3 potential shortstops the Minnesota Twins should sign
The Minnesota Twins are in the market for a new shortstop, and this might be the best offseason to need one. Here’s a look at three potential players the front office should sign this winter.
Disclaimer: Marcus Semien wasn’t included on this list because he primarily plays second base. In the coming weeks, we will evaluate whether or not the Twins should sign him to a long-term deal.
1. Trevor Story
Trevor Story is a really interesting player, and the case for Minnesota to target him is simple: he’s a great defender, and he can hit the crap out of the ball.
This season he hit .251, with 24 home runs and 75 runs batted in. It was a little bit of a down year, but nothing significant that makes you concerned. He was previously a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2018 and 2019.
He’s one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball and has posted a fielding percentage of .979 through six seasons.
The plays he can make at short are incredible, and having him next to Josh Donaldson on the left side of the diamond would be great.
What’s the downside?
The only downside to signing Story is the fact that he’s played his entire career playing for the Colorado Rockies. There’s no mystery that playing at Coors Field helps players perform better. The altitude in Denver allows the ball to carry, which benefits right-handed hitters with the shorter fence in left field.
| I | Split | G | GS | PA | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 375 | 367 | 1592 | 1421 | 270 | 430 | 95 | 279 | 138 | 393 | .303 | .369 | .603 | .972 | 857 | |
| Away | 370 | 358 | 1544 | 1401 | 193 | 338 | 63 | 171 | 128 | 472 | .241 | .310 | .442 | .752 | 619 |
The home and away difference is pretty significant when you look at his batting average, slugging, home runs and RBIs.
Story is yet to play at Target Field, so we don’t have an idea as to how he would play in a Twins uniform. Luckily for him, the fence in left field is shorter than right, which would benefit him as a right-handed hitter.
Minnesota could use a player who can hit for power and play great defense. He seems like a perfect candidate for a one-year deal, which would be great considering the timelines of Austin Martin and Royce Lewis.
2. Javier Baez
Three years ago, if you told me Minnesota could potentially sign Javier Baez in free agency, I’d assume the Twins were on the cusp of a World Series. A player of his caliber wouldn’t come to the Twin Cities unless he was overpaid. However, the two-time All-Star had some struggles last season and will likely look for a one or two-year deal to rebuild some of his value.
There are struggles, and then there’s this.
This has nothing to do with his play last season, I just think it’s funny.
To his credit, he played a lot better for the New York Mets after he was traded by the Chicago Cubs.
- Cubs: .248/.292/.484, 22 HR, 65 RBI
- Mets: .299/.371/.515, 9 HR, 22 RBI
He wasn’t bad by any means, but it wasn’t up to his standards.
Baez would be an electric two-way player for the Twins. His defense is one of the best in the game, and no one can tag players like he can.
Minnesota needs energy in their clubhouse, and Baez is a perfect candidate for that. It seems like a long shot, but you never know.
3. Carlos Correa
This one is a stretch, and if it wasn’t for the cost and likelihood of it happening, Carlos Correa would easily be No. 1 on the list. He’s the best shortstop on the market, and he’s going to command a hefty price. Minnesota doesn’t spend a lot of money in free agency or on a player who’s going look for a deal close to 10 years.
Say what you want about him, but Correa is a good baseball player. If the Twins were to sign him this offseason, no fan would be mad because of some dumb trash can hitting past.
Last season he was responsible for 7.3 wins above replacement, which was third in all of baseball. He also hit .279, with 26 home runs and 92 RBIs. It sounds like a broken record, but Correa is also a good defender and would elevate the Twins’ defense up the middle. In fact, he was the 2021 American League Gold Glove winner.
Correa has all the experience in the world playing for the Houston Astros. He won a ring in 2017, and Houston has made the ALCS in five straight seasons. That’s very valuable to an organization that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2002.
Correa would cost a lot, but if the Twins are ever going to be serious about winning a World Series, they’re going to have to break the bank. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported that Minnesota is one of the five teams interested in signing the veteran shortstop.
Time will tell.
