The Minnesota Twins had a need in the middle of their infield. Jorge Polanco is set to handle one of the two middle infield spots, but the Twins needed to find an answer at either short or second. It is clear that the Twins knew this as well based on their signings during the lockout as they added both Tim Beckham and Daniel Robertson.
But the Twins may now have their answer at short. They have reportedly traded catcher Mitch Garver to the Rangers for infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and prospect Ronny Henriquez.
Minnesota Twins have answer at shortstop in Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Garver should be an immediate upgrade in the Rangers lineup. Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim were slated to be their catching duo this season, but neither possess the type of offensive capability that Garver has. He produced a solid .256/.358/.517 batting line in his 243 plate appearances, hitting 13 homers and 15 doubles.
However, he had lost playing time to Ryan Jeffers. Although Jeffers does not have the same level of production during his major league career, he is much better defensively. That defense appears to be a focus for the Twins, particularly as they received Kiner-Falefa in this deal.
Kiner-Falefa now solidifies the middle of the Twins infield. A Gold Glove shortstop in 2020, he presumably moves Polanco to second while providing a valuable piece in the event of injury. He has seen action at short, third, second, and behind the plate during his major league career, performing relatively well defensively at each infield spot.
While Kiner-Falefa is not going to be a threat in the lineup, he makes contact and has excellent speed. He posted a respectable .271/.312/.357 batting line in his 677 plate appearances, hitting a career high eight homers and 25 doubles while stealing 20 bases. That decent production, coupled with his impressive defense, will make Kiner-Falefa a solid addition.
Henriquez was rated as the Rangers’ 15th best prospect according to MLB.com at the time of the trade. Despite standing 5’10” tall and weighing only 155 pounds, he has the potential for three plus pitches. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and can reach 98 MPH. He also has a solid changeup and slider, both of which have the potential to be effective major league offerings. As he spent time in Double-A last year, it may not be a surprise if Henriquez reaches the majors sometime in 2023.
The Minnesota Twins needed to find a way to shore up the middle of their infield. They have done exactly that by acquiring Isiah Kiner-Falefa.