Twins have options with free agency looming

The Minnesota Twins are coming off a magical year, where they went 85-77 on the year, taking the second wild card spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Twins lost to the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees, after blowing a 3-0 lead to start the game. The Twins are now looking to build on what they have, and create an identity looking forward for the franchise in 2018.

Looking into the free agency pool for the Twins, they’ll have a total of eight players hit the open market as of right now. The most notable players to hit the open market for the ball club include starting pitchers Bartolo Colon and Hector Santiago, along with relief pitchers, Glen Perkins, Matt Belisle and Dillon Gee.

The main focus of the offseason is to revamp the pitching rotation, and to add some relief pitching heading into the offseason, while adding an extra utility player in their every-day lineup. Here are a few options the Twins could look to in the free agency market.

Expensive Option:
SP Yu Darvish – Los Angeles Dodgers

Last season, Darvish was traded mid-season to the Dodgers from the Texas Rangers, after struggles staying healthy and not producing to their standards. Darvish still had a great year as a starting pitcher though, tossing 209 strikeouts and having a 3.86 ERA on the year, helping the team make the World Series. The Twins would love to sign Darvish, but they might have to reach to pick him up.

Affordable Options:
RP Brandon Kintzler – Washington Nationals

In an unexpected turn of events, and one of the most controversial moves made by the club last season, the Twins ended up moving their former closer last year to the Washington Nationals in return for a prospect and $500,000 in international pool money. Could the Twins re-re-sign this player during the offseason? And then re-re-trade him again during the next trade deadline? It could happen.

SP Lance Lynn – St. Louis Cardinals

Coming off Tommy John surgery in 2016, Lynn tied for the National League lead with 33 starts and went 11-8 with a 3.43 ERA for the Cardinals this past season. The 30-year-old right-hander looks to be more reasonably priced in the free agency pool this year, with names like Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta hitting the open market. The rotation of Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, and Lynn would give the Twins a solid core of starting pitching.

Thrift-Shopping Option
C Nick Hundley – San Francisco Giants

If backup catcher Chris Gimenez decides to not play for the Twins in 2018, then the Twins could sign the veteran catcher Hundley to a very low-cost deal. Last year for the Giants, acting mainly as a backup for Buster Posey, Hundley showed he had some power in his bat, hitting nine home runs, and driving in 35 RBI’s on the season. Playing good defense behind the plate, the Twins could throw him in the lineup whenever Jason Castro needs a day off.