As mentioned in previous articles, the American League Central is oft considered one of the weakest in baseball. The division is constantly up for grabs as each smaller market team seemingly does the bare minimum. Now, there are instances of teams showing promise, such as a growing young core in Detroit, and the offseason spending of the Kansas City Royals, but one constant through the years has been the Minnesota Twins. The staple of the Twin Cities has shown an ability to spend and produce talented and competitive teams. Still, it more often than not has proved to be a fairly average team with talented players that gets bounced easily from the playoffs. The Twins are known to want to lower payroll in the wake of the uncertainty surrounding their television deals, but with obvious needs on the roster, it still leaves fans wondering what they can accomplish.

Find a First Baseman 

By the end of the 2023 season, the Twins had settled on Alex Kirilloff as their regular first baseman and as it stands that will be the case heading into 2024. The Twins’ 2016 first-round pick settled in nicely in 88 games last season, including 75 at first base. In total, he batted .270/.348/.445 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI as well as a 25.1% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate. Kirilloff was quite effective against right-handed pitching with a .300/.373/.485 slash line but he struggled immensely against left-handers. The Twins could likely look to provide some more firepower at the position or at least find a right-handed bat to platoon with Kirilloff. Previously in the offseason, I had pinpointed Rhys Hoskins as an intriguing option, but they could also choose to reunite with the likes of C.J. Cron. The fact of the matter is that the Twins need to increase the offensive output from a position that is typically known for having decent production. Kirilloff could still surprise in 2024, but can the Twins afford to wait and see?

Address the Center Field Dilemma

Byron Buxton’s ability to stay healthy and on the field will be indicative of what the Twins plan to do for the 2024 season in the outfield. Last season the Twins focused on having Buxton serve as the designated hitter as a means to keep him healthy. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as Buxton still played in just 85 games and struggled to a .208 AVG with 17 home runs. When healthy, Buxton has proven a force to be reckoned with who can be the backbone of the lineup, but his injury history remains a red flag even as the Twins plan to move the 30-year-old back to center field in 2024. The team would be foolish to not have a contingency in place should anything happen to Buxton. The team could choose to retain Michael A. Taylor after he had a successful 21 home run campaign, or could pivot to the likes of Harrison Bader and other mid-tier options. Randal Grichuk could serve as a serviceable journeyman capable of playing all three outfield spots while sliding in at DH from time to time as well as producing some pop and decent offensive approach. The team has some prospects and lower-tier options but with a thin free agent market, the trade route may be the way to go.

Trades Imminent? 

With a desire to lower payroll while also trying to improve the roster, the trade market is the best way for the Twins to improve their roster. It was reported earlier in the offseason that the team had received trade interest in both Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler. The team is committed to Edouard Julien as their second baseman after a solid 2023 campaign and there is the fact that Polanco is due about $10.5 million in 2024 with a $12 million option for 2025. Utility infielders are easy to find, but Polanco is worthwhile for a team as a starter and could help net the Twins either a big league-ready outfielder or a pitcher. The same case could be made for Max Kepler. A team in need of outfield help trading away one of those outfielders is odd, but Kepler is also making about $10 million for the 2024 season. In his age 30 season, Kepler provided plenty of pop for a left-handed bat with 24 home runs and had one of the better years in teams of batting average and on-base numbers. Should they trade him away, it could allow Kirilloff a chance to play in the outfield more and allow them to fill in first base with a regular option. The Twins have valuable chips, it’s just a matter of finding the right trade partner and return.

Pitching Depth

Like any other team in the league, the Twins are also focused on expanding their pitching depth. They lost Sonny Gray to the St. Louis Cardinals in free agency, but they still have a strong rotation featuring Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Chris Paddack. Currently, Louie Varland has the inside track to the fifth starting role, but the team is likely to bring in at least one veteran of some kind to provide some competition for the spot. The team will always aim for minor league deals with veteran starters to build out depth and contingencies, but there are plenty of mid to lower-tier starting options still available that could fit the bill. Chase Anderson had a decent campaign with the Colorado Rockies that could fit the criteria they are looking for. There are also options like Alex Wood, Zach Davies, or even Sean Manaea that could provide an excellent option for the Twins that may not exactly break the bank. Pitching isn’t as much of a worry for the Twins as the offense, but it’s still an area of concern that could use some patching and lengthening.

Conclusion

The Twins won their division with just 87 wins last season. That is the criteria needed for the AL Central, but it’s still not enough when they get to the postseason. There is a reason the Twins hadn’t won a playoff game since 2006 until the 2023 Wild Card series before they were quickly dispatched in the ALDS by the Houston Astros. The bar is low in the AL Central but the Twins shouldn’t settle for 87 wins again. They must build themselves as a team for the postseason and to do that, they need to work on addressing some of the needs mentioned above. They don’t have to spend extravagantly, but they do need to start making smart moves that be cost effective.