For each division, we will be doing an in-depth look at each team’s situations for the offseason and offer some insights to what would make sense.
On to the AL Central, where the Indians will try to overcome a loss of notable free agents and try to hold off the Twins and continue to beat down on the dumpster fires that are the Tigers, Royals, and White Sox rosters.
Comment below, hit us up with questions/thoughts on Twitter (@TheCombineBlog), or post your best AL Central memes on our Facebook and keep the discussion going.
Minnesota Twins
Departing FAs:
| Ervin Santana | SP |
| Joe Mauer | 1B |
| Matt Belisle | RP |
| Logan Forsythe | 2B |
| Logan Morrison | 1B |
Budget:
- ~$50M
Biggest Needs:
- SP
- 1B
- 2B/SS
Top FA Targets:
- Patrick Corbin, SP
Minnesota needs starting pitching badly and they have money to spend. They can buy a top-tier arm (or two) if they choose.
- Nelson Cruz, DH
I originally chose Cruz to sign with the Twins in Presidente’s Offseason Predictions.. and it would be the ideal fit. Short-term contract and big RH power that could pair nicely with Sano, if he gets his shit together.
- Dallas Keuchel, SP
The more plausible of the top tier arms and unlike Corbin, Keuchel doesn’t seem destined to go to the Yankees (and his beard would have to get axed). His weak contact would fit great on this team and he can reunite with his old battery-mate Jason Castro.
- Marwin Gonzalez, UTIL
I ultimately chose Marwin Gonzalez to sign with the Twins on my Presidente’s Offseason Predictions piece… and I’m sticking by it. He can play any position they need him to and his price would allow them to allocate dollars to other areas of need.
- Matt Adams, 1B/OF/DH
The artist formerly known as “Fat Adams” is slimmed down and able to at least move in the outfield. A LH platoon partner for Tyler Austin and a DH option, he seems like a great fit in MIN.
Top 3 Trade Possibilities:
- Twins trade to SP Jake Odorizzi to the Padres for OF Hunter Renfroe
Set to make $7.75M in a walk year and with plenty of internal options to replace him, the Twins move him to the pitching desperate Padres for OF Hunter Renfroe. The Padres have to move 2-3 OFs this offseason and Renfroe seems to be one that is on his way out. A Kepler/Renfroe platoon would do wonders, as neither can hit same-handedness pitchers effectively.
- Twins trade OF Byron Buxton to the Braves for SP Julio Teheran
Buxton needs a change of scenery and what better scenery than where he grew up? On the flip side, Teheran is a man without a spot in the rotation in Atlanta and would be the relatively cheap, reliable SP the Twins could use for the next couple years.
- Twins trade 1B Tyler Austin and prospects SP Brusdar Graterol (#3) & SS Wander Javier (#8) to the Diamondbacks for 1B Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt is entering his final season in Arizona and he is as good as gone. The Diamondbacks would do well here to snag a replacement 1B to stay somewhat competitive this year and a couple prospects.
Bold Prediction:
- Twins trade 3B Miguel Sano, SS Jorge Polanco, and a Low-A prospect to the Tigers for SP Michael Fulmer & 3B Nick Castellanos
The Twins essentially make a move to win the AL Central in 2019 and give up 3 years of Miguel Sano and 4 years of Jorge Polanco for 4 years of Michael Fulmer and 1 year of Nick Castellanos. For the Twins, Fulmer and Berrios can lead the rotation, Castellanos can hopefully provide what Sano was supposed to, and Nick Gordon can take over for Polanco in the infield. For the Tigers, they go for upside in the trade while they still can. Fulmer battled some health issues in 2018 and hurt his stock dramatically.
Other MLB Offseason Predictions
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