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Listen4 Big Name Scott Boras Free Agents That Fit Exactly What Minnesota Twins Still Need
When it comes to free agency, the Minnesota Twins are doing their usual thing: waiting until the market plays out, knowing they have plenty of time before the season begins. We’ve seen this level of patience before, and at this point, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have accepted the reality of playing the waiting game during free agency. But that doesn’t mean the Twins aren’t prepared to strike at any moment by making a significant addition to the roster.
Related: Rocco Baldelli Would Bet on Twins Making a Significant Move Before Spring Training
Many of the biggest name MLB free agents have already signed new contracts but a few superstar names and plenty of under-the-radar gems remain. To nobody’s surprise, some of the best players available are clients of baseball’s super-agent Scott Boras, who seems determined, yet again, to win his latest offseason edition of ‘Chicken’ with MLB front offices.
Boras Corp represents all five of the best remaining free agents on the market and 6 of the top 8. Several key Twins players, including Carlos Correa, are represented by Scott Boras. Carlos and Minnesota were an unlikely combination back before he signed in March, 2022. But it was made possible because Boras had to call a last moment audible.
Scott Boras Free Agents + Minnesota Twins…?
Correa wasn’t getting the long-term offers in free agency that Boras Corp thought he deserved, so they held out as long as possible before turning to the Twins, where they signed a shocking 1-year, $36 million contract, with injury protection.
Scott Boras and the Twins have developed a trust that he doesn’t seem to have with other organizations. Given the Twins slow play approach, something that benefitted them when they landed Correa, we’ve started wondering out loud MLB’s super-agent might tap on Derek Falvey and his front office yet again, as a short term pit stop for one of his top clients…
If that happens, which Boras Corp client fits in Minnesota best. Well, there are at least four that make a whole lot of sense for what the Minnesota Twins are looking for, which is SP, OF and DH.
J.D. Martinez Could Fill DH Role Seamlessly in Minnesota
After winning a playoff game for the first time since 2004, the Twins are in a good place, in a way. Aside from Sonny Gray and maybe Michael Taylor, the Twins didn’t suffer any significant losses this offseason, and there aren’t any gaping holes on the roster. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of opportunities to improve.
One area the Twins could benefit from investing in is another power bat capable of filling the designated hitter role on a consistent basis. While Rocco Baldelli found great success rotating a collection of different Twins in as the DH, Byron Buxton is expected to play center field this year. Last year Buxton spent 80 games as the Twins DH, but that doesn’t seem to be the plan this year, meaning the front office needs to find another capable solution.
Related: Twins GM Says Brooks Lee Can Call Himself Up to Big Leagues Whenever He Feels Ready
J.D. Martinez will turn 37 next season, but he’s made the All-Star team each of the past three years, thanks to a bat that still has a lot of pop left. Martinez used to play in the corner outfield, but he’s played just 12 innings in the outfield since 2021.
At this point, he is best served focusing all his energy at the plate, where he hit 33 home runs last season, a mark that would have led the Twins. Martinez also had an OPS of .893 and an OPS+ of 134, both numbers are well above average. Somehow still available in free agency, Martinez could end up providing a big boost to the Twins’ offense in 2024.
Cody Bellinger Brings Value at Multiple Positions
While the Twins have several candidates who could play first base, none are etched in stone. In a perfect world, Alex Kirilloff returns to health and becomes the Twins’ full-time first baseman, but as we’ve seen, that’s a big if. Then there are other candidates like Jose Miranda, Edouard Julien, or even Kyle Farmer, who could fill in at first. But again, those are all big question marks, especially considering first base is not any of those players’ natural positions.
Related: Minnesota Twins Will Not Trade Polanco, Farmer or Kepler for Prospects
However, Cody Bellinger would fit like a glove on this Twins roster for a multitude of reasons. Not only has he played 328 games at first base in his MLB career, but Bellinger also fills another need for the Twins as an extra center fielder.
Oh yeah, did we mention he’s also an excellent hitter? A two-time All-Star and former MVP winner, Bellinger still finished 10th in MVP voting this past season while enjoying a career resurgence with the Chicago Cubs.
Somehow, in Bellinger’s seventh MLB season, he posted career highs in batting average (.307), stolen bases (20), and finished with his lowest strikeout rate of his career (15.7%). He also smacked 26 home runs, drove in 97 more, and had an OPS+ of 133. While he’d add another left-handed hitter to a lineup already filled with them, Bellinger is still just 28, meaning he could become a part of the Twins’ core for years to come.
Minnesota Twins Add Cy Young Winner in Blake Snell
Yes, the Twins lost Sonny Gray this offseason, but they were never going to pony up $25 million per season for a pitcher who’s already 34 years old. Yet, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a sudden void in the Twins’ pitching staff. Pablo Lopez is the unquestioned ace, and Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are solid complementary pieces with the potential to improve, but if this team has its goals set on reaching a World Series, they need a very strong top of the rotation.
The Twins have expressed a desire to add more starting pitching this offseason, but they don’t seem willing to spend top dollar on any of the names still available. But what about Blake Snell? After all, the Twins don’t have a single left-handed pitcher in their starting rotation, and Snell also happens to be a two-time Cy Young winner.
Related: Handful of MLB Teams Including Twins Duped by International Prospects Lying About Age
Yet that could be why he’s still available, as Scott Boras knows the value MLB’s 2023 ERA leader provides. At 31 years old, Snell should be able to remain effective for several more seasons, and the Twins may be getting him in his prime. Reports of the two-time All-Star commanding a contract north of $250 million may be what’s keeping Snell on the market, but we’ve seen the Twins work out large contracts with Boras clients before, and he’d be a great fit in Minnesota.
Jordan Montgomery Could be Perfect for Twins Rotation
After winning a World Series with the Texas Rangers, Jordan Montgomery’s stock is at an all-time high, which may not be the best time to become buyers. Yet, the longer he lingers on the free agency market, the better chances he signs for a reasonable rate. In turn, playing the waiting game could end up being beneficial for the Twins.
Montgomery may appeal more to the Twins in that they wouldn’t have to break the bank as much to sign him. He’s never won a Cy Young or made an All-Star team, yet as mentioned, he is a World Series winner, and the Twins need more players who can perform in the playoffs. He’s also a former Yankee, so adding anyone who wants revenge over the pinstripes in the Big Apple should also be considered a win for the Twins.
Nevertheless, Montgomery’s been a productive left-handed pitcher, as he’s finished five of his seven MLB seasons with an ERA below 4. The Twins had five pitchers who started 20 or more games with an ERA below 4 a year ago, and now one of them is gone. Yet, amazingly, Montgomery had a 2.79 ERA with the Rangers, which is the same exact mark Gray had with the Twins in 2023. Doesn’t that sound like a fine replacement? I thought so too.
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