The Twins’ offseason guidelines consists of discovering a right-handed hitting outfielder and a primary baseman, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey instructed reporters (together with Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). Regarding the latter want, Nightengale writes that workforce nonetheless has curiosity in bringing Carlos Santana again for one more stint within the Twin Cities.
Santana signed a one-year, $5.25MM free agent cope with Minnesota final winter, and at age 38 delivered among the finest all-around seasons of his 15-year profession. Santana hit .238/.320/.420 with 23 house runs in 594 plate appearances (translating to a 114 wRC+) and displayed excellent protection at first base, incomes him his very first Gold Glove. Whereas his hard-contact numbers remained beneath common for the second straight yr, Santana nonetheless made a number of contact and prevented strikeouts, whereas drawing his customary giant share of walks.
Between these numbers and his off-the-field presence in Minnesota’s clubhouse, it’s simple to see why the Twins would need him again. Re-signing Santana for a comparatively modest increase additionally appears possible, as regardless of his manufacturing, groups are prone to zone in on Santana’s age as a purpose to not commit an excessive amount of cash on one other one-year deal. There’s additionally the truth that 2024 was basically a bounce-back for Santana after he posted a 94 wRC+ and a couple of.3 mixed fWAR over his earlier 4 seasons, so this final yr may be seen as an outlier.
Santana had 3.0 fWAR in 2024, a quantity topped by solely six hitters in this winter’s free agent class. Santana tied Christian Walker with a 3.0 fWAR and each had been forward of Pete Alonso’s 2.1 fWAR, to check Santana to the 2 high first-base names. Evidently, Walker and Alonso will nonetheless command a lot bigger contracts than Santana, and Santana’s market won’t absolutely develop till the larger free brokers (and commerce targets) have landed on their subsequent groups. The Twins’ pre-existing relationship with Santana may give them an in, however Santana has additionally drawn curiosity from the Mariners, one other of his former golf equipment.
Turning to the Twins’ wants on the grass, Minnesota’s ideally suited right-handed bat can be a nook outfielder, in a position to complement left-handed hitters Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach. Nightengale means that Austin Hays may be a match, as hitting coach Matt Borgschulte is accustomed to Hays from their shared time along with the Orioles.
In search of out solely a platoon bat will restrict the worth tag on a brand new acquisition, which once more suits for a Minnesota workforce that doesn’t have a lot accessible in payroll area. Technically, the Twins would possibly first have to maneuver some cash, as their projected $142.1MM payroll (estimate from RosterResource) is over their $129.6MM payroll from final season, and Falvey has already mentioned that Minnesota might be spending at the same degree in 2025.
