. We definitely don’t want to see them forced to shave and wearing pinstripes. Unfortunately, that may be a reality once again.

Which Twins infielder goes to New York next?

The story of the offseason for New York was their inability to land Juan Soto, and him choosing the little brother New York Mets. That meant Brian Cashman had a bunch to spend. They have filled plenty of their holes, but second base remains open after Gleyber Torres signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers.

So far they haven’t met Alex Bregman’s asking price and that brings a pair of former Minnesota Twins infielders into their view.

“As they sort through options following the departure of Gleyber Torres, the Yankees have checked in on 11-year pro Jorge Polanco, a source said.”
Mark Sanchez on the Yankees 2B pursuits (NY Post)

“The Yankees are unquestionably a deeper team — and they’re not done, either. They’ve continued to discuss Luis Arráez with San Diego”
Jeff Passan on the Yankees pursuits (ESPN)

New York knows that second base remains a priority, and there’s a pair of former Twins options that could fit the bill. Unfortunately neither of them play good defense, and even Arraez’s batting average prowess doesn’t save him there.

Jorge Polanco • 04/30/2024 pic.twitter.com/C3xNqPUQOY
— Random Homers (@randomdingers) November 22, 2024

Polanco posted just a .213/.296/.355 slash line across 118 games for Seattle. Injuries were part of the problem, and he will be 31 years old. Arraez won his third-straight batting title, but has now done so with three different teams. His .314/.346/.392 slash line didn’t stop him from moving to first base, and his defensive metrics everywhere are awful.

Luis Arraez 2024 Defensive Highlights 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/JhIeAzW9x3
— Jacob P.M.🌔 (@JacobBSpeaks) January 6, 2025

New York only has to pay money for Polanco, who is a free agent. Arraez is projected to get just over $14 million in arbitration this season after losing his hearing against the Marlins a year ago. He is a free agent in 2026.

What the Yankees opt to do could depend heavily on where they go with the starting rotation. Either player, being bad defenders, would not help groundball savant Marcus Stroman. If he is dealt, then there may be more of a willingness to roll the dice.

It seemed like Max Kepler could be a fit in New York after they missed out on Soto. Instead he went to the Phillies and it’s a pair of infielders stoking the fire instead.

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Minnesota Twins Predicted to Land Bargain Bin Reliever

Ted Schwerzler — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 18:42:42 +0000

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesTommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The offseason has been incredibly slow for the Minnesota Twins. That is to be expected with ownership not allowing the front office to spend money. Ultimately they need to shed salary, and they’ll still be working with little capital for additions.

By the time the Twins are ready to move on the open market, there probably isn’t going to be much left. They need to add outfield, first base, and pitching help. They could opt to go the reunion route.

Left-handed reliever fills a need for the Minnesota Twins

From 2020 through 2022 Danny Coulombe continues to re-sign one-year deals with the Minnesota Twins. He left for the Baltimore Orioles and has continued to be a very productive southpaw out of the bullpen. Former beat writer Do-Hyoung Park suggest he’s a solid fit to return.

“Carlos Santana seemed like the neatest fit here — that is, until he agreed to return to the division-rival Guardians, taking him out of the picture for a reunion with Minnesota. In terms of an affordable addition that could address a roster need, left-handed relief might then be the lowest-hanging fruit following the departure of Caleb Thielbar, with the Twins almost always preferring to avoid multiyear commitments to bullpen arms. Coulombe could perhaps fit the bill here, and we already know the Twins like the 35-year-old lefty, considering it was with Minnesota in 2020 (as a non-roster invitee) that he reestablished himself as a big leaguer before his more successful stint in Baltimore.”
Do-Hyoung Park on Danny Coulombe to Minnesota (MLB)

Coulombe was effective during his time with the Twins posting a 2.92 ERA across three seasons. Different injuries limited him to just 49 1/3 innings in that stretch.

Danny Coulombe, K'ing the Side pic.twitter.com/n6TOhWY8pD
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 9, 2024

With Baltimore Coulombe threw 81 innings the past two seasons. His 2.56 ERA was impressive and the 90 strikeouts resulted in a strong 10.0 K/9. The left doesn’t give up walks and does a great job keeping the ball in the yard. He averages just 90.8 mph on his fastball, but succeeds on generating ground balls.

There is no real track record of Derek Falvey spending money on the bullpen. Often the front office targets veterans on minor league deals with an eye on them elevating to the 26-man roster during spring training.

Coulombe was previously among these types of additions, and so too is current free agent Jeff Hoffman. At 35 years old Coulombe may not be the ideal acquisition, but beggars can’t be choosers when options are this slim.

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Minnesota Twins Taking Calls on Another All-Star Talent

Ted Schwerzler — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:14:26 +0000

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins’ offseason has once again become the punchline of MLB’s winter meetings, thanks to yet another round of absurd expectations from ownership. Last year, they were hit with a $30 million payroll cut. This year, the directive is no increase at all, forcing the team into the unenviable position of shedding even more dollars.

Given the staggering sums being tossed around in the free agent market, there’s no excuse for Derek Falvey to hang up when teams inquire about his high-priced talent. This was evident with Carlos Correa, but he’s far from the only big-dollar player on the Twins’ roster drawing attention.

Adding talent should be the Minnesota Twins focus

Two years ago the Minnesota Twins put together the greatest playoff run in decades. Ownership has followed that up by being obtuse, clueless, and utterly laughable. Up against another payroll mandate, Derek Falvey must shed salary, and Pablo Lopez is the latest name to be mentioned.

“The Twins have listened on right-hander Pablo Lopez, and if free agent pitching prices remain stratospheric, perhaps they’ll go beyond the listening stage.”
Jeff Passan on the Twins trade discussions (ESPN)

Among industry insiders, no one is more plugged in or consistently accurate than Jeff Passan. If he reports that the Twins have both received and entertained offers for Pablo López, then it’s the truth. The sad reality is that they didn’t immediately hang up the phone.

The Oakland Athletics have just committed $67 million to 31-year-old Luis Severino, who’s coming off a season with a 3.91 ERA and a 4.21 FIP. While these numbers are an improvement from his disastrous 2023 season (6.65 ERA, 6.14 FIP), they are still below his peak performances from years past, which makes this hefty investment all the more surprising.

Pablo López, Nasty 89mph Changeup…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/XeFWXdbAcI
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 13, 2024

Pablo López was not at his best for the Minnesota Twins last season, posting a 4.08 ERA alongside a 3.65 FIP. However, he maintained a strong strikeout rate with 9.6 K/9 and is still only 29 years old. With three years remaining on his contract at over $64 million, in today’s free agent market, he’d likely command significantly more if he were available.

Minnesota having to listen on their ace is a laughable reality. The is no scenario in which trading Lopez, regardless of the return, makes the Twins better. His salary escalates for 2025 though, so Falvey must operate through the demands of ownership.

State of the Twins is a sad reality

At a point in which Correa is signed, Buxton is leaving his prime, and multiple young players are entering theirs, it’s a time that the Minnesota Twins should be going all in. The division has no clear frontrunner, and Derek Falvey could establish his franchise as such.

Unfortunately, Joe, Jim, and the ghost of Carl are clueless owners completely out of touch when it comes to asset management. It probably makes sense to trade Christian Vazquez, Chris Paddack, and maybe even Willi Castro. To do so only to get under a self-imposed threshold, though, rings hollow.

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT. WHAT A PLAY TO END THE INNING. pic.twitter.com/ZA8W58HtHn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 27, 2024

Minnesota could reallocate certain assets and be a player in the free agent market. They need first base help and a right-handed outfielder. Right now they cannot afford either, and they’d rather filter through the thrift section when making any moves, than be a big player.

Fans, the front office, and the manager all deserve better from the Minnesota Twins. When calls come in for key players, the response should be swift – a click to hang up.

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