MINNEAPOLIS — The oven is still hot for the Twins, who have expressed their need for right-handed outfield depth by acquiring a former Gold Glove-winning center fielder. Michael A. Taylor from the Royals on Monday in exchange for minor league relievers Ivan Sisk And Steven Cruz.
Taylor doesn’t offer the impact of a .670 OPS in 2022, but his role as right-handed insurance is important. Byron BuxtonThe history of their injuries is well documented. Taylor should be a quick depth upgrade on the youth. Gilberto CelestinoHe posted a .615 OPS last season when he was forced to take a big step (122 games).
Business details
Twins are accepted. Michael A. Taylor
Royals receive: RHP Steven CruzTwins number 28 hope), LHP Evan Sisk
Taylor is in the final year of a two-year, $9 million contract and would give the Twins a right-handed option to mix and match in center field if Buxton goes down, hitting left-handers Joey Gallo and Nick Gordon in the bullpen as well. Considering how much the Twins love the platoon, Taylor’s .722 OPS on the charts might be a big consideration, even as a corner-out option or late-game defensive replacement when Buxton is healthy.
This deal further crowds an already packed outfield with Buxton, Gallo, Gordon, Max Kepler, Alex Kiriloff, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Celestino, Taylor and even Kyle Farmer serving as options to move to the grass. with Luis Arez was traded.Kirillov and Gallo may show more weight in the early going — though that might negate Gallo’s defensive value — but many of them are in DH.
With the Twins in need of bullpen depth, Kepler’s name continued to appear in trade rumors during the offseason and they could look to contend with that outfield depth as well.
But one thing is clear: As it stands now, between Buxton, Kepler, Gallo and Taylor, this Twins has a chance to be one of the best defensive outfielders in any configuration, with four Gold Gloves between them and Kepler’s role model. Statistical measurements in the field. This could be a big advantage, especially for Joe Ryan and Tyler Mahle, who generate above-average fly balls.
On paper, this is a depth move that doesn’t appear to be on the national radar — but has the potential to be very important for the Twins. Celestino, Jake Cave and Mark Contreras combined for 585 plate appearances last season due to injuries in the Twins’ outfield, or Cave, Celestino and Rob Refsnyder combined for 397 plate appearances in 2021.
Because of the health concerns for Buxton and the injury history of Kiriloff and Larnach, outfield depth has played a big role in recent Twins history — and Taylor could bring some veteran stability there.
In exchange, the Twins offered a pair of undrafted relief prospects in Cruz and Cisk, both of whom had impressive potential in the bigs but struggled with control.
Cruz, at 6-foot-7 with a big fastball, peaked at Double-A Wichita, but struggled with walks. Sisk was one of the Twins’ more intriguing bullpen options at Triple-A St. Paul due to his pitching with a sidearm left-handed. He was originally acquired in the JA Happ deal with the Cardinals at the 2021 trade deadline.