The Twins are in search of additional starting pitchers and a right-handed-hitting outfielder as spring training begins. According to Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Minnesota has not ruled out the possibility of bringing back Michael A. Taylor. Taylor, who is turning 33 next month, played outstanding defense for the Twins in 2023. He spent a total of 960 innings in center field and was credited with five Defensive Runs Saved and eight Outs Above Average. Additionally, he had a successful stolen base record, going 13-for-14. However, Taylor’s performance at the plate was somewhat atypical compared to his usual standards.
Despite not being known for his power, Taylor hit a career-high of 21 home runs in just 388 plate appearances. His isolated power mark of .223 (slugging percentage minus batting average) was significantly higher than his career mark of .140. However, this increase in power came at a cost. Taylor’s strikeout rate reached a career-high of 33.5%, which was almost 10 percentage points higher than the previous year. Consequently, his batting average was .220 with a low on-base percentage of .274, but he had a solid slugging percentage of .442.
Taylor expressed his satisfaction with his time in Minnesota and expressed his desire to return for the 2024 season. However, if he chooses to come back, it is unlikely that he will have the same role as before. Byron Buxton, who missed the entire previous season due to knee surgery, is expected to return to center field. This would result in less playing time for Taylor at Target Field. Nevertheless, given Buxton’s injury history, there may be occasions where Taylor will be required to play regularly in center field. Nonetheless, it is improbable that he will approach the 1000 innings he played in the outfield last year.
Even if Buxton were healthy enough to play almost every day in center field, there are still opportunities to include Taylor in the lineup. He performed exceptionally well against left-handed pitchers in 2023, hitting .252/.313/.602 with nine home runs in just 112 plate appearances. The Twins have left-handed batters in both the outfield corners, such as Matt Wallner and Max Kepler, and Taylor could be used to replace either player when facing left-handed opponents. Kepler, in particular, is an excellent defender and is unlikely to be substituted for a late-game defensive replacement. On the other hand, Wallner is primarily a left fielder focused on his batting and could be replaced in these situations. A defensive outfield consisting of Taylor in left, Buxton in center, and Kepler in right would be one of the strongest in the league.
Taylor has attracted interest from various teams during the offseason, including the Pirates, Angels, Padres, Blue Jays, Reds, Dodgers, and Red Sox. Although some of these teams have since pursued other options for their outfield, Taylor remains a potential fit for many of them.
The Twins’ front office is likely operating with a limited budget. They previously stated their intention to reduce payroll due to uncertainty surrounding their television broadcast situation. Currently, their projected payroll is around $123.5 million, leaving room to potentially re-sign Taylor. However, acquiring another starting pitcher may prove challenging given their budget constraints, unless they can make a late trade to free up additional payroll space. The Twins have also shown interest in Adam Duvall, a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Other available options on the market include Randal Grichuk, Enrique Hernandez, Tommy Pham, and possibly Whit Merrifield, who is expected to make a decision on his next team in the coming days.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com