FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It's already been an offseason unlike any Twins fans have ever seen -- and the thing is, it's still tough to imagine that they're done.
An already crazy stretch for the club got even wilder when the Twins made their expected follow-up move to their trades from earlier last week by signing a shortstop. But it wasn't the move anyone could have imagined, with superstar Carlos Correa signing a three-year deal that stunned the baseball world.
What does this mean for the Twins? What's next? We've got your answers here.
How much has this week transformed the Twins?
Yes, let's quickly recap things, since the three trades and two free-agent signings have changed a ton in the span of barely a week.
ACQUIRED: SS Carlos Correa (free agency), RHP Sonny Gray (trade with CIN), C Gary S¨˘nchez (trade with NYY), INF Gio Urshela (trade with NYY), RHP Joe Smith (free agency), RHP Francis Peguero (Minors, trade with CIN), RHP Ronny Henriquez (trade with TEX), C Jos¨¦ Godoy (waivers)
LOST: C Mitch Garver (trade with TEX), 3B Josh Donaldson (trade with NYY), C Ben Rortvedt (trade with NYY), RHP Chase Petty (trade with CIN)
Somewhere in there, shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was also a Twin for exactly 35 hours and four minutes, arriving in the deal with the Rangers and departing in the trade with the Yankees.
Does this mean Correa will be the Twins' shortstop for three years?
Probably not.
The deal, as reported by Morosi, includes opt-outs for Correa following each of the first and second seasons. One of the foremost reasons this deal came as such a shock was because it was universally expected that the star would sign a lengthy deal akin to -- or exceeding -- the contracts signed by Corey Seager (10 years, $325 million), Marcus Semien (seven years, $175 million) or Javier B¨˘ez (six years, $140 million).
If Correa has a good season with the Twins in 2022, he could opt out and hit free agency again at age 28 as part of a shortstop market with much less top-tier competition and lacking the labor uncertainty of this offseason's lockout between MLB and the MLB Players Association. In fact, with new agent Scott Boras leading Correa's negotiations, that would seem likely, as Correa would still be in extraordinarily good position for a megadeal considering his talent.
Why does this make sense for the Twins?
This sort of contract structure would make less sense if the Twins were shopping for their shortstop of the future on this market, but they didn't necessarily need to do that because their top two prospects -- Royce Lewis and Austin Martin -- are both shortstops who will begin the season in the high Minors. Lewis is even on the 40-man roster.
If Correa opts out after one year, the Twins would have greater clarity on Lewis' and Martin's readiness for the big leagues, with the ability to reallocate Correa's $35.1 million salary to their other needs. If that includes another stopgap shortstop, so be it. If not, all the better.
And unless he's seriously injured, it's tough to imagine Minnesota complaining about another year of a 28-year-old Correa in 2023 if the star shortstop decides not to exercise his opt-out. Either way, the Twins can make it work with the payroll flexibility afforded to them by offloading the remaining $50 million of Josh Donaldson's contract across '22 and '23 to the Yankees earlier in the week.
For however long Correa sticks around, the Twins will have one of the most talented shortstops in the game.
The Twins have to get a starting pitcher at this point, right?
Yes, the Twins still need pitching. They know that, too, from the front office to the clubhouse. It would be fairly surprising to see Minnesota emerge from all of this hoopla without another starting pitcher.
Gray is around for 2022 with an option in '23, making his acquisition a win-now move. Byron Buxton is obviously in this thing for the long haul, having signed a seven-year extension. Correa is a clear win-now move. It's tough to envision this kind of offseason ending with the Twins carrying Randy Dobnak or Lewis Thorpe as their fifth starter instead of as depth options.
Rumors regarding a potential match with the A's for one of their two top-end arms -- Frankie Montas or Sean Manaea -- have swirled since the Twins acquired Gray from the Reds, which clearly signaled their win-now mentality. The Tigers' acquisition of Michael Pineda late Friday night leaves few (if any) mid-tier starters on a depleted free-agent market, leaving a trade scenario as the best bet for an impact addition.
The rotation, as it currently stands, features Gray and Dylan Bundy ahead of youngsters Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober. Another impact arm would likely bring a hefty prospect cost in a trade, but the Twins do have plenty of pitching depth in the high Minors in particular. The next free agent up would likely be someone along the lines of veteran Johnny Cueto or someone else to carry innings until the next wave of top prospect pitching begins to arrive from the Minors sometime this season.
Either way, it feels like a matter of when, not if -- because this roster doesn't look to be done.
What could this lineup look like?
This is where it gets fun. Here's a mockup of what Opening Day could look like:
1. Luis Arraez, 3B
2. Byron Buxton, CF
3. Carlos Correa, SS
4. Alex Kirilloff, LF
5. Jorge Polanco, 2B
6. Gary S¨˘nchez, DH
7. Max Kepler, RF
8. Miguel San¨®, 1B
9. Ryan Jeffers, C
Things should be very fluid, with Gio Urshela rotating into third base, Arraez rotating to second, Polanco occasionally rotating to shortstop, and a handful of players sliding through the DH slot. The fact that the Twins can make such a lineup right now without even including Urshela certainly isn't a bad sign.
And the defense?
Gray and Jeffers were rightly excited about the glove Correa will bring to shortstop as well. He was worth 12 outs above average last season, per Statcast, sixth among all qualified shortstops and within striking range of Andrelton Simmons (16 OAA). That will be particularly important considering the young pitchers who figure to debut for the Twins at various points this year.
With this acquisition, the Twins' up-the-middle players will be Correa and Buxton at shortstop and in center field -- both Platinum Glove Award winners (Correa in 2021, Buxton in '17). It's an important move on both sides of the ball.