Twins Lock Up Polanco and Kepler for 5 Years + Options

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I wrote about it earlier this week. The Minnesota Twins are looking to extend some of its young core while pitchers and catchers are officially reporting to camp as I type. First, it was Jorge Polanco earlier today and now he has been quickly followed by Max Kepler. Both guys will get 5 years + options

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Sources tell ⁦@JesseSanchezMLB⁩ that the #MNTwins are close to what’s expected to be a 5-year extension with a pair of options for sixth and seventh years. https://t.co/tTRrDb5RO8

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) February 14, 2019

Was in on Boudreau media scrum, so apologies if out there. Kepler extension done. 5/35 with 6th year $10M option. #MNTwins

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) February 14, 2019

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For those who aren’t baseball snobs, the Twins will get Polanco on a 5-year deal (worth $25 Million) that has a vesting option for a 6th year and then a team-option for year 7. A vesting option means that year 6 becomes fully-guaranteed once he reaches certain milestones on his deal. Meanwhile, the 7th year is a classic team-option.

Those last two “optional” years would be years 2 and 3 of his free-agent eligibility.

I like the extension with Polanco a lot. He’s been the most consistent young player that has come up, out of the group. Rosario has been better lately, especially last season while Polanco was suspended for half of it. But when on the field, Polanco has been Mr. Steady, since busting through with the big league club.

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Aaron Gleeman doubles down on my love for Polanco.

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Jorge Polanco wouldn't have been anyone's guess for the first long-term deal handed out to this group of young Twins players, but it makes sense. He's still only 25, he's proven to be an average-plus hitter, and he should eventually settle in as a solid defensive second baseman.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 14, 2019

PECOTA is lukewarm on Jorge Polanco's future, seeing him as an average hitter and a below-average defensive shortstop (it doesn't know that he's likely to shift to second base eventually), but some of the names among his top same-age comps are promising. https://t.co/MazxwImpzT pic.twitter.com/v9qQfEBOoV

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 14, 2019

Twins' long-term plan is Royce Lewis at shortstop and Jorge Polanco at second base. Could happen by next year.

Nick Gordon is still in the mix, but his stock has declined and he hit .212 at Triple-A. Wander Javier is a very good prospect, but he's yet to play above rookie-ball.

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) February 14, 2019

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It was about 2 hours later that Max Kepler’s contract numbers started rolling in. It is a bit interesting that he will get more year-over-year than Polanco. When in the lineup, he’s been a lot less consistent and most of his numbers actually dropped last season.. 

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But then again, Kepler projects as a power-hitting outfielder who plays very plus defense… As Gleeman mentioned in his twitter thread above, Polanco projects as a front or back-of-the-lineup 2nd baseman who will play pretty good defense and hit for a good average. Those guys don’t get paid as much…

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Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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