Following the tough ending to the Vikings season, it’s once again time to be excited (or apprehensive) about the start of Twins baseball in March. It’s easy to have mixed feelings, since even the famous Twins Bomba Squad of 2019 lost in the first round of the playoffs. And the team has not done much since, losing in the playoffs again in 2020 and missing them entirely in 2021 and 2022. However, this year does appear to be different, especially in how the Twins are assembling their roster, and hopefully this will set the stage for a more entertaining, and successful 2023 for our Twins.
Going into the offseason, I had felt very disappointed in the Twins 2022 season. After a strong start, the Twins fell apart in the final month of the season, mostly due to injuries. With Carlos Correa, our surprise and brilliant signing in spring 2022 certain to opt out of his contract, it seemed like there was no good path for the Twins to be better in this coming year. A surprise turn of events though, turned this all on a dime. First, we heard reports Correa would be signing with the San Francisco Giants, which then fell through. Then the New York Mets swept in and offered Correa a contract, which also fell through. After all this drama, Correa was suddenly again signing a six-year deal with the Twins.
Somehow, some way, our best overall player was here to stay. Being able to keep Correa instantly improved the Twins’ chances of contending if he can stay healthy, which I think he will. The next surprising move was a trade with the Miami Marlins. Fan favorite batter Luis Arraez was traded in exchange for up-and-coming pitcher Pablo Lopez and two prospects. While I was shocked by this trade at first, pitching is where the Twins have had so much trouble for years, and now with this trade, the Twins have their most solid starting rotation in a long time.
Along with these two major moves, the Twins have been adding talent all over the roster. Christian Vazquez, an excellent catcher, was signed for three years to provide stability at backstop. Michael Taylor, a great defensive outfielder was acquired from the Kansas City Royals to fill in for Byron Buxton when needed. Infielders Kyle Farmer and Donovan Solano were brought in from the Cincinnati Reds to provide infield depth if any of the main starters get hurt. Top pitchers like Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle will also now be back from injury.
While the Twins have not been making all the big splashy moves that a fan like me could dream of, these small moves here and there have the ability to drastically help a team bit by bit. With all of the Twins’ new players, along with all of the prospective talent we have coming up from the minor leagues, this looks like a very deep team that can deal with injuries or unexpected events and still carry on strong. Plus, not having too many big-name stars means the Twins aren’t overly dependent on just those stars to win. A quality team all around the edges is what we have needed on the Twins, and it looks like we will have that this year.
Of course, we won’t know how this will all play out until the Twins get on the field, which they will start to do in spring training, and at their first game of the regular season March 30 in Kansas City. No matter what happens, I think this year has shown the Twins are finally making the types of moves and trades many fans have hoped for throughout the years. This shows that ownership and the front office look invested in getting the Twins back to the playoffs and beyond. I really hope the team can be successful this year. I’ll enjoy watching the games and finding out.
Connor Kockler is a graduate of St. John’s University. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
