Failed Minnesota Twins Outfielder Settles for Minor League Deal

This offseason, the Minnesota Twins needed outfield help. That’s been the case just about every offseason since Byron Buxton took over as the starting center fielder, just due to his injury proneness.

In recent seasons, they have targeted right-handed hitters who can not just fill in for him in center, but who can provide a good defensive glove and righty bat to compliment the many lefties they have in the corner outfield spots, like Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach in 2024 and 2025.

This season the Twins signed Harrison Bader, a former gold glove, to be that fourth right-handed hitting outfielder. Minnesota extra outfielder strategy has had a varied amount of success the last couple seasons.

In 2023, they hit on Michael A Taylor, who played in 129 games (388 PA) and had a career year (.220/.278/.442) posting his highest OPS (.720) since 2017. That’s the type of season they hope to get from Bader.

What they don’t want from their newest outfielder is what they got out of last season’s Michael A. Taylor replacement, Manuel Margot, who was brought in to fill the same role, but ended up being one of the worst outfield free agent signings in Minnesota Twins history, slashing .238/.289/.337 (.626 OPS) for just a 76 OPS+.

Former Minnesota Twins outfielder Manuel Margot surfaces with Milwaukee

As of this morning, the 30-year-old Margot had yet to find a new home for 2025. But Friday afternoon, after he was spotted in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse, Jon Heyman (NY Post) reported that the failed 2024 Twins signing settled for a minor league deal across the border, with an invite to spring training.

Manny Margot to Brewers. Minors deal with MLB camp invite.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 21, 2025

The Brewers haven’t made the transaction official, but the minor league deal isn’t going to make any waves. He’ll likely have an opt out if he doesn’t make the roster, and is definitely hoping for a better 2025 season.

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Margot made $10 million in 2024, $6 million of which was paid by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He . He won’t see anywhere near that payday this season even if he’s able to make the Brewers roster.

Manuel Margot, pinch hitting (0-28 as a pinch hitter) earns a walk and jokingly high steps to first pic.twitter.com/pTDlP9YgV9

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) August 31, 2024

The real ineptitude for Margot last season was an inability to produce as a pinch hitter. Rocco Baldelli continued to trot him out there, and Margot responded by going a franchise-worst 0-for-30 in pinch hitting situations. As a substitute, routinely inserted as a platoon player, Margot went a dismal 8-for-68 with two extra-base hits.

Broadcaster Cory Provus specifically alluded to Baldelli’s usage of Margot when wondering if the Twins will change managerial style in certain situations this year.

Can Manuel Margot bounce back with Brewers?

It’s not exactly shocking that the Minnesota Twins had belief Margot could be of benefit to them. With Tampa Bay in 2023 Margot slashed .264/.310/.376. He also had a .713 OPS against southpaws, and that certainly lined up with what Minnesota was attempting to get from him.

There was probably no reason to believe that Margot would find the 104 OPS+ he posted with the Rays back in 2022. What the MN Twins didn’t expect was for Margot to a negative defensively. But that’s what they got.

Manuel Margot owned a -3 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -5 OAA (outs above average) across all outfield positions last year. Those were easily the worst marks of his career. Now into his 30’s, he’ll need to prove he has more in the tank.

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It was a tough pill for Minnesota to swallow after getting exceptional defense in the same role from Michael A. Taylor last season. Not only did Taylor have a 92 OPS+, but his 5 DRS and 8 OAA weren’t much of a drop-off from Buxton’s typical production. It remains to be seen where Margot fits for Milwaukee.

He won’t play over star youngster Jackson Chourio. He’s also a lesser option than Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick. The veteran may provide insurance for lefty Christian Yelich. If Margot does make the roster and stick around, he’ll see his former Minnesota Twins teammates for a matchup in mid-May and late-June.