Here’s why the Twins should consider signing five additional free agents after acquiring Carlos Santana.
After enduring a sluggish offseason, there’s finally some action happening for the Minnesota Twins. While the trade involving Jorge Polanco was anticipated, sending the All-Star to Seattle provided the team with financial flexibility to bolster positional depth.
This led to the acquisition of veteran power hitter Carlos Santana, coinciding with the Twins securing a new TV deal that eased payroll concerns.
The addition of Santana was undoubtedly a smart move, one that could potentially be viewed as a steal in the coming year. However, it shouldn’t mark the end of the Twins’ offseason activity, especially if they are serious about contending for a World Series this season.
Despite the sluggish market, Minnesota now has more flexibility with their payroll compared to a few months ago, and there are still several available players who could bolster the team.
Here are five free agents the Twins should consider signing following the acquisition of Carlos Santana:
1. Adam Duvall, DH/OF
– Veteran slugger Adam Duvall has already been linked to the Twins and could provide valuable depth at designated hitter or in the outfield.
In his last season with Boston, Duvall posted a slash line of .247/.303/.531 with 21 home runs and 58 RBIs in 92 games, showcasing decent power that could benefit the Twins’ lineup. While there may be concerns about redundancy with Carlos Santana, the addition of more power to the lineup could prove advantageous.
Although both Santana and Duvall can handle designated hitter duties, they offer defensive versatility, potentially occupying different areas of the field. Duvall’s ability to play all three outfield positions provides valuable depth behind Byron Buxton, while also offering flexibility for a centerfield platoon alongside Austin Martin on the Opening Day roster.
One area where Duvall could significantly contribute is in right field behind Max Kepler. While the Twins have options like Willi Castro and Nick Gordon, adding Duvall’s power to the mix presents a higher upside opportunity for the team.
This move could also result in Trevor Larnach potentially playing behind Matt Wallner in left field, further optimizing the team’s defensive and offensive capabilities.
