It happened again.
Fans of the Minnesota Twins played the part of Charlie Brown, super agent Scott Boras was Lucy, and Carlos Correa was the football.
The Twins faithful waited with a toxic dose of skepticism mixed with excitement as they pondered the possibility that this could be the first time they could land their top target on the free-agent market. Social media was aflutter, and it felt like everything was gaining steam as the club went in for the kick. But just as things were looking up, Correa and his camp agreed to a whopper of a contract that will pay him $350 million to play for the San Francisco Giants. Sure, unlike Lucy, there probably wasn’t any misleading from Boras as he held the figurative football. Nonetheless, the Twins found themselves lying on their back yet again.
The club now has to pick itself up and dust itself off rather than wallowing on the ground. They need to look at other options to bolster their lineup. These backup plans aren’t going to replace Correa, but that doesn’t mean they can’t boost the lineup in the near term.
Justin Turner
A stalwart of the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2014, Turner helped steer the ship as the club made the postseason nine consecutive times. He’s a surefire lock to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, and he is still beloved by their fan base. There’s a good chance the Dodgers will re-sign their longtime third baseman for the 2023 season. But if that doesn’t happen, the Twins should seriously consider adding the slugger.
While he missed time due to injury in 2022, Turner still managed to boast a strong bat in the middle of the Dodger lineup in 128 games played. His .278/.350/.438 was 23% better than league average (123 wRC+), and even that impressive figure was the worst he’s posted since 2013.
Upon joining the Twins, he could provide veteran leadership and much-needed firepower from the right side (career .818 OPS against left-handed pitching). His defensive capabilities have definitely fallen over the years, but he could still spell time at third base on a part-time basis while getting regular reps at designated hitter. Of course, there are risks to adding a bat-first player entering his age-38 season. But that could lead his market to the value bin, where the Twins front office has frequented every off-season since they took over.
Trey Mancini
The connection to the local char house aside, Mancini would be another right-handed bat that could compliment the Twins’ current core of hitters. The Baltimore Orioles traded him to the eventual World Champion Houston Astros at this year’s deadline. Now, he’s looking for a fresh start where he can get ample playing time at first base or in the outfield.
The Twins could provide just that, as the current depth chart is littered with left-handed sluggers. He could theoretically slide into a platoon with Luis Arraez at first base/DH and in the corner outfield spots with Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Max Kepler, Nick Gordon, and Matt Wallner. Chances are Minnesota trades at least one of those lefties before the start of the season, and Mancini could slot in rather cleanly.
While he doesn’t have the prodigious bat that Correa or even Turner has, Mancini has a track record of being a slightly above-average bat (career 111 wRC+) with decent pop. He shouldn’t cost too much and wouldn’t be blocking any top prospects should they make their way to the big league roster mid-season. He’s no ribeye steak, but Mancini is not chopped liver, either.
Nelson Cruz
Call me crazy, but I think Cruz still has something left in the tank despite ample evidence that his age has caught up to him. Last season was nothing short of a disaster for him with the Washington Nationals, where he struggled to the tune of a .234/.313/.337 slash line in 124 games played. It culminated with the veteran designated hitter getting surgery to repair an issue in his eye.
There’s no getting around it. A combination of a terrible season and eye surgery would normally be the nail in the coffin for players north of 40. But what if the surgery actually fixed what was ailing him this past season?
Cruz was still a powerhouse as recently as 2021, where he slashed .265/.334/.497 (123 wRC+) and belted 32 home runs. If he can get anywhere close to that level of production, maybe he could be a useful bat that provides value in the lineup and intangibles in the clubhouse. Maybe he mostly gets playing time against southpaws, where he was still elite in 2021 (143 wRC+) and passable in a down year in 2022 (106 wRC+). It’s a hard sell to carry a designated hitter that gets platooned on a roster with only 26 spots. But if the Twins whiff on the targets ahead of him on their wish list, maybe they could call upon the Boomstick one more time on a cheap, make-good deal.
These names can’t be expected to replace Correa’s elite production. Not only do they lack his defensive prowess, but each is considerably older with far lower ceilings. However, Twins fans are anxious to get some pop back in the lineup, and it’s possible that these veterans could provide a boost from the right side of the plate. No matter what the club decides to do, it’s hard for Twins fans not to feel discouraged after yet another football has been pulled at the last second.
Good grief.
