Minnesota Twins: What’s on their post-lockout to-do list
The Minnesota Twins are a team that looks very nice on paper. Heading in to the 2022 season, their lineup features big boppers Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Josh Donaldson, and Miguel Sano. Not to mention exciting young prospects Alex Kiriloff and Trevor Larnach, who should both receive their first full-time gig in the upcoming campaign.
In 2021, the club finished 73-89, good for fifth place in the American League Central. In a division that should’ve been up for grabs, the Twins just could not capitalize thanks in part to a subpar starting rotation and bullpen to go with below-average performances from their offense.
If the regular season began today, the Twins are set to lose starting shortstop Andrelton Simmons, designated hitter Nelson Cruz, starting pitchers Michael Pineda and J.A. Happ, as well as last year’s closer Alex Colome. The departures of these players leaves the big league roster with its fair share of holes.
Let’s take a look at a few items that should be on the Minnesota Twins’ to-do list once the Major League Baseball lockout is lifted.
The Minnesota Twins should look to re-sign Andrelton Simmons
After Andrelton Simmons departed via free agency, the current Twins depth chart has Jorge Polanco moving back to shortstop full-time and utilityman Luis Arraez starting at second.
While Polanco has emerged as one of the top bats in their lineup, he is best suited for second base and Luis Arraez should still be the club’s backup infield and outfielder. The 24-year old Arraez is capable of playing all over the diamond and is one of the game’s peskiest slap hitters who has served Minnesota well in a utility role.
Enter 32-year old Andrelton Simmons, one of the best defensive shortstops the game has ever seen. Last season was Simmons’ first season as a Twin and, while his defensive chops are still as sharp as ever (2.3 dWAR in 131 games), he struggled mightily on offense.
Across 451 plate appearances in 2021, Andrelton Simmons managed to hit just three home runs and had a .223/.283/.274 batting line to go with his ghastly wRC+ of 56 (100 and up is considered good). The entire offensive line on the back of his baseball card is well below-average, but Simmons’ game has always been and always will be led by his defense. Since his debut in 2012 with the Braves, Simmons has won four Gold Glove awards and is a six-time Fielding Bible Award winner. That’s the most all-time at the shortstop position.
With no clear internal options available behind a mixture of Arraez, Polanco, and Nick Gordon, the Minnesota Twins could certainly use Andrelton Simmons at the shortstop position for at least one more season. With exciting prospect Royce Lewis looming in the minor leagues, he could be ready to take over as soon as 2023.
The Minnesota Twins need to make multiple additions to their starting rotation
Starting pitcher Dylan Bundy was the lone addition the Twins made to their big league club before the lockout put a freeze on all transactions. Coming off of a down year, the 29-year-old Bundy could be a solid add to the Twins’ rotation if he is able to turn it around.
Behind Bundy, the Minnesota Twins rotation features a whole lot of inexperience. Per FanGraphs’ Roster Resource projections, there’s prospects Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan, uber-driver-turned-pitcher Randy Dobnak, and Australian left-hander Lewis Thorpe.
Ober made 20 starts for Minnesota last year, striking out 96 in 92 innings and posting a 4.19 ERA. Ryan, acquired in the trade that sent Nelson Cruz down to Tampa, made five late-season starts down the stretch, striking out 30 and walking just five in 26 innings to go with a 4.05 ERA.
Then there’s Dobnak and Thorpe, the most experienced arms behind Bundy. Dobnak, 26, appeared in 14 games (six starts) and put up -1.3 WAR and a 7.64 ERA in 50 innings, a significant difference than his solid showings in 2019 and 2020 with the club. Thorpe, 26, has functioned as a swingman for the Twins over the past few seasons, making seven starts and 17 relief appearances since 2019. The lefty only appeared in five games for Minnesota last season, walking more batters than he struck out in 15 innings.
Looking to the free agent market, there are still some arms out there that could slot in to the Twins’ rotation. Notable right-handers that could be had on a short-term deal include Zach Davies, Johnny Cueto, and Zack Greinke, while lefties Carlos Rodón and Drew Smyly are still out there as well. The two lefties would command different contracts, Rodón will surely look for a multi-year, higher AAV contract than Smyly, but he would certainly be an intriguing add to the Twins club.
The Minnesota Twins need to add two or three arms to their bullpen
Led by relief ace Taylor Rogers and the returning Tyler Duffey, Jorge Alcala, and Caleb Thielbar, the Twins have some solid pieces in their bullpen. However, behind them, there’s a whole lot of poor performers and inexperience.
Duffey, Alcala, and Thielbar all pitched in around 60 innings in 2021, striking out far more batters than they walked and all had sub-4.00 ERAs. They are currently the only locks behind Rogers.
Turning to the free agent market, there are a plethora of arms out there for the taking. Matt Andriese, Archie Bradley, old friends Alex Colome and Brandon Kintzler, as well as Hunter Strickland, Jake Diekman, and Brad Hand are all available and can be had on one-year contracts.
Next. Austin Martin may not be with the Twins for long. dark
The Twins should look to add at least two average-to-above-average bullpen arms for their 2022 roster. With only a small amount of pitchers locked in for bullpen roles, there are multiple open spots for free agent additions.