That caused the story to mostly fizzle out. That is, until Thursday when Bender broke his silence. But before we jump ahead to what the former Twins catcher prospect said in his interview with The Athletic, let’s start with a clip notes version of what happened, so everyone can get caught up to speed.

What’s the story with Derek Bender?

Back on Sept. 6, 2024, Bender and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Minnesota Twins’ Single-A affiliate, lost their seventh-straight game, this time falling to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, knocking them out of playoff contention.

After the game, Lakeland coaches were told by their players that Bender was telling them what pitches were being thrown by his pitchers. Lakeland coaches then informed the Fort Myers coaching staff after the game. This led to Bender spending the final two games of the season in the bullpen, before being kicked out of the organization.

Here’s a Derek Bender home run, #MNTwins fans pic.twitter.com/XClqdEJrZo

— JD Cameron (@J_D_Cameron) July 15, 2024

During the streak, and in the weeks leading up to the end of the Mighty Mussels’ 2024 season, Bender had been telling teammates about how badly he wanted the summer to be over, even “joking” with that they should let a grounder or two slip under their glove, if that’s what it took to bring the season to an end.

While Bender admits he did want the season to end, he told Blum the comments he made to his teammates were not serious. He was not intentionally trying to throw the game, and while he was desperate for a break from baseball, Derek Bender insists he never did what he is being accused of.

Bender: “A lot of us are coming off of college seasons, coming off of a pretty grueling summer schedule. Then you get there and you’re hitting .200, you’re facing some of the best stuff consistently you’ve ever seen. You’re sinking or swimming, and you’re pretty close to sinking.“

Blum: “You were accused of giving away pitches as they were coming up to bat. Did that happen?”

Bender: “No, and I’ll live with this until the day I die. I never gave pitches away. I never tried to give the opposing team an advantage against my own team.”

The Athletic

The Mussels’ losing streak is important to this story because, prior to their end-of-season debacle, the Mighty Mussels were on pace to make the playoffs. A main part of the accusations stem from Bender’s apparent eagerness to end the 2024 baseball season, which couldn’t happen if the team made the playoffs..

Derek Bender pleads his innocence

Bender originally kept his silence because of advice given by his agency. They didn’t want him to make any comments during an ongoing investigation. Bender took that advice up until the moment he decided to do The Athletic interview.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Another Lefty to Compete at Spring Training

If found guilty, Bender will be banned from Major League Baseball for life. That’s why he felt like he had to speak up, even if everyone around him advised against it. In fact, the interview he did with The Athletic cost him a spot with the agency that was representing him.

“It’s about gaining control over my life, and this whole situation. I’m not doing this as a last-ditch effort to get back into affiliate ball. It’s more of this is the start of me taking control of my life again. Because I’ve let this completely control me for months now.”

[Bender’s] primary agent, Jake Rosner, said he was unaware the interview had taken place. And after The Athletic reached out to Rosner to request comment, Octagon dropped Bender as a client.

The Athletic

The Twins were originally willing to keep him as long as he apologized. Bender did, but he didn’t feel like he had anything to apologize for. Minnesota Twins GM Jeremy Zoll led an internal investigation that ultimately led to the team terminating Bender on Sept. 12.

MLB, Minnesota Twins supposedly has hard evidence against Bender

No team or former teammate was willing to speak with The Athletic, on the record. Off the record, however, it was noted that the MLB’s investigation has supposedly found evidence that Bender was giving away his pitchers pitches, but as of now, we do not know what that evidence is.

League sources briefed on the investigation say the inquiry has uncovered evidence against Bender. More than a dozen people have spoken to investigators, including multiple with direct knowledge of the alleged conduct. Notably, there was no video broadcast of the game, despite the other five games in that series being aired. If the league finds he violated the rules, he’d be looking at a permanent ban, with the opportunity to apply for reinstatement after a year.

The Athletic

In 19 games in Fort Myers, he hit .200 with two homers, eight RBIs and five walks. He will be playing independent ball this summer for the Brockton Rox of the Frontier League. He has no ill-will towards the Twins, but he doesn’t feel like they ever had his back throughout the process.

Related: Minnesota Twins Flamethrower Has a New Pitch

This stint with the Rox is a chance at redemption. Bender wants to prove to GMs like Zoll that all he cares about is winning. It might involve a move to first base, as most pitchers will likely be hesitant to throw to him now, but that’s fine with him. He just wants to play. We’ll see if that will ever happen with an MLB affiliate.

Someone they did sign was Harrison Bader. He’s a 30-year-old outfielder who will be with his fifth team in four years, when he suits up for Minnesota. It’s not the flashiest signing, but it’s one that was needed. Today we learned some new information on what his role will be with the Twins.

Minnesota Twins planning to play Harrison Bader in left field

According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Bader will spend the majority of his time in left field this season. It’s a position Bader knows how to play, but one he hasn’t touched since 2018. As a former Gold Glove winner in center field, Bader will be next to another award winner. Byron Buxton, someone he has great respect for, won the award in 2017.

For the first time in a decade, Bader, who is primarily a center fielder and won a Gold Glove in 2021, will see a significant amount of playing time in left field. Bader’s last 651 defensive appearances have come in center field, a streak dating to July 20, 2018.

But with Byron Buxton already entrenched, the Twins are asking Bader to regularly play left field, something he last did in 2015 at the University of Florida.

Dan Hayes (The Athletic)

Bader has only logged 11 games at left field in his career compared to over 650 in center field. The last time he played left field regularly was in college. He spent the majority of 2013 and 2015 at that position with Florida. As Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press clarifies, the right-handed Bader will be the primary left fielder when the Twins face a left-handed pitcher.

This isn’t to say Bader will never play center for the Minnesota Twins. He is the main option if Buxton needs time off, but the expectation is that he will be in left. In a small sample of 22 at-bats, Bader is hitting .455 with a homer and four RBIs as a left fielder in his career.

Related: New Twins Hitting Coaches Mandating More Preparation and Structure

The Twins might be hoping this move can unlock a resurgence for Bader, after signing him to a one-year, $6.25 million deal. He started 2024 batting .278, but went his final 157 plate appearances with just a .161 average, only starting two of the Mets’ 12 postseason games.

Bader’s defense is his shining trait

Last year, Minnesota went with a combo of Manuel Margot and Trevor Larnach in left. Willi Castro, Alex Kirilloff and others sprinkled in depending on health as well. This revolving door did not prove to be successful for the Twins, as they ranked 28th in the majors with -11 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at the position.

“I’m pretty sure I’ve asked (Buxton) for multiple autographs in the past just because I admire his game so much. The reason why I think I have such good reads in center is because coming up, I did play a lot of the corners when I was younger and also in college. I’m just excited. I want to help this team win and if that’s going to come in left field however often as it does, then so be it. I’m here to play and I’m here to win.”

Harrison Bader (via The Athletic)

Related: How to Watch the Minnesota Twins MLB Spring Training in 2025

Moving Harrison Bader to left gives the Twins a more consistent glove in the outfield, and gets one of the best defenders in the MLB on the field. Since debuting eight years ago, Bader’s 76 Outs Above Average are more than every active outfielder, and his 50 DRS is more than only four. One of those four happens to be Buxton.

One would think that Bader makes more sense as a replacement for Max Kepler in right field, given Kepler’s departure to Philadelphia this offseason. As manager Rocco Baldelli explained, left field is a lot bigger than right at Target Field, so putting the better fielder in that position should lead to success.

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Ending with an 82-80 record last season, the Minnesota Twins are looking for a fresh start, beginning with the preseason. Learn how to watch the Minnesota Twins MLB Spring training in 2025 here, and see if their newest season goes off with a bang. 

Related: Earliest MLB Power Rankings Lukewarm on Minnesota Twins

Where to Stream Minnesota Twins Spring Training

While most of the Minnesota Twins spring training games will be on Bally Sports North or MLB.TV, you can still enjoy the preseason with MLB Network and ESPN. You can watch these channels on cable or these streaming services below: 

Watch Twins Spring Training on FuboTV

The hub for all things sports, FuboTV, also provides access to MLB spring training with the Twins. With games on ESPN and MLB.TV, you can watch almost every Twins preseason game at home or on the go. FuboTV has two subscription tiers: Pro and Elite, starting at $84.99/month. New subscribers can receive a seven-day free trial. 

Watch Twins Spring Training on Hulu + Live TV

Combine your favorite on-demand content with live sports on Hulu + Live TV. While it does not have MLB.TV, Hulu + Live TV has access to ESPN and MLB Network for spring training. The service provides over 90 live channels, starting at $81.99/month. Subscribers can also bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for more streaming content.

Check Out: How to Watch Minnesota Twins in 2025

Watch Twins Spring Training on ESPN+

Filled with sporting events all year, ESPN+ also has access to some MLB spring training games. While it doesn’t have channels like cable or other services, ESPN+ has several exclusive sports-related shows and rewinds you won’t find anywhere else. A subscription costs $11.99/month, providing an affordable way to watch the Twins. 

Minnesota Twins Spring Training Schedule

The Minnesota Twins regular season has officially begun. Learn how to watch the games here.

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The Minnesota Twins are gearing up for their latest season, starting with preseason games. As opening day grows closer, make sure you know how to watch the Minnesota Twins all season long and see if they can make it to the World Series in 2025. Learn how to watch Minnesota Twins games here.

Related: Minnesota Twins Continue to Wait on Byron Buxton… and Walker Jenkins

Where to Stream Minnesota Twins Games

FuboTV has a great selection of channels that support MLB games, including FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, MLB Network, and MLB TV. The streaming service offers several subscription tiers, with a range of channels available to live stream. 

How to Watch the Minnesota Twins on FuboTV

Home to all things sports content, FuboTV also provides access to the MLB and Minnesota Twins content all season long. The service offers two subscription options, Pro and Elite, starting at $84.99/month. You can also look into sports add-ons, like MLB TV, to add even more MLB content to your watchlist. FuboTV offers a seven-day free trial to new users, and if you are ever unhappy with the service, you can cancel anytime. 

How to Sign Up for FuboTV

Signing up for FuboTV is easy; just follow these steps and get to watching the Minnesota Twins right away. 

1. Go to fubo.tv/signup on your mobile device or computer
2. Enter your email address
3. Select a subscription plan and any add-ons, such as MLB TV
4. Enter your billing information
5. Agree to the terms and conditions
6. Start watching the Minnesota Twins

Check Out: Minnesota Twins Lose Exciting Young Call-Up to Injury

Minnesota Twins 2025 May Schedule

• 5/27: Twins vs. Rays @ 7:05 pm ET
• 5/28: Twins vs. Rays @ 1:10 pm ET
• 5/30: Twins vs. Mariners @ 10:10 pm ET
• 5/31: Twins vs. Mariners @ 7:15 pm ET

Minnesota Twins 2025 June Schedule

• 6/1: Twins vs. Mariners @ 4:10 pm ET
• 6/2: Twins vs. Athletics @ 10:05 pm ET
• 6/3: Twins vs. Athletics @ 10:05 pm ET
• 6/4: Twins vs. Athletics @ 10:05 pm ET
• 6/5: Twins vs. Athletics @ 3:35 pm ET
• 6/6: Twins vs. Blue Jays @ 8:10 pm ET
• 6/7: Twins vs. Blue Jays @ 2:10 pm ET
• 6/8: Twins vs. Blue Jays @ 2:10 pm ET
• 6/10: Twins vs. Rangers @ 7:40 pm ET
• 6/11: Twins vs. Rangers @ 7:40 pm ET
• 6/12: Twins vs. Rangers @ 1:10 pm ET
• 6/13: Twins vs. Astros @ 8:10 pm ET
• 6/14: Twins vs. Astros @ 4:10 pm ET
• 6/15: Twins vs. Astros @ 2:10 pm ET
• 6/17: Twins vs. Reds @ 7:10 pm ET
• 6/18: Twins vs. Reds @ 7:10 pm ET
• 6/19: Twins vs. Reds @ 12:40 pm ET
• 6/20: Twins vs. Brewers @ 8:10 pm ET
• 6/21: Twins vs. Brewers @ 2:10 pm ET
• 6/22: Twins vs. Brewers @ 2:10 pm ET
• 6/23: Twins vs. Mariners @ 7:40 pm ET
• 6/24: Twins vs. Mariners @ 7:40 pm ET
• 6/25: Twins vs. Mariners @ 7:40 pm ET
• 6/26: Twins vs. Mariners @ 1:10 pm ET
• 6/27: Twins vs. Tigers @ 7:10 pm ET
• 6/28: Twins vs. Tigers @ 1:10 pm ET
• 6/29: Twins vs. Tigers @ 1:40 pm ET

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But then, a special home run sausage made its way into the dugout and some of those key players started returning to the active roster. Carlos Correa, Max Kepler and… flamethrowing closer (kind of) Jhoan Duran.

By now you have become accustomed to Jhoan Duran throwing fire out of the Minnesota Twins bullpen. He is arguably the greatest relief pitcher going right now, and if you haven’t seen him take the mound, his entrance alone is worth the price of admission.

Jhoan Duran Throws Fire, Wears Fire

That said, when he emerged from the bullpen for the first time since being activated off the injured list, he was wearing some new ‘fire’ cleats. Duran throws really hard, in case you didn’t know. The hardest he has ever thrown is 104.5 MPH, a number that is also on these new special cleats.

JHOAN DURAN'S SHOES

🔥 pic.twitter.com/GHwL9JnpAe

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 9, 2024

With high velocity fastballs that have reached 104.5 mph, and a pitch that has its own named dubbed the “splinker,” Duran has worked as Minnesota’s closer since late in the 2022 season.

Entering 2024, Jhoan had already posted 130 dominant innings, in just two years out of the Twins’ bullpen, posting a 2.15 ERA, 190 ERA+, 12 SO/9 and 2.85 FIP. In his five appearances this season, he’s been the same dude (5 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.400 WHIP, 8 SO).

His entrance music and theme depicts fire as Target Field lights up from darkness, but it has been his cleats where Duran is wearing fire to kick off this season. A rocket arm and appropriately fashioned accessories are nothing short of exceptional.

Minnesota Twins have baseball’s best bullpen

When Derek Falvey creates a bullpen he is often doing it while spending limited resources. Rather than load up on high-priced arms, he finds himself looking for outliers that can work within the Twins infrastructure.

Outside of Addison Reed, there has rarely been a sizable contract offered to a relief arm, and yet this season Minnesota came in with a unit expected to be among the league’s best.

Related: Rocco Baldelli Hates Facing ‘Openers’… but Minnesota Twins Win Again Anyway

Of course that is anchored by Duran and his ability to throw fire, now while wearing fire, but it was highlighted by Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax in his absence. We have seen Cole Sands step up in a massive way, and Caleb Thielbar has returned to the bump with exceptional stuff as well. If the Duran we have come to know is the version that Minnesota gets this season, then the sky is the limit.

Is a New Number Coming on Jhoan Duran’s cleats?

Duran wearing fire on his feet depict his 104.5 mph fastball he pumped across the plate a season ago. On Wednesday night his fastest pitch was to former Twins infielder Jorge Polanco and clocked in at 100.9 mph.

The fastest pitch he has thrown this season came against the Boston Red Sox Dominic Smith at 102.7 mph. It helped to push Minnesota’s win streak to 11 games, and lit up the radar gun.

Related: Mitch Garver Tells Royce Lewis to Only Run 85% So He Can Stay on Field for Minnesota Twins

Acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade that sent fan favorite Eduardo Escobar packing, Jhoan Duran worked his way through the Twins system as a starter. Making his debut during the 2022 Major League Baseball season, he has never once pitched in the rotation simply because his stuff has been too dominant in relief.

Of course Target Field will continue to put fire throughout the stadium video boards when Duran enters this season. Of course you can expect Duran to fill up the strike zone with fire off of his right arm. He might not be wearing fire all season long, but you can bet that if the velocity is surpassed, he’ll need to make an adjustment to the wardrobe.

If you’ve solely been watching the Minnesota Twins on television, and that has become an exercise in and of itself recently, then you have probably missed out on one of the best things going across all of Major League Baseball. Jhoan Duran’s entrance is something to behold in person, and seeing the bullpen door swing open only to usher the fireballer into Target Field is incredible.

For the past few seasons now, Jhoan Duran has been among the best relievers in baseball. His ability to chuck pitches by hitters at more than 104 mph is truly incredible. Closer entrances have become something of an ode to old-school wrestling with the superstar jogging down the carpet to the ring. While the Twins don’t roll out any sort of a runway, the theatrics for Duran may be unmatched.

Duran Brings the Fire

Last season, Twins vice president of communications and content Dustin Morse came up with an idea to give Jhoan Duran his own entrance package. It was a work in progress between both he and the closer, but they combined to find something with fire, flames, and of course a tarantula with Minnesota’s closer rocking the Durantula nickname.

Jhoan Duran's entrance is amazing

pic.twitter.com/w7JUXCbKpI

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) May 4, 2024

Best viewed when Target Field is rocking for a night game, the lights go down and fans light up their phones as the music blares throughout the stadium. If that doesn’t get the excitement up for a save situation in which the Twins are looking to close out a game, I’m not sure what will.

Closer Entrances Aren’t New

What Duran brings to the Twins isn’t revolutionary from an entrance perspective, but it may be the most exciting. Arguably the most notable instance of a closer entrance was that of New York Mets fireballer coming out to Narco complete with Timmy Trumpets in attendance and playing live for the occasion. However, that isn’t a consistent thing on a game-by-game basis, and Diaz missed all of last season while being injured during the World Baseball Classic.

Sound 'em. 🎺🎺🎺

(ft. @TimmyTrumpet) pic.twitter.com/kVXRH7u0my

— SNY (@SNYtv) September 1, 2022

Obviously Mariano Rivera was synonymous with Enter Sandman by Metallica when making the jog onto the Yankees Stadium mound, and multiple other closers have coined their go-to music over the years as well. Having an opportunity to hype up a reliever coming in out of the bullpen with eyes on grabbing a save and sending their team to victory is pretty special.

Related: Rocco Baldelli Hates Facing ‘Openers’… but Minnesota Twins Win Again Anyway

Twins Hit Different With Duran

Part of the excitement behind Jhoan Duran’s entrance is just how special the entirety of the stadium gets into it. Turning down the lights and having a strobe effect go throughout Target Field while the downtown landscape is lit up for the evening shows so well. Then there’s the fire and red tones that really lean into what Duran specifically brings to the mound.

Brock Stewart's walkout is AWESOME pic.twitter.com/Dty7n7oR7w

— Melissa Berman (@Melissa_Berman) September 27, 2023

Minnesota has replicated some of these feelings with their other late inning relievers as well. Brock Stewart gets a lightning-fueled treatment, and while his doesn’t incorporate the same level of theatrics, it’s clear that the Twins marketing department knows what they are doing in these situations.

Considering the Twins’ seven wins have come against two of the five worst teams in baseball, the aforementioned pessimist crowd may have a strong case.

But that’s bologna.

Actually, it’s not bologna; it’s sausage, specifically the ‘summer tangy’ variety.

Minnesota Twins’ Summer Sausage Taking Over Ballparks

According to Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, the ballclub officially has a ‘Rally Sausage’, and it’s all thanks to Ryan Jeffers.

“It’s a summer tangy sausage, is what it is. It’s bringing us a lot of hits.. and runs.. and stuff. So I’m all for it. It’s a substantial package, you know, of sausage that Jeffers has been carrying around in his bag and throwing at people when we score runs and hit homers. So, I’m all for it.”

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli dropping knowledge on the ‘Rally Sausage’

We’re all for it too. Are you kidding me, winning eight of their last nine games while seeing the offense average over eight runs per game during their win streak? Order a whole pallet of sausages for all we care.

As you can tell, Baldelli is at a loss for words. He doesn’t even know how to describe the magic that this rally summer sausage contains. But his biggest concern is that this unrefrigerated summer sausage is growing into a mold-infested monster that can’t be stopped.

“I’m slightly concerned… I’m not even an adult, but I’m slightly concerned as like more of an adult than maybe some of the people in the other room.. that the package is gonna open up, and the thing hasn’t been refrigerated in… many days. And there’s no doubt that when that thing opens up, whoever’s touching it is in deep trouble. There’s no doubt in my mind that we are carrying around something that is very, very unhealthy to the human body.”

Rocco Baldelli on his concerns about the Twins’ new mascot

However, some wise observers, who we’d bet are in possession of some unrefrigerated summer sausage right now, have pointed out that summer sausage is a bionic food that need not be refrigerated to be enjoyed — today, tomorrow, next month, whenever you get the itch is fine.

Rocco Baldelli describing the Twins HR sausage and his concern that it has not been refrigerated pic.twitter.com/hWKVR6Mexj

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 28, 2024

It may not be a rally cap or a rally monkey, but we’re ready to embrace the rally sausage sensation that has taken over the Minnesota Twins clubhouse. Whatever it takes for this team to keep blasting home runs like the Bomba Squad, even if it means causing anxiety for Baldelli every time he sees a “substantial package” of summer sausage flying through the air toward his next red-hot hitter.

Related: Charley Walters Pleads for Twins to Save Former Gopher Max Meyer from Marlins

Related: Will Carlos Santana Play 1st Base or DH for Minnesota Twins?

Minnesota Twins Sign Carlos Santana to 1-Year Contract

According to Darren Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North), the Minnesota Twins have reached a one-year contract with Carlos Santana, who is likely to see time at first base and as a designated hitter.

According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the contract is for $5.25 million, with the ability for Santana to earn more through specific incentives that are unknown to the public. Santana turns 38 in April, and since this investment isn’t too significant, more signings are likely on the way for the Twins.

However, Santana can help fill out the Twins’ lineup, as he smacked 23 home runs split between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers, albeit in 617 plate appearances last season. Unlike Joey Gallo, Santana’s power doesn’t come with a ton of strikeouts, as his 16.8% K rate ranks above MLB’s league average of 21%.

Santana isn’t nearly the same player he once was during his All-Star days in Cleveland, but he still had an OPS of .747 last season, with an OPS+ of 103, which indicates he was slightly above average at the plate. Whether the Twins can get similar or better production out of the right-handed hitter in 2024 remains to be seen.

But Twins president Derek Falvey had set into place this possibility earlier in the offseason by clearly indicating that Minnesota was looking to cut payroll. Nothing really came to fruition on that front until Monday’s blockbuster trade with Seattle.

In return for Polanco, the Twins were able to net four players. This includes two MLB pitchers in that of starter Anthony DeSclafani and reliever Justin Topa. Sure, adding depth to the pitching staff was seen as key here. However, it’s the two minor leaguers that Minnesota acquired in the blockbuster which will tell us the story of this trade years down the road.

The headliner is 20-year-old outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez who MLB has ranked as the 79th-best prospect in all of baseball. Per that outlet, Gonzalez also entered the 2023 MLB season as the Mariners’ third-ranked prospect.

Gabriel González is one of the top Venezuelan prospects in baseball, and was ranked #79 in @MLBPipeline’s recent Top 100 Prospects update. 🇻🇪pic.twitter.com/WbWmOPP1bm https://t.co/1tdtwVedhA

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) January 30, 2024

This is no small addition for the Twins’ organization given their mediocre No. 17 ranking among MLB farm systems. Retooling in this regard was key. And while Gonzalez is ways away from the Majors, he provides a major jolt for the Twins’ minor league system.

Related: Minnesota Twins GM Says Brooks Lee Can Call Himself Up to Big Leagues Whenever He Feels Ready

Meet New Minnesota Twins Prospect Gabriel Gonzalez

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Gonzalez can absolutely belt from the plate. Before even turning 20 earlier in January, he was dominating lower-level minor league pitching. Just look what the Venezuela native did in stints at Single-A Modesto and high Single-A Everett during the 2023 season.

• Gabriel Gonzalez stats (2023): .298 average, 18 HR, 84 RBI, .837 OPS

Gonzalez struck out 89 times in 535 plate appearances. He walked 36 times while stealing 10 bases and scoring 78 runs in 116 games between the two stops.

Back in 2022 in between rookie level ball and Single-A, Gonzalez hit .321 with an .879 OPS. Though, he only hit seven home runs. It’s clear that as Gonazalez’ frame has grown that his power has also increased. That bodes well moving forward.

Gonzalez did struggle making the jump to high Single-A ball in 2023, hitting .216 with a 21.5% strikeout rate. That needs to turn around if the Twins are going to be considered a winner in this blockbuster trade.

Per Fangraphs, he has elite raw power and speed. That makes Gonzalez a potential five-tool prospect moving forward for Minnesota. He has played primarily in right field in the minors since debuting back in 2021. While still raw in that regard, his speed is going to be effective in manning right field moving forward.

Barring a potential trade ahead of Opening Day, Max Kepler is slated to man right field for the Twins in 2024. It’s pretty obvious what Minnesota’s brass did in this trade by acquiring Gonzalez. Kepler is a free agent after the upcoming season and likely doesn’t have a long-term future with the organization.

Per MLB Pipeline, Gonzalez slides in as the Twins’ No. 4 prospect behind the likes of Walker Jenkins, Brooks Lee and Emmanuel Rodríguez.

His addition could be huge down the road for Minnesota as the organization looks to team Gonzalez up with Rodriguez in the outfield down the line.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Top-10 International Prospect, Daiber De Los Santos

Rodriguez, 20, is yet another top-100 prospect in the Twins’ farm. He blasted 16 homers with 55 RBI in high Single-A ball this past season. With 10 of the Twins’ top-18 prospects delivering from the bump, it made sense to get another quality everyday youngster.

At the very least, Falvey and Co. accomplished this feat on Monday.

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.

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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.

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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.